Schools & Education
Airman and Family Readiness Center – School Liaison
4 West Castle Street
Bldg 2365
Fairchild AFB, WA 99011
Phone 509-247-2246
Phone (DSN) 312-657-2246
Fax 509-247-5099
Fax (DSN) 312-657-5099
Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri – 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thur 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Sat and Sun – closed
Holidays – closed
Education
Introduction
Helpful websites:
- Medical Lake School District website
- Cheney School District website
- Educational Service District 101
- Washington State Board of Education
- Washington Homeschool Organization
Accreditation by the State
Accreditation in Washington State is voluntary. The State Board of Education has authority to grant state-recognized accreditation status only to private schools.
Number of Schools in the area:
A 75 mile radius of the base encompasses 3 counties, 8 school districts and a total of 108 schools. There are no Department of Defense schools in the area.
Fairchild AFB is located in the Medical Lake School District - the district has 2 elementary schools (1 located on the base), 1 middle school, and 1 high school. Military and civilian personnel stationed at Fairchild AFB may choose to have their children in grades kindergarten thru sixth attend elementary school on-base, whether they live on or off the base. It also offers free part-day three and four year-old preschool programs for personnel residing on Fairchild AFB (military personnel who reside off-base may pay).
There are several private schools, offering education from pre-school through high school. See the Spokane County website for details.
In Washington, students may attend the school of their choice, regardless of whether or not they reside in that school zone. However, the school is not responsible for transportation for a student who does not reside in the school zone. Other restriction may apply.
Transportation
All school districts provide a form of transportation - no cost to the student; some require that the student live at least one mile from school. The majority of the schools in the area also provide transportation for after school programs at no cost to the student.
Meals
All Washington public schools provide lunch service to their students, following dietary guidelines provided by the USDA. The price of the meals is dependent on the school and the income of the family. Many schools in the area provide free and reduced meals. Spokane School District 81 also has a summer meal program.
Before and after school programs
Some schools provide before and after school care. Many of the schools provide after school programs, but not child care. Some of the programs offered include: Spanish enrichment, volleyball, physical education, arts/crafts, homework time, gym time, and outdoor recreation. Contact a specific school for details. (Before and After School care is available at the Youth Center on base; see the Child Care section for details)
School Sports Programs
A number of the elementary schools in the area offer intramural sports programs. Middle and High school programs offer competitive sport programs that compete across schools in the same size ranking. Example of school sports programs include: football, soccer, softball, basketball, and track and field.
Exceptional Child Programs
Many schools offer exceptional child programs. These programs could include: vocal and instrumental, honors, and advanced placement opportunities. Because of the large number of schools, it is recommended to find out specifics of a particular school you are interested in.
Home Schooling Information
Washington State has fairly strict guidelines for homeschoolers. Parents interested in the Washington State organization for homeschoolers should visit their website, The WHO.
Many of the school districts in the area offer enrichment programs for home schooled students.
Local School Boards
Washington schools average about 20 students per teacher. For information on enrollment size within the system and pupil/teacher ratio, please use the websites to contact the individual schools.
For School Report Cards, please utilize the websites to view individual school results.
Grading System
There is no fixed grading policy for the state of Washington - it is specific to the school. The responsibility for administering the grading policy lies with the principal of each school, under the direction of the superintendent. The teacher is responsible for individual student evaluation.
Unique Opportunities
Information on special schools (i.e. for Montessori, disruptive or violent students, and The Enrichment Cooperative for homeschoolers) may be found on the Spokane County website.
Families needing individual assistance with school questions may contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center, 509-247-2246.
Safety Tip phone line for students and community to report any safety concerns (509-354-SAFE).
Adult Education
There are many educational opportunities for adults, on- and off-base. The Education Center on base is state-of-the-art, with 22 classrooms. Off-base opportunities are abundant, at all levels and in all areas. See the section Education-Training (College/Technical) for more information.
Homes Near Base
