School Recognition

There are a lot of great schools in Washington—schools that are making a real impact! That incredible work deserves recognition. That’s where the Washington State School Recognition Program comes in. 

Each year, this program highlights schools that demonstrate exceptional progress in key areas of student success. For the 2022-2023 school year, 13% of schools received recognition.  

 All Washington public schools are eligible for the honor. 

The program is a joint effort between the State Board of Education (SBE), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC). Its purpose is to celebrate effective practices, support student success, and promote continuous improvement in schools across Washington. 

The program is required by statute. RCW 28A.657.110(3) directs the SBE, in cooperation with OSPI, to annually recognize schools for exemplary performance as measured by the Washington School Improvement Framework (WSIF).  

Honored Schools

2023-2024 School Recognition

• 2023-24 Recognition List of Schools (To be released soon) 

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

Schools can be recognized in three categories: Closing Gaps, Growth, and Achievement. 

• Closing Gaps: Schools in this category have made significant progress in areas identified for improvement in previous school years. These areas may include English language arts and math assessment scores, English learner progress, or graduation rates. 

• Growth: Schools recognized for growth have at least one student group that has shown some of the state’s largest annual gains across multiple measures, such as attendance, assessment scores, English learner progress, graduation rates, or the percentage of ninth graders who successfully earned all their attempted credits. 

• Achievement: These schools rank in the top 10% statewide 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. 

No matter how a school qualifies, it’s a huge honor—one that takes a dedicated team of educators, administrators, and support staff to achieve. And of course, let’s not forget the students who show up every day to learn and grow!