Snoqualmie Elementary School has received a 2014 School of Distinction award for outstanding improvement in reading and math scores, sustained over a five-year span. The school is among 101 schools in Washington to be recognized in the top 5 percent of improvement at their levels.

“I am very proud of the work and results we are achieving at Snoqualmie Elementary. It’s exciting to see that daily efforts of promoting student growth — from teachers taking risks and trying new instructional strategies to putting their heart and soul into teaching — is yielding significant levels of achievement,” said Snoqualmie Elementary Principal Kerstin Kramer. “This recognition is wonderful validation for all of the effort that staff, students, and their families, put into learning!”

The award program is sponsored 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.

The Puget Sound Education Service District hosted a ceremony to honor the award winning schools on Nov. 5.

John Welch, Puget Sound ESD Superintendent states, “We are pleased to be a partner in honoring schools within our region that set a high standard in realizing dramatic achievement gains for students. We recognize the difficult and important work that this takes. We salute the students, families, educators, and communities for their successes and for setting a high bar for us all.”

This is the eighth annual School of Distinction award program in Washington. Twin Falls Middle School won the School of Distinction award in 2012, and North Bend Elementary School won it in 2010.

For more information about the award, including a list of the 2014 winners and methodology used, visit the CEE website at www.effectiveness.org/school-of-distinction.aspx.