by Karen Lobos

Rainier Prep is a charter public middle school just south of Seattle that is free, public, and open to all. We serve 335 students, 97% of whom identify as members of the Global Majority (i.e., Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other students of color) and 73% of whom are from families with limited incomes. For eight years, we have delivered on our community’s vision for an exceptional college-prep public middle school option with the flexibility to innovate and meet the needs of all of our students. By integrating a foundation for academic growth with a robust, personalized advising and coaching program, our students, families, and partners are working together to navigate best-fit pathways for success in high schools, degrees, and careers.

However, because charter public schools like ours are not entitled to local property tax levies and lack access to dedicated funding for facilities, our students receive approximately 25% less public funding than their peers in traditional public schools. Last year, we called on legislators to address this funding inequity and were provisioned with one year of enrichment funding for charter public school students in the state budget. We are grateful for this critical support, which has allowed us to continue serving our students, increasing their access to technology integration, field studies, and enrichment activities.