Compulsory Attendance

Your child’s age is your first indicator of his or her eligibility for beginning school. In Washington students may start school when they turn 6 years old. A child does not have to enroll in school between the age of 6-7, but must be enrolled by the time he or she is eight years old.  see more >

Required Documentation

Washington school districts set the requirements for what documentation is required prior to enrolling a student in their district. To get that information, contact the district directly.  

Some legal documents are required for Washington students to attend school:

• Certified Birth Certificate/proof of identity
• Official copy of records/transcripts from the previous school the child most recently attended
• A shot immunization record (or proof that immunization is not required for the child)
• Click here to view the immunization requirements 
• Proof of home address (for example, a rental agreement or tax statement)

What are Charter Schools?

Charter Schools are tuition-free public schools operated by independent, non-profit governing bodies.

Parents, teachers, and community leaders sign a “charter” or contract with a school district or state agency to create a charter school and give students more educational options than their assigned school. Charter schools have flexibility over classroom hours, curriculum, and employment policies, but are subject to periodic reviews based on student performance. In Alabama, public charter school students are measured against the same academic standards as students in other public schools. Local boards of education monitor the academic and financial performance of charter schools, and, can revoke  or refuse to renew a school’s charter.

Washington Charter Schools

To view a list of Charter Schools in your state click here.

Bethal Elementary Learning Academy

Phone: (253) 683-5953
Grades: K-5

Evergreen Public School

Phone: (360) 604-4000
Grades: K-8

H.O.M.E. Program

Phone: (425) 204-2520
Grades: K-8

Insight School of Washington

Phone: (866) 800-0017
Grades: 9-12

iQ Academy Washington 

Phone: (360) 604-3905
Grades: 6-12

What makes a school “private”?

Private schools charge tuition, and many have a religious mission. Some private schools offer families assistance to make tuition payments. Click below for the complete list of over 700 private schools across the state.

Private School Review offers free, detailed information on U.S. private schools combined with useful community data (e.g., housing costs) and maps of the surrounding areas.

*Information on non-public school admission requirements should be obtained from the school directly.

George Washington University Online High School is an online college preparatory academy for motivated students who are willing to be challenged to become the best students and persons they can be. Combining award-winning curriculum with small class sizes and intensive college counseling, students receive a flexible, individualized education attuned to their own needs and goals.

International Academy is a K12, Inc accredited, online private school for grades K–12. Students earn a U.S. high school diploma while using award-winning K¹² curriculum

They offer extensive, individualized academic and counseling support keep students on track. The flexibility allows students to explore their passions. Full-time and part-time options are available.

Your options

Parents must provide annual notice to the local superintendent, meet one of four parent qualifications, provide 180 days of instruction in a variety of required subjects, and have their children assessed annually. Parents are not required to submit the assessments to the local superintendent, but must maintain these documents in the home. For the qualifications for homeschooling visit Coalition for Responsible Home Education.

 learn more >

College Credit

Washington has three programs for getting college credit while your student is still in high school:

• Dual Credit – is where 11th and 12th graders apply to a participating institution of higher education to enroll in courses or programs and simultaneously earn high school and college credit
• Running Start – allows students to apply to a participating institution of higher education to enroll in courses or programs offered by the institution
• College in the High School – is governed by a local contract between the district and the institution of higher education, allow students to earn high school and college credit