Valley Academy of Learning K-8, Wenatchee WA

Original Research by School Decision on Valley Academy of Learning K-8

Valley Academy of Learning K-8 is an alternative school within the Wenatchee School District, serving kindergarten through eighth grade. It is not a charter school. Because it is an alternative school, it may serve students for whom a traditional classroom setting is not the best fit, and families should understand this context when evaluating the school's approach and results.

The school is very small for a K-8 program, which can mean smaller class sizes and more individual attention. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of students identifying as two or more races. A notable share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Enrollment data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available from the data provided; a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support structures in place for these groups.

Valley Academy's academic performance on state assessments presents a mixed picture that a parent should examine closely. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three through eight were generally solid, with a particularly high rate in fifth grade and other grades also showing strength. In math, the results were more uneven. Proficiency rates in third, fifth, and seventh grades were moderate, while fourth grade was somewhat lower, sixth grade was softer, and eighth grade showed a notably low rate. In science, fifth graders performed well, while eighth graders were weaker. Overall, the school's combined proficiency across all tested subjects and grades sat above the midpoint among Chelan County districts, but the wide range across individual grades and subjects means a family should look at their child's specific grade. The math performance in the upper middle school grades, especially eighth grade, is a soft spot that bears further inquiry with the school.

The school operates in Wenatchee, the county seat of Chelan County and the principal city of the Wenatchee-East Wenatchee metro area. The city is known as the "Apple Capital of the World," where the tree fruit industry has been the economic backbone for over a century, though tourism and information technology are growing sectors. The city's downtown has a traditional grid street pattern along the Columbia River waterfront and hosts civic events. Housing values in the area are moderate relative to the state, and rents have been rising. The district has been publicly reported as preparing a bond measure focused on replacing most of Wenatchee High School and improving air quality district-wide, a major capital investment that would affect facilities district families use daily, though Valley Academy itself is a K-8 school and would not be directly impacted by a high school replacement.

The school's alternative designation is the single most important fact for a family deciding whether to look here. The academic data shows real strength in English language arts and science in the elementary grades, but the math results in the upper grades, particularly eighth grade, are a significant concern. A parent with a child entering the upper elementary or middle school grades will want to understand how the school addresses math instruction and what resources are available for a student who may be behind. The small size and alternative setting can be a strong match for a student who thrives in a less traditional environment, but it also means fewer course offerings and extracurricular breadth than a larger school might provide. A family should visit, talk to the staff about their approach, and ask how they handle the subjects and grade levels most relevant to their child.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 357%

School 57% · District 47% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 448%

School 48% · District 37% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 564%

School 64% · District 30% · ▲ 34 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

Grade 636%

School 36% · District 27% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 750%

School 50% · District 28% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 819%

School 19% · District 24% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median

English language arts

Grade 364%

School 64% · District 44% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 44% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 586%

School 86% · District 47% · ▲ 38 pts above district

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

Grade 673%

School 73% · District 42% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 779%

School 79% · District 49% · ▲ 30 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 867%

School 67% · District 49% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Science

Grade 569%

School 69% · District 46% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 843%

School 43% · District 34% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

This schoolWenatchee School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 4Lower-income78%Higher-income55%23 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income44%Higher-income50%6 pp gap