An evaluation was conducted of private career schools as part of Washington State's accountability system for workforce development. Of some 230 private career schools in the state, 8 volunteered information. Information was also gathered from employment records of the Employment Security Department for 5,902 persons who were students of these schools during 1993-95, a telephone survey of 313 students, and a satisfaction survey of 144 Washington employers of the graduates. The study found that private career students generally resemble the state's population for their age cohort, except with slightly greater levels of female participants. Students reported they entered the schools primarily in order to gain job skills, which they received. Students also received instruction in mathematics, teamwork, communication skills, work habits, critical thinking, and decision making. Among students employed 9 months after their school program, 60 percent were in jobs related to their training. The former students were mostly satisfied with their school programs, as were their employers. Eighty percent of program completers of degree-granting schools were employed 9 months after completion; 55 percent of them received medical benefits, and their mean wage was $10.24/hour. Completers of nondegree schools reported similar results. Areas cited for improvement included strengthening mathematics instruction and providing job-seeking advice. (KC)