POULSBO — Vinland and Wolfle elementary schools are two of the top elementary schools in the state.
They were among 258 schools to win the Washington Achievement Award, presented annually to top-performing schools by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the state Board of Education. Winning schools are selected based on statewide assessment data for the three previous years. Schools must have at least 95 percent participation on state tests to qualify for recognition.
Wolfle, a pre-K through grade 5 school in Kingston, won in the High Progress category. Vinland, a K-5 schools in the Vinland area of Poulsbo, won for English Language Acquisition.
“We are pleased and excited our schools have been honored,” Superintendent Patty Page said in a statement released by the district communications office. “Our staffs work tirelessly to support our students.”
Wolfle Elementary is in the top 10 percent of schools making the most progress in reading, or English Language Arts and math combined, over a three-year period, NKSD communications director Jenn Markaryan reported. The progress score is an average of achievement and improvement over the period.
Vinland Elementary is in the top 5 percent of schools based on results from the Washington English Language Proficiency Assessment.
Other Kitsap Peninsula schools to win: Olalla Elementary, K-6, South Kitsap, High Progress; and Pinecrest Elementary, pre-K to grade 6, Central Kitsap, High Progress. Bainbridge Island winning schools: Capt. Johnston Blakely Elementary, K-4, Overall Excellence and English Language Arts Growth; and Ordway Elementary, pre-K to grade 4, Overall Excellence, High Progress, and Math Growth.
“The Achievement Awards recognize schools and educators making a difference in student outcomes,” state Board of Education chairwoman Isabel Muñoz-Colón said in an announcement of the awards. “Award recipients are schools that have made measurable progress helping students prepare for college, career, and life. The Achievement Awards are one way we can learn more about the successful strategies Washington schools are using to help our kids.”
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn said, “We’re very proud of the schools recognized for their performance on the [Achievement] Index. Each school shows sustained growth or excellence, or both. I congratulate each and every school for the hard work they’ve done.”
The Achievement Index is the statewide school accountability system that measures student proficiency in math, English language arts, science, student growth, and college and career readiness.
The award-winning schools will be honored during a ceremony on May 10 at Union Gap School in Union Gap School District, itself an award winner for Overall Excellence, High Progress, English Language Arts Growth, Math Growth, and English Language Acquisition.
