Thirteen South Sound schools are receiving honors for student improvement in reading and math over the past five years.

Tacoma�s Skyline Elementary is among 104 �Great Schools� with consistent gains on the 2009 Washington Assessment of Student Learning. Other local schools to make the list are: North Star Elementary School in Bethel, Hudtloff Middle School in Clover Park, Central Avenue Elementary School in Franklin Pierce, Pioneer Middle School in Steilacoom, Kopachuck Middle School and Purdy Elementary School in Peninsula, Southwood Elementary School in Enumclaw and Wickersham School of Discovery in White River.

Puyallup had the second-largest representation of the 78 honored districts, with Kalles Junior High and Fruitland, Zeiger and Hunt elementary schools all receiving the �Great Schools� distinction. This is the third consecutive year that Zeiger and Hunt have won accolades.

The award, sponsored by the Washington chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International and The Center for Educational Effectiveness, measures the top 5 percent of schools in reading and math improvement. Each school must have scored at or above the state average in those subjects in grades four, seven, or 10 on the 2009 WASL.

An honors ceremony was held Saturday in Renton.

Joyce Chen, The News Tribune