Buckhorn

I have three kids at this school and there are many great and unique things about it--a thriving Farm to Cafeteria program with a large school garden that the kids love, caring teachers and involved parents, and it is the hub of the community for Orcas Island. The not so great things are the high student to teacher ratio, and the inability of the teachers (due to the system and "teaching to the test") to pull out gifted students for directed teaching. This means that smart kids do not get the opportunity to be challenged, without private tutors. Overall, it is a pretty good option for such a small community, and parents and teachers do care. But it is academically limited.

After having dropped out of many schools in the area, as well as one I had to move out of home just to go to, this school saved me. Unfortunately I had given up, and I would not budge on getting my GED, but if I had, this would have been the only school that would have made it possible. The teachers here don't just focus on mindless memorization, they get you involved, interested, they throw real life situations and scenarios at you, as well as give you flexibility with how you want to earn your hours for your classes each week. I loved this school.