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Rainier Valley Leadership Academy

Seattle, WA 98118

Phone: (206) 659-0956

School Review
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GreatSchools Rating

charter • Grades KG,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 • 107 students

Rainier Valley Leadership Academy, a charter school located in Seattle, WA, serves grades K, 6-12 in the Rainier Valley Leadership Academy.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 5 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Rainier Valley Leadership Academy is a charter school located in Seattle, WA. 107 students attend Rainier Valley Leadership Academy.

School Ratings

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	1/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Smarter Balanced Assessment data from Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and using 2025 Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science data from Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Student Growth	7/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Posted: August 22, 2024

I don't know about SPED as I don't have kid who needs it. I do know they have a robust SEL program where kids do circles and have to do reflection homework on who they are. They have classes on soft skills, and have to do goal setting and college planning as well.

The administration has gotten much stronger with the new principal. It was really strong before but they promoted the principal to CEO, its hard to replace her. I do think they finally got right with this current principal though. She knows her stuff and I've been able to discuss with her. I had other friends that are parents who got the support they needed last year with her before she took over the whole school. She's a very intelligent leader who had awesome follow through. No school is perfect. And Black and Brown kids always have the lowest test scores because they never are truly taught by their teachers. I'm happy to see RVLA finally has started their elementary too because now kids will get what they need from the beginning and less gaps. My friends kid who was reading really low for a 8th grader, like 1st grade level, and transferred there into 8th grew 5 grades levels in reading. He isn't at level yet but that doesn't show up on a test. It's made him more confident. There are no crazy stories of guns, and kids wilding out all day every day. My daughter had those stories at her elementary, kids catching stiff on fire on bathrooms. RVLA has none of that. I'm happy we made the switch.

Posted: August 22, 2024

Posted: August 7, 2024

Our son has attended traditional public, private, and other public charter schools. He transferred to RVLA in 7th grade because he was struggling with teachers making racist comments and other students threatening they would shoot him at Sanislo. The private schools he attended were academically challenging, but the level of racism and trying to fit into nondiverse settings was very difficult for him spiritually and emotionally. Since he has been at RVLA, he has excelled. His teachers have been cultivating his leadership. This past year, he has met the governor twice on field trips and created a strong relationship with the State Chief of the Washington State Patrol. He has been emotionally and socially better by going on outdoor education field trips and having access to an in-house health clinic where he can access a real credentialed doctor, acupuncture, naturopath, and massage. He has also been thriving academically, and in his high school years, he has access to take most of his classes at Running Start. My son finally feels safe, is learning at high levels, and feels like he is a part of a community school where everyone knows his name and is rooting for his success. RVLA has been a Godsend. We have multiple children and they all need something different, RVLA has been perfect for our child. There is a saying that we call people what we want them to be; they call my son a scholar, and he has been living up to that name. We're so thankful for this school.

Posted: August 7, 2024

Posted: April 26, 2024

A truly innovative school with anti racist curriculum. Staff is global majority. A one of a kind offering in Seattle.

Posted: April 26, 2024

RVLA is doing things differently. They offer Black History courses, as well, as decolonized & identity affirming, culturally responsive curriculum. Yes the test scores are low, but that is because many students arrive many grade levels behind and while the school grows the students, they are still not at grade level proficiency, which is what SBAC measures. You have to look at their MAP growth scores to see how students are progressing and learning. RVLA is still a newer turn around school. It takes 3-5 years to get back on track and RVLA is in year 4 after becoming a truly indpendent, community led school. Reading these reviews it sounds like the same reality of many Title I schools from urban and dense areas. These schools are often attacked and misunderstood for serving the populations they serve.
RVLA also serves a high percentage of Special Education students who come from schools who were not serving them well or were traumatizing and cultureally insensitiv. Special Education percentages are much higher than other schools, which does affect the test scores and culture of the school and may present different challenges than other schools face. The behaviors of the students are no different than other schools that serve similar poplulations. RVLA actually does not have many fights, weapons, or other more escalated behaviors. They have robust comunity partnerships with many neighborhood orgs offering chances to learn about construction, photography, cooking, boxing, leadership, etc. Many times those who are giving bad reviews do not know the community well and judge without context. It might not be for everyone, but it is for those who have a passion for anti-racist, community centered, and decolonized education.

Posted: April 26, 2024

Posted: April 24, 2024

This is not an educational environment. Students are not interested in learning, there are behavior problems aplenty that make it impossible to teach effectively, the admin is ineffectual, but everyone talks a good game. Parents of problem students are uninvolved. Do not send your children there if you want them to learn anything.

Posted: April 24, 2024

Posted: April 25, 2023

This is school is not structured at all, the teachers give little to no support for the scholars, in fact some teachers use negative words and discourage scholars. The academics at this school are below average, there is a reason why the test scores are so low. The student life is low and not inclusive. The administration team handles situations unprofessional and sneaky. The administration team shuts parents out and hides stuff they dont want coming to life, as well as VERY unprepared. Please dont send your child to this school. Scholars have described it as miserable ,depressing ,hurtful to my education, and the list goes on

Posted: April 25, 2023

Reviews provided by GreatSchools^™

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	The Carriages at Fairwood Downs	Apartment Complex	Renton	WA	9.6 mi
2	Manette	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Bremerton	WA	15.7 mi
3	Blueberry Meadows	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Bremerton	WA	17.4 mi
4	The Ridge at McCormick Woods	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Port Orchard	WA	19.1 mi
5	McCormick Woods	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Port Orchard	WA	19.5 mi
6	The Reserve at Bucklin Hill	Apartment Complex	Silverdale	WA	19.7 mi
7	Kitsap Lake	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Bremerton	WA	19.7 mi
8	Fairway Lane	Apartment Complex	Bremerton	WA	20.3 mi
9	Meredith Heights	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Poulsbo	WA	20.4 mi
10	Caldart Cottages	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Poulsbo	WA	21 mi
11	Stadium District	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tacoma	WA	21.1 mi
12	North End	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tacoma	WA	21.8 mi
13	Whisper Ridge	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Bremerton	WA	22 mi
14	Woods and Meadows	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Poulsbo	WA	23.8 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Downtown Seattle	Seattle	WA	4.7 mi
2	Bainbridge Island	Bainbridge Island	WA	12.6 mi
3	Port Orchard	Port Orchard	WA	16.8 mi
4	Maple Valley	Maple Valley	WA	16.9 mi
5	East Bremerton	Bremerton	WA	17.3 mi
6	Ridgetop	Silverdale	WA	20.4 mi
7	Silverdale	Silverdale	WA	20.6 mi
8	Black Diamond	Black Diamond	WA	20.9 mi
9	Poulsbo	Poulsbo	WA	21.6 mi
10	Naval Base Kitsap	Poulsbo	WA	22.2 mi
11	Lakeness Meadows/ Vinland Area	Poulsbo	WA	24.8 mi

Base	Distance
Coast Guard Seattle	4.1 mi.
Naval Base Kitsap - Bremerton	17.2 mi.
Naval Base Kitsap Bangor	23.4 mi.
Everett Naval Station	30.6 mi.
McChord AFB	31.1 mi.
Fort Lewis	34.7 mi.

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Rainier Valley Leadership Academy

Seattle, WA 98118

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