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 2023–24 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