School Recognition - Resources for Honored Schools

Logo for the Washington State School Recognition Program

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Colton Kaltenfeldt
SBE Communications Manager

Congratulations on your school being recognized by the Washington State School Recognition Program! You're one of the 16% of schools that received recognition this year and it took a dedicated team of educators, administrators, and support staff to make it happen.

Please note: This webpage is intended for internal use and should not be shared with the public.

What is the Recognition Program?

Each year, this program highlights schools that demonstrate exceptional progress in key areas of student success. All state public and charter schools are eligible for the honor. 

The program is jointly operated by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), State Board of Education (SBE), and Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC). 

There are three routes for schools to be honored by the Washington School Recognition Program. A school can earn recognition for multiple categories each year. 

  • Closing Gaps: Recognized for significant progress in areas needing improvement, such as assessment scores, English learner progress, or graduation rates. 

  • Growth: Schools with at least one student group making some of the state’s largest annual gains in performance measures like attendance, assessments, or graduation rates.

  • Achievement: These schools have the state's highest performance in at least two key areas, including attendance, dual credit completion, assessment scores in English language arts or math, graduation rates, or ninth-grade credit attainment, and are above average across all reportable student groups on the 2025 Washington School Improvement Framework. 

Who Was Recognized for What This Year?

2023-2024 Recognition Files:

This year, 406 schools received recognition. Of those schools, 50 schools received recognition for three years in a row. 

  • Northeast ESD 101: 39
  • ESD 105: 16
  • ESD 112: 35
  • Capital Region ESD 113: 24
  • Olympic ESD 114: 14
  • Puget Sound ESD 121: 180
  • ESD 123: 26
  • North Central ESD 171: 17
  • Northwest ESD 189: 51
  • Tribal Schools: 1
  • Charter Schools: 3
Map depicting Schools honored by the School Recognition Program by ESD

Award Category​

Schools​

Districts​

Closing Gaps​

76​

21​

Closing Gaps + Achievement​

1​

1​

Closing Gaps + Growth​

15​

29​

Closing Gaps + Achievement + Growth​

-​

11​

Growth​

224​

65​

Growth + Achievement​

27​

19​

Achievement​

63​

8​

Total ​

406​

154​

How Does a School Get a Banner?

Every school that is honored will receive a vinyl banner that can be hung with grommets at each corner. The banners are rated for outdoor use. The Board has partnered with ESD's across the state to facilitate the delivery of banners to individual schools and districts during certain meetings. Typically, a district superintendent is responsible for picking up banners but this may vary between districts. Please contact your district's leadership with any questions regarding banner delivery.

ESD Event Date & Time
Northeast Educational Service District 101 SAC Meeting
May 15th
Educational Service District 105

WASA Meeting
May 15
Educational Service District 112 Regional Superintendents Meeting 
May 16, 2025
Capital Region ESD 113 Not yet scheduled.
Olympic Educational Service District 114

Superintendent Advisory Committee Meeting
May 30th
Puget Sound Educational Service District 121

May 16th
Educational Service District 123 Superintendent Advisory Committee Meeting
June 17
North Central Educational Service District 171

Award Luncheon
Wednesday, June 18 
Northwest Educational Service District 189 Superintendent Advisory Committee Meeting
May 9th
2023-2024 Recognition Program Banner
Banner design for the 2023-2024 school year

Communications Resources

This includes links to templates for social media posts (.psd an .ai) plus links to posts the SBE makes on its social accounts. Links will be periodically updated. 

Recognition Program Social Media Kit 

Want to Invite the Board to an Event?

Are you thinking of putting on an assembly or award ceremony to highlight this honor and would like a Board member to present the banner? Fill out the form below. Please Note: Attendance is subject to Board member availability. Allow 48 hours for a response.

Request a Board Member Attend an Event