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46 Washington School Districts Honored with New State Award Recognizing Student Achievement and Progress

OLYMPIA—March 5, 2026—The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) inaugural State Superintendent's Award for Educational Excellence recognizes 46 school districts across Washington for their commitment to student success. The award is provided to the 25 top-performing school districts in educational achievement in the previous school year and the 25 top-performing school districts in progress over the last three school years. This year, four school districts are recognized in both categories: Adna School District, Carbonado School District, Steilacoom Historical School District, and White River School District.

The award criteria align with the state’s Annual Snapshot on Student Opportunity and Outcomes, which shows how individual districts and the state as a whole are progressing on key focus areas. The metrics included in the award evaluation are listed below.

Student Opportunity Measures

• Regular Attendance
• Kindergarten Readiness
• Highly Capable Program Participation
• High School Level Math in 8th Grade
• Dual Credit Participation Including Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• Dual Credit Participation Excluding CTE

Student Outcome Measures

• 4th Grade Reading
• 8th Grade Reading
• 8th Grade Math
• Ninth Graders on Track
• 4-Year Graduation Rate

”When assessing student achievement, there are a number of school-based factors that contribute to students success,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “The research shows that access to advanced coursework, readiness for success in kindergarten, and consistent attendance are all strong indicators of student learning, and paired with test scores, provide a more complete picture of student achievement. Our highest performing school districts are focused on these critical measures of success, and it is an honor to recognize them.”

The 2026 State Superintendent's Award for Educational Excellence Awardees

Last August, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) abruptly ended the Blue Ribbon Schools Award, a longstanding federal program that recognized schools across the country for excellence in student achievement and closing opportunity gaps. ED then encouraged state chiefs to implement their own state-level awards programs in place of the Blue Ribbon Schools Award.

“There are a lot of public schools in our state that are doing some truly fantastic work around creating opportunities for students,” Reykdal said. “We wanted to make sure this work is being talked about, acknowledged, and celebrated.”

There are more than 300 school districts and state-tribal compact schools across Washington, and they are diverse in geography, size, and students served. To make valid comparisons across diverse districts, the awards methodology requires standardizing the different measurements, making it possible to compare school districts on the same scale and assign scores in each category. Those scores were averaged, and the 25 top-performing districts in each category were selected to receive the award this year.

Awardees will receive a banner and a plaque recognizing their achievement and commitment to ensuring students receive a high-quality education. All Washington public school districts, state-tribal education compact schools, and public charter schools are eligible for the award each year.

For More Information

• OSPI Webpage: State Superintendent’s Award for Educational Excellence
• OSPI Video: State Superintendent’s Award for Educational Excellence