More than 620 students across Snohomish County have transferred to schools with higher test scores this fall because their neighborhood schools didn’t measure up to federal academic goals.
A year ago, there were fewer than 400 such transfers.
It’s a sign of the times under the federal No Child Left Behind law, which gives families options if the school they’re required to attend fails to meet federal standards.
Mukilteo faces the largest exodus of students from their neighborhood schools. About 260 students have transferred to schools with higher test scores compared to 204 a year ago.
Verena Schuch was one of many parents to study district test scores and request a transfer. She sends her son, Ethan, from the east side of the Mukilteo district to Endeavour Elementary School on the west side. The morning commute, including a transfer, can take an hour and 20 minutes, she said.
“It’s a God-awful long ride, but even he will say it’s worth it,” Schuch said.
Test scores weren’t the only factor, she said. She also talked with parents she knew in the Endeavour neighborhood who spoke highly of the school.
“We feel very fortunate,” Schuch said. “I know there is good and bad to the law but it certainly worked for our family.”
Under the federal rules, schools and districts are judged not just on their overall reading and math test scores on the Washington Assessment of Student Assessment, but on how students in individual categories perform as well. Those categories include special education, low-income, English language proficiency and race. Falling short in any one of the 37 categories for two consecutive years can place a school on the federal list for needing improvement and open the door for transfers.
In Mukilteo, most of the students — 199 of the 260 — leaving their home schools have never taken the WASL, a key measuring stick under the federal law, because they were too young for the testing, district officials said.
In the past, the transfers were easy to absorb because many of the schools receiving the students had extra space. Those schools are now getting full, said Andy Muntz, a school district spokesman.
“We are beginning discussions about different scenarios for next year,” Muntz said. “We will continue to look at the possibilities and options when we get next year’s reports.”
Other schools in the Edmonds, Everett, Marysville and Monroe districts also are losing enrollment because they’ve landed on the list for multiple years. Schools that receive federal Title I funds because of high poverty rates face an escalating series of consequences.
Park Place Middle School in Monroe posted improved test scores this year, but not enough to meet federal goals.
“It’s tough because our kids are making great strides,” said Principal JoAnn Carbonetti.
The Monroe School District saw a near doubling of students transferring to schools with higher test scores. Last year, 58 students left their neighborhood schools. That number ballooned to 114 this fall.
Frank Wagner Elementary School lost 87 students this fall compared to 51 a year ago.
Park Place Middle School had 27 students transfer to Hidden River Middle School in Maltby compared to seven last year.
The district has been encouraging transfers to Hidden River Middle School where enrollment has dipped in recent years, said Rosemary O’Neil, a school district spokeswoman.
Everett School District has had 90 students transfer, up from 68 last year.
In Marysville, the number of schools that now must allow the transfer option rose from two to six. The result was 56 students leaving their neighborhood schools compared to 42 a year ago.
“There wasn’t a large exodus,” said Gail Miller, Marysville’s assistant superintendent. “You can yell and scream about the law but I think the staffs realize if they continue to work hard to make their school succeed they will keep students and bring families back.”
In Lake Stevens, four students have transferred from Hillcrest Elementary School to Mount Pilchuck Elementary School this fall. It was the first time Lake Stevens has had students exercise the school choice option under the federal law.
Back in the Mukilteo district, Zita Molnar-Fekete has a son and daughter at schools outside their neighborhood this year.
Her children would have attended Horizon Elementary School on Casino Road, but she opted to send them to westside schools.
A year ago, her son attended Columbia Elementary School, which had higher test scores. That wasn’t the only factor, however.
Molnar-Fekete said she visited the school and was given a tour and warm reception. She also said she felt comfortable about the way teachers there treated children.
“I tried to look around through my son’s eyes,” she said.
This year, her son attends Mukilteo Elementary School after being accepted into the district’s Summit program for academically gifted students. Her younger daughter attends Columbia.
“It really is a good option for us,” she said.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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