The OSD4ALL Guide to the Olympia School District
AVANTI HIGH SCHOOL
(grades 9 – 12)
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 596-7900
Principal: Michael Velasquez
Mascot: Boxer
Website
Avanti Community Group
ABOUT
Avanti is a small school that educates Olympia-area teens in a progressive, non-traditional, experiential, and performance-based learning environment. Located in one of Olympia’s original schools near downtown, the building also houses the Transitions Academy.Here is how Avanti differs from a comprehensive high school!
- The Avanti school year is split into 4-10 week quarters (or sessions)
- Instruction occurs in morning- and afternoon-scheduled blocks of 3-4 50 minute class periods from Monday-Thursday. Fridays are open for tutoring, clubs, and other academic activity.
- These 3-4 classes are worth 0.5 credits each, meaning 1 full-year credit at a comprehensive high school can be achieved in 2 quarters, with more assignments being done independently outside of the classroom.
- There are three class types: regular instruction, interdisciplinary, and individual learning plans.
- Students at Avanti may take one credited class at their comprehensive high school that is not available at Avanti, including band, orchestra, sports (credited to PE), language instruction, and any other class not offered at Avanti.
- Avanti is part of the Washington Board of Education Mastery-Based Learning Collaborative, meaning students are evaluated in subject competency and cannot move forward without attaining the equivalent of a B in any subject area.
- Avanti works with multiple community partners to provide valuable internship opportunities, including ACE (Avanti Creative Economy) pairing students with working artists, Avanti Bikes, centering on bicycle education and community engagement, and agricultural internships in sustainable farming.
ENROLLMENT
Year round applications are available with approx. 50-75 openings yearly.Prospective students are encouraged to attend Avanti’s quarterly student exhibitions and their info night on April 22 (more dates below). Contact Office Manager Brenda Beck at bbeck@osd.wednet.edu for an application, or look at their enrollment page.
TRANSPORT
There is no district provided transportation.Currently, near 62B, 64, and 60 buslines. Changes to 9x, 21, and 20 buslines on May 3, 2026.
SCHOOL EVENTS
TESTIMONIALS
Avanti is has increased my child’s independence and being mastery-based, there is no lack of academic rigor and preparation for college or career focus. It’s wonderful community of students and educators.
-Avanti Parent
What I love about Avanti High School is how it truly sees students as individuals. It’s a place where kids are supported, respected, and encouraged to grow at their own pace—academically and emotionally. The community is inclusive, flexible, and deeply human, and it gives students the confidence to be themselves while finding their path forward. 💛
-Sabine, mom of an Avanti sophomore
Avanti has a very open-minded community.
– Anonymous community member
I love Avanti High School for trusting in their students to do independent work outside of school hours and for the great teachers they have.
– Anonymous community member
I can’t begin to express what a difference Avanti has made in our lives. My child has soared, both academically and socially by transferring into this inclusive and welcoming environment that values every student. I’ve never seen teachers who cared so much about their students’ success, not just in academics, but in LIFE! The multidisciplinary classes add variety and fun (Haunted School has been the hands-down favorite!!), and different learning options allow students to work at their own pace and thrive where they may have struggled in a standard learning environment. Students have a variety of ways to get involved in clubs, art internships, gardening, outdoor adventures, community involvement, etc. I really can’t speak highly enough about this amazing school!
-Grateful Oly mom
Avanti rocks. My student went from flailing (and potentially failing) in middle school to thriving. Smaller classes and tracts for those who need credit recovery and those on an academic tract as well, plus flexible options for learning like self-paced, classroom setting, multiple campuses while being mastery-based learning with focus on more learning, not repetition and being practical.
-Proud Avanti Parent