Students have been working hard at four south central Washington schools because they're among 101 being honored statewide with the 2014 School of Distinction Award, which recognizes outstanding student improvement in reading and math during the past five years.  All four of the local schools are also repeat winners of the statewide award from last year.

The five area schools named for 2014 are:

  • Cle Elum-Roslyn High School, a three-time winner that previously received a School of Distinction Award in 2013 and in 2007.
  • East Valley School District’s Moxee Elementary School, now a two-time winner after first receiving the award in 2013.
  • Union Gap School, receiving the award for the third consecutive year.
  • West Valley School District’s Wide Hollow Elementary, now a four-time winner of the award, receiving it previously in 2009, 2010, and 2013.  Statewide, nine schools have been given the award four times since the award was introduced in 2007.  Just five schools have received the award a total of five times, and only Seattle’s Mercer Middle School has received it six times.

The Schools of Distinction Award goes to the top 5 percent of Washington schools that have attained the most outstanding levels of reading and math improvement among their students over the past five years.  Levels of student achievement are calculated from state testing scores, including the Smarter Balanced Assessment, the High School Proficiency Exam, and high school end-of-course math results.

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