Washington Achievement Awards Announced

Twenty-one Seattle Schools were honored with 2011 Washington Achievement Awards. 

The Seattle schools received recognition for their upward trends in performance.   From SPS:

The Washington Achievement Award is given to elementary, middle, high, and comprehensive schools in eight different categories: overall excellence, overall excellence for gifted programs, and special recognition for outstanding achievement in the following subcategories: language arts, math, science, extended graduation rate (high and comprehensive schools only), improvement, and closing the achievement gap. Some schools are honored in more than one of these categories.

Overall Excellence – Elementary. Eight schools were recognized for overall excellence at the elementary level: Frantz Coe, John Hay, John Stanford International School, Loyal Heights, Maple, McGilvra, Montlake, and West Woodland.

Overall Excellence – Multilevel, Middle, and High Schools. Five schools were recognized for overall excellence at the K-8, 6-8, or 9-12 levels: Catharine Blaine K-8, Mercer Middle School, Madison Middle School, Ballard High School, and The Center School.

Special Recognition – Math. Mercer Middle School was also recognized for outstanding achievement in math.

Special Recognition – Science. Four schools were recognized for outstanding achievement in science: Loyal Heights Elementary, Montlake Elementary, Madison Middle School, and Mercer Middle School.

Special Recognition – Graduation Rate. The Nova Project was recognized for outstanding achievement in extended graduation rate.

Special Recognition – Improvement. Eight schools were recognized for outstanding improvement: Pinehurst K-8 School, Denny International Middle School, Madison Middle School, Chief Sealth High School, Franklin High School, Middle College High School, South Lake High School, and The Center School.

Special Recognition - Closing the Achievement Gap. Three schools were recognized for their work closing the achievement gap: Alki Elementary School, Ballard High School, and The Nova Project.

To note:  275 schools in the state received awards, an increase of nearly 50% from 2010.  From OSPI: the most significant gains occurred in the "improvement" and "closing the achievement gaps" categories.   

Great news that progress IS being made in our schools.  SPS has a number of the usual suspects but in there I also see schools like Mercer Middle School, Pinehurst K-8, Middle College and South Lake High School.  

A virtual pat on the back to all the staff members at all the schools that won awards. 

What's the good word at your school?