Four Walla Walla Schools Honored By Washington State School Recognition Program
-05/06/25
WALLA WALLA - Walla Walla Public Schools is proud to announce that four of its schools have been recognized by the Washington State School Recognition Program for outstanding performance during the 2023-2024 school year:
• Green Park Elementary School – Closing Gaps
• Pioneer Middle School – Closing Gaps
• Prospect Point Elementary School – Growth
• Sharpstein Elementary School – Growth
This recognition is especially meaningful, as only 16% of schools across the state earned honors this year. The Washington School Recognition Program is a collaborative effort between the State Board of Education (SBE), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC). The program highlights schools that demonstrate effective practices, foster student success, and prioritize continuous improvement.
“Our Vision 2030 Strategic Plan has provided us with a focus for ensuring district-wide promise standards are taught, assessed and met for every student,” said Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Christy Krutulis. “These four schools exemplify what can be accomplished when teams hold high expectations for students and collaborate to respond to data and differentiate instruction.”
How Schools Qualify for the Washington State School Recognition Program:
Schools are recognized in one or more of the following categories:
• Closing Gaps – Awarded to schools that have made significant progress in areas previously identified for improvement, such as assessment scores in English language arts and math, English learner progress, or graduation rates.
• Growth – Recognizes schools with student groups that have shown some of the most significant annual improvements in the state across multiple measures, including attendance, assessment scores, English learner progress, graduation rates, or ninth-grade credit attainment.
• Achievement – Honors schools demonstrating the highest performance in at least two key areas (e.g., attendance, dual credit completion, assessment scores, graduation rates), while maintaining above-average results across all reportable student groups, as outlined in the 2025 Washington School Improvement Framework.
“Regardless of the category, this recognition represents a remarkable achievement—one that reflects the hard work and commitment of educators, administrators, support staff, and of course, the students who bring their best to school every day,” said Krutulis. “Congratulations to our schools for their dedication to excellence and student success!”
Each honored school will receive a commemorative banner to display with pride.