King County schools honored for WASL progress

Fourteen King County schools are among 86 across the state to receive "School of Distinction" awards from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The awards, announced today, went to elementary, middle and high schools where students have made the most progress over the past six years in reading and writing on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).

In Seattle, the winners included Garfield High and five elementary schools: Graham Hill, Leschi, Loyal Heights, Olympic Hills and West Woodland.

This is the first time that the state superintendent's office has given the awards. Each school received a trophy and a banner, but Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson hopes to offer cash awards in the future, said spokeswoman Molly O'Connor.

The 86 schools represent the top 5 percent of the state's 2,500 schools judged by how many students moved up at least one level in reading and/or math on WASL. Schools, for example, received credit when students moved from a score of one to two in reading. WASL scores run from one to four, with a three or four considered passing.

Jo Lute-Ervin, principal at Leschi Elementary, said her staff is elated about the honor, which she said celebrates more than six years of hard work.

She attributed her school's success to a number of factors, such as keeping special-education students in regular classrooms, hourlong reading and math blocks, and the instrumental music program.

The latter, she said, "has built a lot of discipline in our students."

King County winners also included: Mount Rainier High in the Highline School District; Highland Terrace Elementary in Shoreline; Crestwood and Martin Sortun elementaries in Kent; Horace Mann and Alcott elementaries in Lake Washington; Bryn Mawr Elementary in Renton; and Cherry Valley Elementary in Riverview.

Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or lshaw@seattletimes.com