The reported proficiency rate for English language arts is 40%.
Original Research by School Decision on Washougal Learning Academy
Washougal Learning Academy is a public alternative school serving kindergarten through twelfth grade within the Washougal School District, located in the city of Washougal, Washington. It is not a charter school. As an alternative school, it is designed for students whose educational needs may not be best met in a traditional classroom setting, and this identity shapes every aspect of what a family can expect from it.
The school is very small, with a total enrollment that is low for a K-12 institution. Most of its students are in upper elementary and middle school grades, with no students currently enrolled in grades nine through twelve. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population representing a meaningful minority. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting a community with economic diversity. Data on the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports those populations.
Washougal itself is primarily a residential bedroom community for workers commuting to Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. It sits at the western entrance to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and has a small downtown commercial core. The city has experienced modest steady population growth. Housing values in the area are relatively high, and rents have been rising, which may be relevant for families considering a move. The town offers parks and river recreation, and the broader Portland-Vancouver metropolitan job market is accessible via State Route 14.
State assessment data for Washougal Learning Academy is limited, which is common for alternative schools with very small enrollments where results are often suppressed to protect student privacy. For the grades where data was reported, proficiency in English language arts was below the midpoint among tested students for those grades. Math proficiency was very low for the grade level where it was reportable. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall performance, when compared with districts in Clark County, fell in the bottom quartile. Parents should understand that these results come from a very small number of test-takers and may not reflect the progress of individual students in an alternative setting. No graduation rate was available, which aligns with the school currently having no high school seniors enrolled.
The academy’s small size and alternative status mean a family is likely choosing it for a specific educational approach rather than for a broad menu of courses. The data did not provide details on the school’s specific program model, so families should inquire about the curriculum, instructional style, and how the school prepares students who may transition back to a comprehensive school or move on to postsecondary life. The absence of course access and staffing information in the available data means those are open questions a parent will want to explore with the school directly.
For a family considering this school, the most relevant context is that it is an alternative program within a district that serves Washougal and parts of Camas. The school is not a typical comprehensive K-12 building. It is a choice for families seeking a smaller, more individualized setting, particularly for students in upper elementary through middle school. The academic performance data, while limited and based on very few students, points to challenges that a parent may want to discuss with the school in detail to understand how the program addresses them. The school’s environment, with its small enrollment and alternative designation, is likely to be a close-knit one, but concrete information on discipline, attendance, and student support services was not found in the available data.
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