Seventh-grader Jasmine Erickson, 13, displays a diagram of titanium while working with fellow students including eighth-grader Mara Reese, also 13, right, at Lewis River Academy in Woodland. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)Photo Gallery
WOODLAND — Eight middle school students were learning about electrical current in Annika Dukes’ science class at Lewis River Academy.
Rachel Tracy, 12, and MaKenna Traffie, 14, worked together at a table adding wires with bulbs to build an electrical circuit. As she worked, Rachel explained why the flexible schedule, smaller classes and online work of the academy were a good choice for her.
“In first grade, I had a very bad foundation for math,” she said. “For me, I have to work on it more. Practice it.”
Rachel has caught up with math concepts and skills and kept up with her grade level by spending half days at the academy and half days at Woodland Middle School.
She is one of 54 students enrolled in Lewis River Academy, a tuition-free, K-12 alternative public school hosted by Woodland Public Schools for students who choose home study over a traditional classroom. The school works with families by providing online curriculum, teacher support and the opportunity to socialize through science classes, field trips and more.
Lewis River Academy opened five years ago. All teachers are certificated teachers. Like all public school students, the academy students take mandated state tests. The middle school building is attached to Woodland Middle School. The high school program is hosted by Woodland High School. Students can earn a diploma by meeting all high school graduation requirements. Some high school students go to the academy part time, but then take music, art and P.E. classes at Woodland High School. The first seniors graduated last June. This year, there are no seniors.
Like Rachel, each student has a different story about why they chose the academy over a traditional school.
Jasmine Erickson, 13, says she was bullied at the traditional school because of her rare medical condition, alopecia universalis. Her immune system attacks hair follicles and prevents her body from growing hair. She sports a bald head and has no eyebrows or eyelashes. At her other school, she said some kids assumed she was a boy and asked her why she wore dresses. Other people assumed she has cancer. Students teased her, but she stayed silent.
“I got bullied a lot in school,” said Jasmine. “In fifth grade, I finally stood up for myself. I got in trouble. The bullies didn’t.”
At Lewis River Academy, she is not bullied. The small classes translate into less social stress on students and more one-on-one time with the teacher.
“LRA is a lot more forgiving with learning,” offered Ruby Treasure, 14, as she worked with Jasmine on building a circuit. “Here, if you need to, you can spend extra time learning a concept.”
“We’re a great fit for kids with unique circumstances,” said Principal Asha Riley. “We’re proud of our program and that we’re able to support so many families. The traditional setting doesn’t always work for every kid. We get that. We’re a really great fit for kids with high anxiety. It’s a less stressful environment.”
For a variety of reasons, Teri Retter planned to home school her daughter for just one year in sixth grade.
“When I heard that LRA was not only in our school district, but provided all coursework, a certificated teacher and social activities, we quickly signed on,” Retter said.
Her daughter thrived in the program and decided to stay another year. When she returned to Woodland Middle School as an eighth-grader, she was an entire year above grade level in math. As a high school student, she’s achieved straight As. In the fall, she will attend Clark College full time as a Running Start student.
Retter noted that level of achievement isn’t unusual for academy students.
“We’ve had several LRA students receive their associate degree and high school diploma simultaneously through Running Start,” she said. “Some have accomplished this while in LRA. Some have returned to Woodland High School to do it.”
Retter has become such a strong advocate for the academy that she’s now its K-5 teacher.
Teacher Dukes said: “LRA’s flexible learning fits better than a traditional school schedule and classroom setup.”
She said the students attending her science class are students who need flexibility in their education: athletes competing at select levels, 4-H champions, artists, families with small businesses in which their children take part, families dealing with illness and disability and more.
Sometimes seventh-graders need a quieter transition into middle school, Principal Riley said. Some students have medical issues that prevent them from participating in the traditional classroom environment. But some of those parents haven’t home-schooled their children before.
Riley emphasized that LRA is a home-study program, not a home-school program. She explained: “When children are home schooled, the families are not accessing any resources from the state. In home study, they receive the same state support, curriculum and access to teachers.”
“We’re a great opportunity for parents to get highly involved in their kids’ education. Some use the LRA to get back on track. They can access curriculum and get help from teachers,” Riley said.
Mara Reese, 13, attended Yale Elementary, an isolated, rural school with fewer than 50 students. She wasn’t enthusiastic about transferring to Woodland Middle School, which has more than 300 students. She said she’s been happy with her decision to attend Lewis River Academy.
Mara is a member of the Lelooska family. She has been dancing in Native American programs at her family’s Lelooska Cultural Center since she was 4. The flexible hours of the academy allow her to dance with her family in some of the weekday school field trip programs for children. That’s something she couldn’t do in a regular school.
“In middle school, you’re figuring out who you are,” Mara said. “LRA gives you the time to figure that out without all the drama.”
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