The Alger Learning Center & Independence High School

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The Alger Learning Center & Independence High School ALC & Independence High School is a Washington State approved private school serving students in grades K-12, including unschoolers and homeschoolers. S.

The Alger Learning Center & Independence High School is a state approved private school serving grades K-12. For over 35 years this school has supported homeschoolers and unschoolers by meeting with students and designing custom curriculum that is compatible with the students interests, abilities and learning styles. The ALC & Independence High School prepare our students to meet the WA state graduation requirements and earn a High School Diploma. Students enrolled in the local program meet with teachers at our Bellingham location, where they are supported by one-on-one instruction and tutoring, while designing and evaluating classes together. We also have a Distance program for those who either live too far away or prefer to stay in contact by phone and email. Typical graduates of our school are happy, self-directed, life-long learners who can think critically and have routinely been accepted by technical and art schools, community colleges, and 4-year colleges and universities, throughout the U. and the world.

Hello Homeschoolers and Families of Whatcom County,The Alger Learning Center & Independence High School is diving into t...
09/03/2026

Hello Homeschoolers and Families of Whatcom County,

The Alger Learning Center & Independence High School is diving into the fall season with opportunities and openings to enroll students at our Bellingham location. Please continue reading and reach out to learn more.

We are a WA State approved private school that supports independent and self-directed learners with one-on-one guidance from our certified teachers and learning coaches. Students and teachers work together to design and monitor classes that meet state requirements. We allow our students to customize their education to match their individual abilities and interests. We have a classroom in Bellingham where students meet with teachers individually and in groups where custom structure and guidance is provided.

Our experienced teachers are here to support and help students get a homeschool/unschool experience all while earning their official transcripts and diploma. We encourage our students to become life long learners and are committed to help them succeed.

We have a few programs including a local program where students attend weekly, as well as a distance/homeschool support program and a high school competition program for people 21 and under who are close to graduating and who want to get recognition for documented life experiences.

If you are interested or know someone who may benefit from this style of school, please reach out to us and we can provide more information and schedule a consultation.

Best wishes,

ALC staff

www.independent-learning.com

[email protected]

We are thrilled to announce here at the Alger Learning Center that we are relaunching our local program in Bellingham af...
08/31/2026

We are thrilled to announce here at the Alger Learning Center that we are relaunching our local program in Bellingham after some administrative changes. We have a new certified teacher on staff who is ready to help guid our students through the process of creating their own classes that revolve around the students interests, abilities and state requirements. We are looking to enroll a small group of students who are self directed learners who could benefit from developing customized learning paths and educational portfolios to earn their high school diploma. Please contact us to find out more and to schedule an appointment to see if this school is right for you or someone you know.

05/12/2026

Thank you Meg at Inner Life Creations for this important reminder about the importance of keeping creativity alive! At the Alger Learning Center we resonate with the concept of helping people stay on track to their true callings in life throughout the learning journey. In our program we encourage creativity, critical thinking, learning at your own rate/capacity through self directed learning and freedom in learning with mentor based guidance. With the support and supervision of certified teachers/learning coaches, we help our students meet state requirements by bringing unschooling into the classroom. We support students to design their own classes based on their individual goals, interests and abilities and allow the students to take control of their own learning. It’s more important than ever to harness creativity and honor the natural learning process in young learners. Our future depends on it.

I wanted to share something personal with this community.My father, John Oren Lackey, who founded Alger Learning Center ...
04/21/2026

I wanted to share something personal with this community.

My father, John Oren Lackey, who founded Alger Learning Center and was a longtime pioneer of self-directed learning, recently passed away. Stepping into his role has been a big transition, but also something I feel deeply called to carry forward and evolve.

In that spirit, I’m directing a small, in-person learning program here in Whatcom County for students who don’t thrive in traditional, institutionalized school.

It’s simple:
Students come in 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, but instead of lectures, they work on their own personalized learning paths with real teacher support.

Think:
More ownership
More creativity
More real-world learning
Less sitting through stuff that doesn’t connect

It’s structured, accountable, and individualized.

If you know a student who might need something different, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to talk it through.

Orion and the ALC staff

Address

Bellingham, WA
98225

Telephone

+18005952630

Website

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