CENTRAL KITSAP — Three Central Kitsap School District elementary schools have been recognized by the Center for Educational Effectiveness for their quality teaching.

PineCrest, Silver Ridge and Woodlands elementary schools are all recipients of 2016 Schools of Distinction award, given to the top 5 percent of schools in the state recognized for the most improvement in math and reading scores. This is the second consecutive year PineCrest Elementary has received the award.

Jill Carlson, CKSD’s executive director of elementary teaching and learning, said scores from state tests for students in third through fifth grade are tracked. The schools with the largest measured improvement in test scores are given the award.

“These three schools have worked really hard at building systems,” Carlson said. “They’ve really worked together at communication and teaming so that the system starts in kindergarten and goes all the way through to fifth grade.”

Carlson said the award shows that the systems have been working. She said the award helps improve staff morale “because they know that what they’re doing is working.”

In a press release from CKSD, Superintendent David McVicker said, “The progress our students and staff have made at these schools is something we can all be proud of. It shows that our work to improve reading achievement, engage students and give the right help to students who need it the most is on the right track.”

The Schools of Distinction awards are given by the Center for Educational Effectiveness, in partnership with the Association of Educational Service Districts, the Association of Washington School Principals, Washington Association of School Administrators, Washington State School Directors’ Association and Washington State Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

This year, 36 schools in 11 districts, including 25 repeat winners, earned the award.

To learn more about the schools of distinction award, visit www.effectiveness.org/school-of-distinction.aspx.