Lopez Island School District - Home of the Lobos

Decatur K-8

The Little Red Schoolhouse

Decatur K-8 School, a classic one-room schoolhouse located on neighboring Decatur Island, is part of the Lopez school district. Accessible only by plane or boat, it is one of a handful of specifically designated “Remote and Necessary” schools in Washington State. 

Our Decatur teacher, who generally teaches two to ten students per year, designs a custom education for each child.  Students make full use of on-line computer research and the Internet in the classroom. Math, English and literature are taught to each child’s learning level. Using the whole island as a natural classroom, the teacher takes students outdoors for botany, marine biology, anthropology and all manner of field studies. The local community is an equally rich resource. The school is the main gathering place on the island, and the students’ annual winter program and frequent potlucks are always well attended by parents, neighbors and families, who are very proud of their little school.

Decatur students often visit the “big school” on Lopez, joining in for classes, lunch and the whole spectrum of daily activities. After completing eighth grade, the students commute to Lopez school for their secondary studies. 

Elementary Learning Improvement Plan

OSPI Report Card