Schools in Zip Code 99359

ZIP code 99359 has two schools serving grades K–12: the large virtual Virtual Preparatory Academy of Washington, which serves kindergarten through 12th grade, and the small traditional Starbuck School, which serves kindergarten through 8th grade, with both operated by Starbuck School District.

These schools offer very different experiences. Virtual Preparatory Academy of Washington enrolls 748 of the area’s 765 reported students, or about 98%, making it the main school serving families in the ZIP code. Its 2025–26 proficiency rates were 23.19% in English language arts, 8.09% in math, and 22.01% in science, all well below state averages. Math is the clearest academic concern: every reported grade-level math result was below 18%. The school also reported a 23.2% graduation rate and a 66.2% dropout rate, compared with 82.6% and 9.8% statewide. Because it is an alternative virtual K–12 program, families may want to ask about attendance expectations, student support, credit recovery, course completion, and graduation planning.

Starbuck School has only 17 students, so its results can change substantially from year to year and many assessment figures are withheld to protect privacy. Its available 2025–26 English language arts rate was 46.15%, closer to the state’s 52.81% than the larger school’s result, and its 2024–25 math rate was 42.86%, nearly matching the state rate. However, current math and science results are unknown rather than zero. The school also reports a very low 4.2-to-1 student–teacher ratio and higher spending per student, $20,558 versus $10,812, reflecting the costs of operating a very small school. Families should compare instructional format, grade availability, transportation, support services, and school size—not just test scores—when considering these two distinct options.