Staff Contacts
Questions about the Washington School Recognition Program can be directed to:
Colton Kaltenfeldt, Communications Manager
Each year, the Washington School Recognition Program highlights schools that demonstrate exceptional progress in key areas of student success. All public schools that participate in the Washington School Improvement Framework improvement process can be recognized.
The program is operated by the State Board of Education in collaboration with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee, as required by state law (RCW 28A.657.110). The program was established in 2010 by the state legislature and was redesigned in 2018 to create a more equitable recognition framework that better highlights successes across the K-12 education system.
Honored Schools
2024-2025 School Recognition
Information about this year's honored schools will be released on May 4, 2026.
2023-2024 School Recognition
- List of 2023-2024 Recognized Schools (PDF)
- 2023-24 Recognition Methodology - Overview, Business Rules, and Technical Documentation (PDF)
2022-23 School Recognition
- 2022-23 Recognition List of Schools (Excel version) (PDF version)
- Description of School Recognition Methodology 2022-23
- Data file for 2022-23 School Recognition
2021-22 Recognition Cycle
- 2021-22 Recognition List of Schools (Excel version) (PDF version)
- Description of School Recognition Methodology 2021-22
- Data file for 2021-22 School Recognition
How A School Qualifies
There are three categories of recognition that schools can be honored for. A school can receive recognition in multiple categories each year. This year's recognition is based on a school’s 2025 Washington School Improvement Framework (WSIF) performance data. To be recognized for any category, schools must have enrollment in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years and meet Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) participation requirements in the 2025 WSIF for ELA and math assessments.
A summary of each categories' award criteria is listed below. Read out 2026 Recognition Program Business Rules for more detailed information on each category, including detailed information on qualifying metrics and cut off scores.
Closing Gaps
Schools earn this award if they were identified for Targeted (Tiers 1–2) or Comprehensive (Tier 3) support in the 2024 WSIF and then showed meaningful improvement in the 2025 WSIF.
Depending on the support type, schools may need to show gains in WSIF scores or move above a minimum score, improve graduation rates in the 2024-25 school year, or increase English learner progress.
For more information, please refer to the 2026 Recognition Program Business Rules.
Achievement
These schools have a WSIF score of 6.00 or higher for the All Students group and all reportable student groups. Additionally, The All Students group at the school performed in the top 20 percent of schools in at least two of the following 3-year measures:
- ELA proficiency rate
- Math proficiency rate
- Regular attendance rate
- Four-year graduation rate
- 9th-grade on track rate
- Dual credit completion rate
Growth
These schools have at least one student group that has shown some of the state’s largest annual gains across multiple measures between the current and previous school year. Schools can be recognized for their All Student group or individual student groups.
The reportable student groups must meet at least 60 percent of the following measures for which the school or student group is eligible/reportable. In order to meet each metric, a school's year-to-year percentage point increase must be within in the top 10 percent of schools across the state. These metrics include:
- ELA and math proficiency rate
- ELA and math Student Growth Percentile (SGP)
- Regular attendance rate
- Adjusted four-year graduation rate.
- Extended year graduation rate
- 9th-Graders on Track rate (ninth graders who complete all the credits they attempt)
- Dual credit completion rate
- The school’s percentage of English language learners making progress.
There are additional requirements that a school must meet in order to be recognized for its All Students group. Please refer to the Business Rules document for more information.
