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Below Average

#1896 of 2,225 schools in WA

Puyallup Online Academy/poa

School · Puyallup School District

1501 39th Ave SW, Puyallup, WA 98373

Enrollment

180

Student-Teacher

15:1

Score

4.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Puyallup

#27 of 32

public schools

Washington schools

#122 of 173

In district

#32 of 36

Puyallup School District

School environment

7.7 / 10

Very strong

About Puyallup Online Academy/poa

Puyallup Online Academy, also known as POA, is an alternative school located in Puyallup, Washington. Serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade, the academy has a total enrollment of 180 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 15:1 with 12 full-time equivalent teachers. Situated in a large suburban area, POA offers a unique educational setting that caters to diverse learning needs.

While POA’s MySchoolScout rating is currently at 2.6 out of 10 and its state ranking places it at #2106 among 2261 schools in Washington (7th percentile), the school focuses on providing personalized education tailored to individual student development rather than solely academic achievement scores. On standardized tests, POA shows that 44% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading and 18% in Science, with a lower proficiency rate at 16% for Math. Puyallup Online Academy sits in an area conducive to its alternative educational approach, offering a supportive environment where students can thrive outside the traditional classroom setting.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 180 students, Puyallup Online Academy/poa is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress2.1Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-5.19 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics2.5Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency8.3%
Reading/ELA Proficiency35.2%
Math vs. State Avg-30.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-14.9 pts
Overall Proficiency22%
Expected (poverty-adj.)44%
vs. Expected-22.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile8th
College Readiness6.8Above Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,642

Puyallup Online Academy/poa — Students at Puyallup Online Academy/poa score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 44%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

51.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores WA SBA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 16.0%
School
State
37.7%
ELA Proficiency 43.5%
School
State
52.4%

Based on 13 test records from WA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
24.5%
ELA
74.5%
2022
ELA
52%
2024
Math
13.2%
ELA
33.7%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 2.1/10.

How Puyallup Online Academy/poa Compares

See how Puyallup Online Academy/poa performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.7/10
15th percentile in WA
Academic
2.5/10
2.5/10
Growth
2.1/10
Below average
Environment
7.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
52%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
12 teachers

Location

1501 39th Ave SW, Puyallup, WA 98373

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Puyallup Online Academy/poa may also want to explore other schools in the area. Wildwood Elementary (rated 9.0/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Woodland Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Puyallup High School (rated 6.3/10, 2.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Puyallup, see our Puyallup schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Puyallup Open Doors/POD Puyalllup 0.0 mi 5.2
Puyallup Parent Partnership Program Puyallup 0.0 mi 4.7
Woodland Elementary Puyallup 0.6 mi 8.4
Gov John Rogers High School Puyallup 1.2 mi 5.8
Edward Zeiger Elem Puyallup 1.2 mi 5.6
Fruitland Elementary Puyallup 1.6 mi 5.4
Ballou Jr High Puyallup 1.8 mi 5.3
Dessie F Evans Elementary Puyallup 2.0 mi 5.6
Firgrove Elementary Puyallup 2.0 mi 5.1
Maplewood Elementary Puyallup 2.4 mi 4.7
Meeker Elementary Puyallup 2.4 mi 5.8
ALL SAINTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Puyallup 2.4 mi 6.2
Puyallup High School Puyallup 2.5 mi 6.3
Aylen Jr High Puyallup 2.6 mi 4.4
CASCADE CHRISTIAN - PUYALLUP ELEMENTARY Puyallup 2.4 mi 4.3
PSD Special Services Puyallup 2.6 mi
Kalles Junior High Puyallup 2.5 mi 5.0
Wildwood Elementary Puyallup 2.0 mi 9.0
Ferrucci Jr High Puyallup 2.0 mi 5.7
Karshner Elementary Puyallup 2.9 mi 3.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 98373 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$102,791

Median Home Value

$517,600

Median Rent

$1,823/mo

Population

29,062

College Educated

26.5%

Homeownership

56.3%

Avg Commute

31.8 min

Poverty Rate

6.3%

Median Age

34.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Puyallup Online Academy/poa has a median household income of $102,791. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $517,600, with a median rent of $1,823/month. The local poverty rate of 6.3% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ONEWORLD NOW! Seattle, WA 4.7
Mount Vernon Special Ed Mount Vernon, WA 4.8
K-12 Ellensburg Learning Center Ellensburg, WA 4.6
OLYMPIC CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Port Angeles, WA 4.6
Highline Public Schools Virtual Academy Burien, WA 4.5
Olympic Peninsula HomeConnection Joyce, WA 4.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Puyallup Online Academy/poa

What grades does Puyallup Online Academy/poa serve?

Puyallup Online Academy/poa serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How many students attend Puyallup Online Academy/poa?

Puyallup Online Academy/poa has an enrollment of approximately 180 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Puyallup Online Academy/poa?

The student-teacher ratio at Puyallup Online Academy/poa is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Puyallup Online Academy/poa rank in WA?

Puyallup Online Academy/poa is ranked #1896 out of 2,225 schools in WA.

What is Puyallup Online Academy/poa's MySchoolScout rating?

Puyallup Online Academy/poa has a composite rating of 4.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Puyallup Online Academy/poa?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Puyallup Online Academy/poa has 16.0% math proficiency and 43.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Puyallup Online Academy/poa a charter school?

No, Puyallup Online Academy/poa is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Puyallup Online Academy/poa a Title I school?

No, Puyallup Online Academy/poa is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Puyallup Online Academy/poa?

51.7% of students at Puyallup Online Academy/poa qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
High (4,272/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Puyallup). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
180
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
Teachers (FTE)
12
Free/Reduced Lunch
51.7%
Type
alternative
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Pierce County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Puyallup School District
District Enrollment
22,905
Schools in District
37
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,882
District Rank
#32 of 36

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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