All
three of the district’s comprehensive high schools and four of its
elementary schools have been selected to receive one or more Washington
Achievement Awards.
The
annual awards program, sponsored by the Office of Superintendent of
Public Instruction and State Board of Education, celebrates Washington’s
top-performing schools. A total of 413 schools statewide received the
award.
“We
are very proud of all of our schools for their focus on growth and
achievement,” said district Superintendent Tim Yeomans. “The seven
Puyallup School District schools honored this year exemplify the
district’s continued focus on academic excellence.”
Elementary,
middle/junior high, and comprehensive high schools are recognized for
achievement in six categories: overall excellence, high progress,
reading growth, math growth, extended (5-year) graduation rate, and
English language acquisition.
For
the second consecutive year, Woodland Elementary School earned the top
award for overall excellence. The award is based on state assessment
data in science, writing, reading, and math for the past three years.
Woodland Elementary is among the top 5 percent of schools in the state to receive the highest honor.
Emerald
Ridge and Rogers high schools have been selected to receive the high
progress award, which is based on students’ reading and math scores.
Spinning
Elementary School received two awards – one for high growth in reading
and the other for high growth in math. Puyallup High, and Ridgecrest and
Sunrise elementary schools, also won the high growth award in math.
This
is also the third consecutive year that Ridgecrest Elementary is being
honored with the state award. Last year, the school won three Washington
Achievement Awards (overall excellence, science, and closing
achievement gaps). The school was also honored for overall excellence in
2012.
“So
many schools in our state are doing good work to make a difference for
kids,” said state Schools Superintendent Randy Dorn. “These awards
represent some of the best. It’s an honor to recognize them and
celebrate their success.”
The
award-winning schools will be honored at a ceremony on April 24 at
Timberline High School in Lacey. A banner and an etched acrylic award
will be given to all schools to display in their buildings.