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Puyallup Online Academy/POA

Public, Virtual, Alternative Grades K-12

408^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 534 Washington Alternative Schools

Better than 24% of Washington alternative schools

Summary

Puyallup Online Academy (POA) is a small, K-12 online alternative school serving 199 students within the generally well-regarded Puyallup School District.

The school serves a population with significant economic need and faces considerable academic challenges, particularly in math where only about 15% of students are proficient, far below district and state averages. Graduation rates are also substantially lower than the district average, and the dropout rate is more than double, with both metrics showing significant year-to-year volatility that suggests instability. Interestingly, the school spends more per student than some comparable alternative programs, yet outcomes are mixed, and the student-to-teacher ratio has fluctuated dramatically, which may impact consistency.

When compared to other alternative schools, POA's profile is unique. For instance, Bethel Virtual Academy, another online alternative school, achieves a much higher graduation rate, indicating that the online format alone may not explain the challenges. The data suggests POA plays a critical role as a safety net within the district, serving students who may not thrive in traditional settings, but it highlights the complex balance such schools must strike between flexibility, accessibility, and academic rigor.

199

Students ?

34.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,659

Per pupil spending ?

56.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1501 39th Ave SW
Puyallup, WA 98373

(253) 864-5700

District: Puyallup School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.3%

Hispanic:

20.1%

Two or more races:

9.5%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Puyallup Online Academy/POA to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 74th percentile in 2021 → 22nd in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Washington average (33% vs 48% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Washington average (53% vs 83%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school33%

District avg50%

Washington avg48%

Middle school

408^th of 534

Washington public middle schools ?

Bottom 24%▲ up 16 pts since 2018

From bottom 8% (2018) to bottom 24% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

343^rd of 438

Washington public high schools ?

Bottom 22%▼ down 30 pts since 2015

From top 48% (2015) to bottom 22% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

88^th of 247Puyallup School District among Washington districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	25.6	408 of 534	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.7	313 of 535	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	32.1	358 of 539	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.7	291 of 541	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	69.4	139 of 529	73.7%	★★★★☆
2019	69.5	132 of 512	74.2%	★★★★☆
2018	10.3	404 of 437	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	6.2	480 of 498	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	7.1	473 of 497	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	12.1	461 of 492	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2024	46.0	237 of 464	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.0	363 of 464	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	42.4	264 of 479	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	70.9	115 of 469	75.5%	★★★★☆
2018	9.0	354 of 376	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2022	81.8	37 of 360	89.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	57.2	166 of 463	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.2	181 of 475	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	85.0	28 of 458	93.9%	★★★★★
2018	12.7	327 of 349	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2023	41.3	260 of 470	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.3	329 of 480	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.4	167 of 476	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	8.2	357 of 371	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	53.7	209 of 488	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.4	260 of 486	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.7	358 of 488	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	85.3	55 of 480	88.5%	★★★★☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	23.6	343 of 438	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.4	290 of 437	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.0	255 of 442	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.8	332 of 434	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	44.4	242 of 455	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.8	222 of 417	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	10.8	294 of 315	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	16.5	263 of 301	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	26.6	253 of 306	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	47.5	165 of 341	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	23.5	368 of 454	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	6.2	418 of 450	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	11.5	380 of 440	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	9.6	337 of 350	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	51.9	164 of 357	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	25.6	285 of 368	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	39.2	237 of 390	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	9.4	232 of 243	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	52.3	123 of 278	55.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	26.7	277 of 355	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	87.4	23 of 362	93.6%	★★★★★
2022	49.0	178 of 370	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.4	118 of 392	69.9%	★★★★☆
2018	2.6	227 of 227	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	48.7	180 of 359	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.7	191 of 358	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.4	212 of 363	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	56.3	147 of 395	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.7	144 of 355	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	7.0	250 of 254	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2022	11.8	168 of 179	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2021	61.0	46 of 212	78.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	40.0	228 of 373	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	37.0	251 of 379	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.5	300 of 390	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	56.6	154 of 413	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.9	236 of 382	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	2.9	218 of 222	1.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

White (2021)97th percentile+12 vs school

Middle school

Hispanic (2022)90th percentile+44 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)64th percentile+31 vs school

White (2025)57th percentile+34 vs school

Female (2024)49th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2023)45th percentile+11 vs school

High school

Special Education (2021)78th percentile+31 vs school

Hispanic (2021)56th percentile+9 vs school

Male (2025)50th percentile+28 vs school

White (2025)39th percentile+17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)22nd percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2022)6th percentile-17 vs school

Female (2025)4th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

Science46%-3 vs state

English Language Arts38%-15 vs state

Math15%-27 vs state

★

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Schools Near Puyallup Online Academy/POA

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				WCAS Science (2025)				SBAC English Language Arts (2025)								SBAC Math (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Diphtheria (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% Pertussis (2024)	% Tetanus (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 5th Grade	WCAS Science 8th Grade	WCAS Science 11th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 7th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 8th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 10th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math 7th Grade	SBAC Math 8th Grade	SBAC Math 10th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Measles KG	% Mumps KG	% Rubella KG	% Diphtheria KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% Pertussis KG	% Tetanus KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Puyallup Online Academy/POA	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	1501 39th Ave SW	Puyallup	98373	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	Yes	No	(253) 864-5700	199	6	34.3	56.3%	104 (52.3%)	7 (3.5%)	40 (20.1%)	9 (4.5%)	5 (2.5%)	11 (5.5%)	19 (9.5%)								(n/a)		44.4	47.1	46.2					29.4	37.5	42.1	38.0				25.0		11.8	15.2											$15,659	$170	$15,489
PSD Special Services	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	Puyallup School District Speci	Puyallup	98371	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 841-8700	52	0	17.8	44.2%	14 (26.9%)	4 (7.7%)	19 (36.5%)	4 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	10 (19.2%)								(n/a)
Chief Leschi School	Public, Alternative	K-12	5625 52nd Street East	Puyallup	98371	Pierce County	Chief Leschi School	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(253) 445-6000	633	88	7.1	99.5%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	633 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Columbia Junior High School	Public, Alternative	8-9	2901 54th Avenue E	Tacoma	98424	Pierce County	Fife School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 517-1600	619	30	20.7	56.7%	227 (36.7%)	63 (10.2%)	140 (22.6%)	49 (7.9%)	3 (0.5%)	42 (6.8%)	87 (14.1%)								(n/a)		36.3		36.3						47.7		47.7					29.6		29.6											$16,097	$363	$15,734
Bethel Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	7319 Eustis Hunt Rd	Spanaway	98387	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	Yes	No	(253) 800-3100	482	24	20.4	61.8%	211 (43.8%)	31 (6.4%)	87 (18.0%)	8 (1.7%)	8 (1.7%)	42 (8.7%)	91 (18.9%)								(n/a)	30.0	24.4	25.9	26.1	52.6	33.3	40.0	45.2	47.6	34.9	44.3	42.6	36.8	19.1	23.3	12.2	22.7	10.3	17.8	46.2	69.2	61.5	61.5	61.5	53.9	69.2	61.5	53.9	53.9	$14,403	$1,521	$12,882
Gravelly Lake K-12 Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	5504 112th St SW	Lakewood	98499	Pierce County	Clover Park School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(253) 583-5545	162	3	54.0	74.1%	55 (34.0%)	11 (6.8%)	56 (34.6%)	5 (3.1%)	1 (0.6%)	10 (6.2%)	17 (10.5%)								(n/a)										41.7	40.0	31.5																		$15,658	$1,295	$14,362
Special Services	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	601 S. 8th Street	Tacoma	98405	Pierce County	Tacoma School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 571-1224	9	0		33.3%	5 (55.6%)	3 (33.3%)	1 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Support School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	33330 8th Ave S	Federal Way	98003	King County	Federal Way School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 945-2000	55	0		47.3%	18 (32.7%)	9 (16.4%)	14 (25.5%)	7 (12.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.6%)	5 (9.1%)								(n/a)																														$6,267	$469	$5,798
Special Education Services/relife	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	14721 Murray ST	Lakewood	98439	Pierce County	Clover Park School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 583-5170	4	0			1 (25.0%)	1 (25.0%)	2 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																														$8,051	$1,295	$6,756
Muckleshoot Tribal School	Public, Alternative	K-12	15209 SE 376th St	Auburn	98092	King County	Muckleshoot Tribal School	(n/a)	No	No	Yes	(253) 931-6709	471	65	7.2	99.4%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	471 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Puyallup Online Academy/POA

Is Puyallup Online Academy/POA a good school?

Puyallup Online Academy/POA ranks in the bottom 23.6% of Washington alternative schools.

How many students attend Puyallup Online Academy/POA?

In the 2024-25 school year, 199 students attended Puyallup Online Academy/POA.

What is the racial makeup of Puyallup Online Academy/POA?

Students at Puyallup Online Academy/POA are 52% White, 20% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 6% Pacific Islander, 5% Asian, 4% African American, 3% American Indian, 2% Not Specified.

What district is Puyallup Online Academy/POA in?

Puyallup School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.