Tacoma, WASHINGTON (16 April 2014)  — Six district schools – Brookdale Elementary, Central Avenue Elementary, Christensen Elementary, Elmhurst Elementary, Franklin Pierce High, and Washington High – have been recognized as Washington Achievement Award winners for 2013. A total of 413 schools in the state of Washington were named.

The Washington Achievement Award is sponsored by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education. Award winners are selected using the state’s Accountability Index and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Waiver.

“It is important that we use the revised Achievement Index to not only provide feedback to schools and districts on their progress, but also to identify schools with exemplary student performance,” said State Board of Education Chair Dr. Kristina Mayer. “These awards shine the light on what is working well in schools across Washington.”

Schools are recognized as top performers in one or more of six categories:

• Overall Excellence
• High Progress
• Reading Growth
• Math Growth
• Extended Graduation Rate (awarded to high schools and comprehensive schools only)
• English Language Acquisition

More information about the award categories and the Washington Achievement Awards can be found at: http://www.k12.wa.us/EducationAwards/WashingtonAchievement/

The district’s honorees were recognized in the following categories:

Brookdale Elementary: High Progress

Central Avenue Elementary: English Language Acquisition

Christensen Elementary: Reading Growth and Mathematics Growth and English Language Acquisition

Elmhurst Elementary: English Language Acquisition

Franklin Pierce High: High Progress

Washington High: High Progress

Superintendent Hewins was pleased to learn of the announcement. “This is yet another recognition we’ve recently received about our schools from an outside organization that indicates we are on a path of continuous improvement,” said Hewins. “We will always have more work to do, but we should also take time to celebrate the great work by staff and students that earn these prestigious recognitions.”

The award-winning schools will be honored at a ceremony on April 24 at Timberline High School in Lacey.