Columbia Crest A-STEM Academy

Nestled at the foot of Mount Rainier in the tiny community of Ashford, Columbia Crest A-STEM Academy serves a small, tight-knit student body in one of Washington's most scenic corners — but academics here are a work in progress, with scores currently sitting below state averages in both English and math. Families drawn to this area tend to be outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking a quieter, rural pace of life near the national park, and the school's STEM focus offers a promising framework for growth. It's a school with potential and a genuinely unique setting, and families who get involved tend to find a community that's hard to replicate anywhere else in the state.