It’s not often that schools are recognized for their hard work, but this year, two Sumner schools received Washington Achievement Awards.
Lakeridge Middle School was recognized in the category of Closing Achievement Gaps, and Daffodil Valley Elementary was honored with the Overall Excellence award.
“The selection process for the Washington Achievement Award is very rigorous, and we take great pride in our schools’ accomplishments,” Sumner School District Superintendent Craig Spencer said.
The Washington Achievement Award is given to elementary, middle and high schools in eight different categories: overall excellence, overall excellence for gifted programs and special recognition for outstanding achievement in the following subcategories: language arts, math, science, extended graduation rate (high and comprehensive schools only), improvement and closing the achievement gap.
The awards are given out by the State Board of Education, approved by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and based on the Washington Achievement Index, which analyzes statewide assessments from the past three years.
“I think it is telling us that we’ve been doing the right work for several years, and to keep working,” said Marcie Belfield, principal at Daffodil Valley Elementary.
During the past couple years, teachers at the school have worked to figure out which skills students need more help with. Then they find ways to help students learn those skills.
Belfield said students are never pulled out of class. Instead, specialists come to the classroom to work on skills.
“This is so no one is missing out on anything,” she said.
Overall, Belfield said one of the most significant reasons the school received the award is that teachers work together to make the best possible learning environment.
“They work together to analyze student work to create lesson plans that target an area of need,” she said.
The award, which honors the highest-performing schools in the state, places Daffodil Valley Elementary in the top 5 percent statewide.
“These awards honor the work that teachers are doing every day to ensure that all students are successful and reflect the academic gains students are making,” Spencer said.
Meredith Lawrence is a freelance reporter for The Herald.
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Sumner schools receive top honors
It’s not often that schools are recognized for their hard work, but this year, two Sumner schools received Washington Achievement Awards.
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