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16 of Our Region's School Districts Just Earned a Statewide Honor
An image of the Washington State Superintendent's Award for Educational Excellence

This week, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced something new: the inaugural State Superintendent's Award for Educational Excellence. Forty-six school districts across Washington are being recognized — and 16 of them are right here in the PSESD region, serving students in King and Pierce counties and on Bainbridge Island.

That's nearly 4 in 10 statewide honorees coming from our region!

Why This Award Exists

When the U.S. Department of Education ended the Blue Ribbon Schools Award last fall, state chiefs were encouraged to build their own recognition systems. OSPI moved quickly, developing an award framework that looks at a broader set of indicators than previous awards — capturing student opportunity and outcomes across the full K–12 experience, and weighing metrics that research shows matter most for student success.

The award has two categories. The first, the Academic Achievement Award, recognizes the top 25 districts in the state for academic achievement in the most recent school year. The second, the Academic Progress Award, recognizes the top 25 districts for academic progress — meaning sustained improvement over the past three years. 

Who's Being Recognized in Our Region

Sixteen PSESD districts earned the Academic Achievement award: Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Carbonado Historical, Dieringer, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Northshore, Peninsula, Shoreline, Snoqualmie Valley, Steilacoom Historical, Sumner-Bonney Lake, Tahoma, University Place, and White River.

Three PSESD districts earned the Academic Progress award: Carbonado Historical, Steilacoom Historical, and White River. Those three also received the Achievement award — making them three of the four districts in the entire state to earn both honors this year.

It's easy to look at a list of high-achieving districts and assume the outcomes speak for themselves. But behind every data point is a teacher providing excellent education, a principal who built a culture where students feel seen, a family that showed up, and a community that believed in its children.

At PSESD, we're proud to support and serve the districts, educators, and students making this possible. Congratulations to all 16 districts and the communities behind them.
 

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