Press Room
ESD 112 region schools named "Schools of Distinction"
State School Supt. Terry Bergeson applauds 86 "amazing" schools in Washington state
Eight schools in the ESD 112 region have been named "Schools of Distinction" by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for dramatic improvements in student reading and mathematics over the past several years.
The ESD 112 region schools who received the award are:
· Illahee Elementary (Evergeeen)
· Mill Plain Elementary (Evergreen)
· Carrolls Elementary (Kelso)
· Toutle Lake Elementary (Toutle Lake)
· Woodland Intermediate School (Woodland)
· Green Mountain School (Green Mountain)
· Naselle Middle School (Naselle-Grays River)
· Canyon Creek Middle School (Washougal)
On October 10, school district representatives were recognized at ESD 112 via a K-20 teleconference with State Superintendent Dr. Terry Bergeson.
OSPI's Schools of Distinction represent the top 5 percent of elementary, middle and high schools whose students have shown outstanding growth in both reading and mathematics skills during a six-year period. This year's winning schools include 51 elementary schools, 20 middle schools and 15 high schools - out of nearly 2,500 schools in the state.
To be considered for the award, each school had to meet the current year's state learning targets on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning for students in both reading and mathematics.
Schools that met the reading and mathematics targets were then evaluated for six-year gains on the state's "Learning Improvement Index." Because the award is based on improvement across a six-year period, only results from grades four, seven and 10 were used, as those are the only grade levels with six years of trend data.
Independent research and analysis to establish criteria for the awards and to identify the schools with the greatest improvement was conducted by Greg Lobdell of the Center for Educational Effectiveness in Redmond.
School leaders from each of the winning schools were presented with awards and a large banner reading "School of Distinction - 2007 State Superintendent's Learning Improvement Award."
Additional information on the award program, and a list of all Schools of Distinction, can be found on the OSPI Web site at www.k12.wa.us.
Pictured: ESD 112 Superintendent Dr. Twyla Barnes (left), along with Dr. Joe Willhoft, Assistant Superintendent of Assessment and Research for OSPI, (second from left), congratulate Canyon Creek Middle School (Washougal School District) staff on their Award of Distinction.