These WA school districts rank among the state’s best for academic success, progress
Apr 22, 2026, 7:38 AM | Updated: 3:47 pm
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal speaking during a press conference. (Photo courtesy of Washington OSPI)
(Photo courtesy of Washington OSPI)
The Washington State Superintendent published a list acknowledging the top 25 districts in the state for academic achievement and academic progress.
What were once created by the federal government, these lists are now created by each state itself. The award has been dubbed the “State Superintendent’s Award for Educational Excellence.”
“They’re likely in a situation of good counselors, good mental health supports, good nutritional support,” Chris Reykdal, the Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction, stated regarding what districts made the list. “So they’re thinking holistically, but they’re really focusing on success in the classroom.”
Four small districts made the list for both overall academic excellence and academic progress: Steilacoom Historical School District, Adna School District (in Chehalis), the White River School District, and the Carbonado School District (near Mount Rainier).
One district, the Peninsula School District (which has approximately 9,000 students), is celebrating its place on the academic achievement list by hanging a banner and a plaque on campus.
“It feels good, the work is getting recognized,” Peninsula School District Chief Academic Officer John Yellowlees told KIRO 7. “I think we are very much in a phase of aspiring to move from good to great.”
Out of the top 25 for academic achievement, seven Pierce County districts made the list.
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The full list of schools honored can be seen below
Awardees for Academic Achievement
- Adna School District
- Anacortes School District
- Bainbridge Island School District
- Bellevue School District
- Camas School District
- Carbonado School District
- Cashmere School District
- Conway School District
- Dieringer School District
- Freeman School District
- Griffin School District
- Issaquah School District
- Lake Washington School District
- Liberty School District
- Mercer Island School District
- Northshore School District
- Oakesdale School District
- Peninsula School District
- Shoreline School District
- Snoqualmie Valley School District
- Steilacoom Hist. School District
- Sumner-Bonney Lake School District
- Tahoma School District
- University Place School District
- White River School District
Awardees for Academic Progress
- Adna School District
- Carbonado School District
- Chimacum School District
- Cle Elum-Roslyn School District
- College Place School District
- Columbia (Stevens) School District
- Finley School District
- Hood Canal School District
- Inchelium School District
- Kiona-Benton City School District
- Lind School District
- Mount Adams School District
- Nine Mile Falls School District
- Onalaska School District
- Pateros School District
- Rainier School District
- Raymond School District
- Riverside School District
- Ritzville School District
- Sedro-Woolley School District
- Steilacoom Hist. School District
- Sultan School District
- Toledo School District
- Wahkiakum School District
- White River School District
Contributing: KIRO 7
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