The reported proficiency rate for English language arts is 80%.
Original Research by School Decision on Family Link
Family Link is an alternative school serving kindergarten through grade twelve on Vashon Island, Washington, and it is part of the Vashon Island School District. The school is very small, and its student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Information about the share of students receiving special education services or English language support was not available in the data reviewed.
The school’s academic performance data is limited. For most state assessments in math, English language arts, and science, the results are suppressed because the number of students tested is too small to report publicly. The only grade-level result that is reported shows a high proficiency rate in eighth-grade ELA. For all grades combined, the overall proficiency pattern across tested subjects places the school’s performance in the top quartile among King County districts, a strong position. However, because the number of tested students is very small, that comparison should be read with caution. The school’s combined math proficiency rate was below the midpoint of county districts, while science was in the middle range. A parent looking for a clear picture of year-to-year academic trends will not find one here; only a single year of data is available.
The school’s enrollment is spread across nearly every grade, but the numbers are thin, especially in the high school years. Several grades have only a handful of students, and two grades have none at all. No graduation rate is available, which is consistent with the school’s very small high school population. Given the school’s alternative designation, it may serve students who need a different learning environment from the district’s conventional schools, but the data does not specify what the alternative model entails.
Vashon Island is a rural, low-density community in Puget Sound, accessible only by ferry or air. The island has a small commercial center near the ferry terminal, and its residents include a mix of artists, small business owners, and retirees. The community has actively resisted bridge construction to preserve its rural character, and growth has been slow. Housing values on the island are high relative to national benchmarks, and the market has seen a modest decline in median listing prices recently. The island’s major employers are limited; the largest manufacturer is a research lab, and Washington State Ferries is a significant employer. The economy has shifted away from industrial employers toward small-scale agriculture, wineries, and niche businesses.
The Vashon Island School District comprises three public schools on the island. A search for recent district-level changes of lasting interest to parents turned up little publicly reported information.
Family Link is a niche option within a small, island district. Its size and alternative status mean that academic data is sparse, and the path through high school may be unconventional. Families considering this school will want to speak directly with the staff to understand the program’s structure, how it serves students across the full K-12 range, and what the postsecondary transition looks like for its graduates. The school’s top-quartile proficiency index suggests that, for the students who are tested, outcomes are competitive with other area schools, but the very small numbers make that a thin basis for a broad judgment.
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