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- Educations- Joint Base Lewis McChord
Educations- Joint Base Lewis McChord
Geographical Address
Contact Info
Each installation provides information about the types of schools and programs offered on or near your installation for your child. Learn about the types of programs, guidelines, and requirements for each school. Whether you send your child to a Department of Defense School, a private school, or a public school, your installation can help you explore all of your options to make the right decision for you and your child.
Local Schools
The Clover Park School District serves JBLM students who reside on Joint Base Lewis McChord. There are six elementary schools on the base: five on Lewis Main and Lewis North locations and one on McChord Field. Middle and high school students living on Lewis Main or Lewis North are bused to Dr. Claudia Thomas Middle School (grades 6-8) and Lakes High School (grades 9-12). Middle and high school students living on McChord Field are bused to Dr. Claudia Thomas Middle School (grades 6-8) and Lakes High School (grades 9-12) or may transfer to Harrison Preparatory (grades 6-12).
Public School
On Base
On-base schools are part of the Clover Park Public School District. There are six elementary schools on JBLM. In Washington, a child must be 5 on/before August 31 to attend kindergarten unless they have attended kindergarten in another state that permits earlier entrance. A child must be six years old on/before August 31 to attend first grade or must have completed kindergarten. Middle and high school students living on-base attend school off-base. These students are bused to the school designated by where the student lives. Middle school students living on Lewis Main, Lewis North, and McChord Field will attend Thomas Middle School. High school students living on Lewis Main and Lewis North will attend Lakes High School. High school students living on McChord Field will attend Clover Park High School. Students who may be looking for an academic challenge (grades 6-12) may want to consider Harrison Preparatory School in the City of Lakewood.
On-base students can register for school online at the Clover Park School District website under the enroll link. For more information about Clover Park School District, please call 253-583-5000/5042/5041.
Off Base
School-aged children living off-base will attend schools in the district in which they are zoned. Washington is a boundary state, so the student's physical address has a school and school district associated with it. Many of the districts off-post have K-5 elementary schools, grades 6-8 middle schools, and grades 9-12 high schools, but some have K-6 elementary schools, grades 7-9 junior high, and grades 10-12 high schools. Reach out to the district in which you are looking to live to inquire about the configurations for that district.
Enrollment Requirements by law are as follows:
- Birth Certificate if entering kindergarten or public school for the first time.
- Transcripts from previous school(s) attended
- Immunization Records
- IEP (Individual Education Plan); if applicable
- Proof of Residence
Children coming to JBLM with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan must present the current IEP/504 Plan to the school upon registration of the child into the school system.
Each school district is different in grading scales, meals, before and after school programs, sports, and SPED programs. Please check with the school itself to discuss the options available for that particular school. You may find a list of school districts on the school liaison website.
Dress Code
On-base schools operated by the Clover Park School District have no set dress code. Each school has a guideline for dress code based on the staff, parents, and students of the school. The Clover Park School District does not endorse school uniforms at this time and if further information is needed, the school district can be accessed by going to their website.
Off-base schools requiring uniform dress are minimal. Please check the school website.
Extracurricular Activities
The schools on-base have some after-school programs, but the majority of after-school programming is offered through Child & Youth Services (School Age Center –SAC) such as before and after-school programs to include sports for grades K-5. The middle school and high school students have a variety of activities to choose from. Students are required to have a current physical signed by a doctor and maintain passing grades to participate in sports.
Private School
More than 500 private schools operate in the state of Washington. Private schools must be annually approved by the State Board of Education. A private school is a nonpublic school that conducts a program of kindergarten and at least grade one, or a program of any or all grades one through twelve. Private schools must be approved by the State Board of Education as offering a program that ensures a sufficient basic education to meet usual graduation requirements and that meets reasonable standards for the health and safety of private school students.
For more information about private schools and to see the list of state-approved private schools in your area, please visit The Washington State Board of Education website.
Home Schooling
Washington State requires a letter of intent to homeschool that is filed with the school district where the student resides. If the student will require any additional training or education in the public school setting, such as advanced science or math, the student must be enrolled in the district. For more information, please visit the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) website.
Each candidate for high school graduation in the state of Washington must have completed the equivalent of a four-year program of educational growth in grades 9-12. Each school district has a list of credits that are required to receive a high school diploma. Credits must meet the requirements of the state and the district.
To earn a high school diploma, a student must:
- Earn the high school credits required
- Pass state tests or approved alternatives to those tests
- Complete a Culminating Project
- Complete a High School and Beyond Plan
For more information on graduation requirements, visit the OSPI website (http://www.k12.wa.us/)
If you have questions about the school or policies, call the school liaison officer at 253-967-7195
There are several resources available to help military families with the transition to schools overseas.
- Your installation school liaison office offers a wide array of transition support for children grades pre-K through 12. School liaisons can provide information about local schools, help with transferring credits and registering for classes, provide tutoring and youth sponsorship referrals, and more. If your family has special needs, your school liaison can connect you with your installation Exceptional Family Member Program and help you navigate your school’s special education program.
- Military OneSource education consultants are available 24/7 from anywhere in the world. They can provide information on local education options, refer you to education services that best meet your needs and connect you to a wide variety of community resources. Call 800-342-9647, use OCONUS calling options, or schedule a live chat.
- The Department of Defense Education Activity, or DODEA, operates 160 schools worldwide. Learn more about what schools are available to children on military installations. Visit the DODEA website to search for your school by region.
- Your installation’s Exceptional Family Member Program, or EFMP, provides support for family’s with special needs.
- All overseas PCSs include screenings for all family members which are completed prior to finalizing an assignment. If a family member presents with a special medical or educational need, the coordination with EFMP begins.
- The educational screening determines whether or not there are similar education services available in the new location. The screening includes completion of paperwork by you and your child’s school. A copy of your child’s current IEP is also required so it is very important that your child’s current IEP accurately reflects his/her needs.
- Learn more about EFMP family support and special needs resources.
The Department of Defense Education Activity operates schools in 11 foreign countries, Guam and Puerto Rico. DODEA school districts are accredited by U.S. accreditation agencies and maintain high academic standards.
DODEA's student eligibility and preregistration system helps streamline the registration process and allows school officials to better predict school enrollment, make informed decisions regarding teacher and staff requirements, and prepare for special services and supplies. Parents can preregister their children by visiting DODEA Online Registration for Students.
Non-DODEA Schools Program, or NDSP
In international locations where there is no DODEA school, the DODEA provides educational support and financial assistance to defray education costs and help ensure educational continuity through the Non-DOD Schools Program, or NDSP. Command-sponsored school-age dependents of DOD sponsors assigned overseas where a school operated by the DOD is not reasonably available are eligible to apply to the NDSP.
There are many important decisions that coincide with a transition to an overseas assignment without a DODEA school. DODEA NDSP does not approve or certify schools. Families choose the education option that is appropriate for their child. Visit the following websites for more information:
- NDSP School Interactive Map – A tool to assist with locating schools at your assigned duty station. The listing is not all inclusive.
- U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools – See their “Resources” menu for information about child mental health resources, homeschooling, boarding schools, a Foreign Service Assignment Notebook and more.
Parents have the right to choose the educational setting for their child, with authorization up to the NDSP education allowance rate for that location and educational option. For first-time family registration or if adding a new dependent, register with the NDSP by using the NDSP Student Online Registration system.
Start planning for a successful school transition as soon as you learn about your move – the more your child knows about the new location and school, the more confident your child will feel. Learn more about helping your children change schools.
Your installation school liaison office provides an array of transition support for children grades pre-K through 12. School liaisons can provide information about local schools, help with transferring credits and registering for classes, provide tutoring and youth sponsorship referrals, and much more.
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