Washington state’s Institutional Education program provides K–12 education to youth who are incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, or otherwise institutionalized. Education Northwest partnered with the state’s Education Research and Data Center (ERDC) to provide a comprehensive descriptive analysis of students enrolled in institutional education programs across Washington state. Drawing on longitudinal data from students in the expected graduation years 2019–2023, the study explores enrollment patterns, student demographics, educational experiences, and long-term outcomes for youth involved in institutional settings such as detention centers, juvenile institutions, and rehabilitation centers.
Key Findings:
- Approximately 2 percent of all students in the 2019–2023 cohorts were enrolled in institutional education before age 19 (N=9,593), with most first enrolling between 14 and 17.
- Students who were enrolled in institutional education were disproportionately male (71%) and more likely to identify as American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Latino/a/x, or multiracial, compared to their peers who were never enrolled in institutional education.
- Students who were enrolled in institutional education were more likely to attend schools with higher discipline rates and higher absenteeism.
- After institutional education enrollment, students were less likely to return to traditional public K–12 schools and more likely to attend alternative schools or reengagement schools.
- Criminal justice recidivism was high: 43 percent of students who were enrolled in institutional education had a criminal charge with a guilty conviction or adjudication within three years of their first institutional education enrollment.
- Students with greater exposure to institutional education tended to have lower graduation rates.
- Students in community facilities had the highest employment rates, while detention-only youth showed the lowest postsecondary enrollment and those in long-term or rehabilitation facilities had lower on-time graduation.
Suggested Citation:
Gowdy, G., & Cigarroa Kennedy, C. (2026). Institutional education in Washington state. Education Northwest. https://erdc.wa.gov/publications-and-reports/institutional-education-washington-state
Documentation:
