ESEA Distinguished Schools Award Program

Washington state schools are selected by their State Education Agency for the ESEA Distinguished Schools Award. There were four recipients of the 2022–2023 ESEA Distinguished Schools Award, two schools were selected for national recognition and two schools were selected for state recognition. The schools chosen for national recognition will be honored at the National ESEA Conference.

These schools demonstrate a wide array of strengths, including team approaches to teaching and learning, focused professional development opportunities for staff, individualized programs for student success, and strong partnerships between the school, parents, and the community. What makes ESEA Distinguished Schools’ stories especially powerful are the documented student achievement gains that have resulted from their collaborative and targeted efforts and innovations.

2023–24 Recipients

Distinguished Schools Program Criteria

The schools selected must qualify under one of the following categories:

• Category 1: Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years
• Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups for two or more consecutive years
• Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g. homeless, migrant, English learners, etc)

Eligibility for the award is based on several factors, including:

• Closing educational achievement and opportunity gaps
• Positive academic achievement growth over multiple years in ELA and Mathematics as measured by standardized assessments
• Poverty Percentage of schools above 45%
• School student enrollment

Past Recipients

2022-23 Recipients

National Distinguished Schools

LaCrosse Elementary

LaCrosse School District

Principal Jordan Jennings

Camas Prairie Elementary

Bethel School District

Principal Melissa Munson-Merritt

State Distinguished Schools

Wahkiakum High School

Wahkiakum School District

Principal Stephanie Leitz

Davenport Elementary

Davenport School District

Principal Sarita Hopkins

2021–22 Recipients

National Distinguished Schools

Jefferson Elementary

Pullman School District

Jim Bruce, Principal

Hilton Elementary

Zillah School District

Ryne Phillips, Principal

State Distinguished Schools

Rainier View Elementary

Seattle School District

Anitra Jones, Principal

Glenridge Elementary

Kent School District

Scott Abernathy, Principal

2020–21 Recipients

National Distinguished Schools

Evergreen School

Evergreen School District (Stevens)

Bill Glidewell, Superintendent & Principal

Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years

Twin City Elementary

Stanwood-Camano Island School District

Jennifer Allen, Principal

Excellence in serving special populations of students

State Distinguished Schools

Hilton Elementary

Zillah School District

Ryne Phillips, Principal

Closing the achievement gap between student groups

Selkirk Elementary

Selkirk School District

Nancy Lotze, Superintendent & Principal

Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years

2019–20 Recipients

National Distinguished Schools

Hamilton Elementary

Port Angeles School District

Principal: Gary Pringle

Closing the achievement gap between student groups

Davenport Middle & High School

Davenport School District

Principal: Chad Prewitt

Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years

State Distinguished Schools

Chester H. Thompson Elementary

Bethel School District

Principal: Ralph Wisner

Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years

Stanley Elementary

Tacoma School District

Principal: Julila Heacox

Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years

2018–19 Recipients

National Distinguished Schools

Gildo Rey Elementary

Auburn School District

Principal: Lenny Holloman

Closing the achievement gap between student groups

Bonney Lake Elementary

Sumner School District

Principal: Bobbi Snider

Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years

State Distinguished Schools

Almira Elementary

Almira School District

Principal: Shauna Schmerer

Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years

Olympic Hills Elementary

Seattle School District

Principal: Elizabeth DeBell

Closing the achievement gap between student groups