Washougal Learning Academy expands

The Washougal School District is set to offer its online learning program to high school students for the first time.

The Washougal Learning Academy will expand for the 2025-26 school year to include students in grades nine through 12. The decision to offer the program to high school students reflects the district’s “commitment to offering flexible, student-centered learning options that meet the evolving needs of our students and families,” according to the district’s website.

“We’ve heard from our (Washougal Learning Academy) families, ‘What’s next?’ Prior to this coming school year, their only option was to enroll in other online programs, and I have not felt good about that,” Washougal School District Superintendent Aaron Hansen said. “It’s a work in progress, but I am very excited about it. The potential growth is significant.”

The district launched the academy in the 2020-21 school year for K-8 students, offering personalized online learning experiences that combine standards-aligned curriculums, one-on-one teacher support and access to all district resources.

The program, led by teacher Rebecca Woodings, began the 2024-25 school year with about 20 students and finished with about 40, Hansen said.

Hansen said that high school students can benefit from online learning in a variety of ways, including family choice and flexibility, personalized learning, and support for unique circumstances, such as health conditions, work responsibilities or personal learning preferences.

“We want to find opportunities for students to be connected to what they really want to do and how they want to learn as much as we can,” Hansen said.

The high school program will include courses aligned to state graduation requirements and elective options designed to support a wide range of interests and future pathways, according to the district.

“We’re vetting the offerings and making sure that what we’re providing them is aligned to state standards and that teachers are well trained and able to support the students,” Hansen said.

District leaders hope that the expanded program can help their efforts to reverse declining enrollment trends by keeping Washougal Learning Academy students in the district as they enter high school.

“At the high school, we’ve been missing another option,” Hansen said. “Because we haven’t had another option, families make different (decisions) to go to other online programs. Now, we have an option for them, so they may choose to keep their students with us in (Washougal Learning Academy) nine-12. It should support our desire to have increased enrollment.”

The district has budgeted for one additional teacher to join academy staff for the 2025-26 school year to accommodate the program’s expansion.

Doug Flanagan: 360-735-4669; [email protected]