Olympia Regional Learning Academy

Olympia Regional Learning Academy (ORLA) is a K-12 alternative public school serving 345 students within the high-performing Olympia School District in Olympia, WA, offering small class sizes with a 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio.

Academically, ORLA stands out for its strong student performance, with proficiency rates in English and Science that are significantly higher than both the district and state averages; this makes it notably stronger in core subjects than many nearby alternative schools like Gravelly Lake K-12 Academy or virtual options such as Washington Connections Academy. The school's low student-teacher ratio is a key resource, providing more individualized attention than most comparison schools, which likely supports these high test scores, particularly at the elementary level.

However, a significant area of concern is the school's declining graduation rate, which at 68.5% is now below the district and state averages, coupled with a high dropout rate. This creates a complex picture where students who remain at the school tend to excel academically, but the school faces clear challenges in keeping students enrolled through graduation—a trend that differs from some other alternative models. This contrast suggests that while ORLA's instructional approach is effective for academic mastery, factors influencing student retention and engagement warrant further attention from the school community.