The Olympia School Board held a special recognition in June to honor Avanti High School, Jefferson Middle School, Boston Harbor Elementary and McLane Elementary for each being named a “2017-18 State Recognized School.”
The four schools received the state award for demonstrating exemplary performance or making significant progress closing opportunity and achievement gaps.
Specifically, the state recognized Avanti High School for closing gaps and demonstrating improvement among student groups identified for support; Jefferson Middle School and Boston Harbor Elementary School for high achievement in math and English language arts; and McLane Elementary School for growth in Washington School Improvement Framework metrics while narrowing the gap between the highest and lowest performing student groups.
In all, 216 Washington schools received a State Recognized School award at concurrent state awards ceremonies in early June in Olympia and Spokane. The Olympia School District is among only 11 school districts statewide that won four or more recognition awards.
“The staff, students and families of Boston Harbor, McLane, Jefferson and Avanti continue a longstanding tradition in Olympia of being recognized at the state level for outstanding academic achievement,” said Olympia School District Superintendent Patrick Murphy.
Murphy added, “These schools are the first in Olympia to be recognized under the new Washington School Improvement Framework (WSIF) tool which helps schools identify ways to improve education for all students. These four schools exceeded expectations in overall English language arts and math achievement or in narrowing opportunity and achievement gaps. Their recognition is a tribute to the dedication of the teachers and staff, and the hard work of students and support of families.”
Over the past year, the Washington State Board of Education, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee created a new system of recognizing and celebrating schools’ achievement. The new State Recognized School awards program places more emphasis on schools that are making progress closing achievement gaps among student groups, as well as schools who have lower levels of achievement, but are seeing high levels of progress.
To learn more about the new awards, visit the
Washington State Board of Education website.