A tuition-free public charter high school in Des Moines, Washington, heavily backed by former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife, Grammy-winning singer Ciara, is shutting its doors.
The board of directors for the Why Not You Academy voted unanimously to permanently close the school. The decision stems from persistent enrollment issues that made it financially and operationally impossible to sustain a fully resourced, high-quality learning environment.
Launched in 2021 through a partnership between local educators and the celebrity couple’s Why Not You Foundation—which contributed $1.75 million to the project—the high school aimed to empower underserved youth across South King County through personalized mentorship, real-world experiences, and specialized career preparation.
However, the academy faced steep hurdles, including significant student and staff turnover, and ultimately saw its student body dwindle dramatically. School leadership confirmed that the academy will stay fully operational to finish out the school year, ensuring current students can complete their classes. Administrators are working to help affected families and staff transition smoothly to other local educational options for the upcoming academic year.
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