Kitsap schools among state’s high achievers

NOTE: OSPI later told North Mason officials that North Mason’s inclusion in the awards was incorrect. North Mason qualified for this honor a year ago, but not for the more recent reporting period. Since this chart is somewhat laborious to recreate, we’ll just tell you here rather than correct the chart.

Among the 381 schools honored as high achievers by the state in a release issued today are 15 from Kitsap County and one from Belfair.

The Washington Achievement Awards honor performance in seven categories, including overall excellence and high progress, a category that marks improvement. The state’s criteria measures two-year achievement on test scores and takes into account how small the gap is between low-income students and racial minorities and the rest of their classmates. The state’s press release follows the graph.

381 Schools Win State’s Highest Honor
Washington Achievement Award is based on test scores of many student groups, graduation rates and closing gaps

OLYMPIA — A total of 381 schools are receiving Washington Achievement Awards for 2012. Award-winning schools were notified today via email by State Superintendent Randy Dorn and State Board of Education Chair Jeff Vincent.

The Washington Achievement Awards, now in their fourth year, are sponsored by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education. Award winners are selected using the state’s Achievement Index and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Waiver.

“We’re thrilled that the Achievement Awards have come to mean so much to schools and districts across the state,” Vincent said. “It’s important to us at the state level to ensure that our work benefits everyone, and the award and index do exactly that.”

Schools are being recognized for being top performers in seven categories:
Overall Excellence
Language Arts
Math
Science
Extended Graduation Rate (only awarded to high and comprehensive schools)
Closing Achievement Gaps
High Progress (Title I eligible or participating schools only)
This year the Washington Achievement Awards have been combined with the awards and accountability criteria in the ESEA Flexibility Waiver. The “High Progress” category replaces the “Improvement” category from previous years.

State Superintendent Dorn praised this new collaboration. “Schools and communities expect state and federal governments to work together on accountability,” he said. “We’re grateful that the Flexibility Waiver has given us a chance to align our accountability efforts with the federal government’s expectations. This will streamline both systems over time and provide a better picture of how our schools are doing.”

Full story: http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/PressReleases2013/AchievementAwards.aspx

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