The Northwest Regional Data Center (NWRDC), along with the Washington School Information Processing Cooperative (WSIPC), has its roots in the Intermediate School District (ISD) 109 Data Processing Cooperative, which began in 1967 and was housed in the Snohomish County Courthouse in Everett.
Unique among other data processing centers, it was the only true cooperative in the state of Washington at that time. It arose out of necessity to serve the data processing needs of the school districts. In the first year of operation, 10 school districts with a total of 19,000 students plus the ISD 109 and 110 offices were served. An advisory board made up of seven district superintendents met regularly to set policy, approve budgetary planning and set priorities. Participating districts contributed in much the same way as is done presently, based on the average yearly FTE count.

Initially, computer time was rented from Everett Community College and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. In 1968, an IBM 1130 was purchased. By 1977, when a Xerox Sigma 9 system was installed, 21 school districts with a total enrollment of 64,000 were being served. The Sigma 9 system was capable of handling terminal devices in remote  locations through telephone lines, a breakthrough in customer service.

During the above time period (1968-1977), the ISDs, formerly County Superintendent Offices, evolved via several state legislative directives into the present nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs). As part of this process, ESDs 108 and 109 merged to create the Northwest ESD 189 as it is now.

In 1978, a move was made to 20000 Cypress Way in Alderwood Manor, WA. Another technology refresh was implemented in 1981 with the installation of the DEC VAX/VMS platform. In 1985, a major transformation occurred. Under the direction of the nine ESDs, an inter-local entity, WSIPC, was formed and a software licensing program was established. School districts, regional data centers and two newly created district data centers entered into service agreements with WSIPC.

NWRDC, which is the largest of the regional data centers, was formed under the jurisdiction of the Northwest ESD 189 Board and continues to derive its powers from them. In 1987, the three-member NWRDC Executive Advisory Committee adopted the Northwest Regional Data Center Cooperative Constitution and Bylaws. An agreement was made with WSIPC to provide comprehensive services to NWRDC’s 44 school districts in Northwest ESD 189 and ESD 121.

An amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws in 1993 increased the number of representatives on the NWRDC Executive Advisory Committee from three to five. In 1998, NWRDC and WSIPC moved to their present location at 2121 West Casino Road in Everett.

Today another technology refresh is underway and NWRDC continues to be committed to providing quality information services to 43 school districts with approximately 165,000 students in Northwest ESD 189 and ESD 121.