ISD Receives State Award for Educational Excellence

The Issaquah School District has been named one of 25 school districts in Washington to receive the State Superintendent’s Award for Educational Excellence in Student Achievement. The award recognizes the 25 top-performing school districts in the state for educational achievement in the previous school year and for those demonstrating the most progress over the past three years. The recognition reflects strong student outcomes across multiple measures, including graduation rates, academic growth and access to advanced coursework. This is the first year the award has been presented to Washington school districts.

“This recognition reflects the dedication and collaboration happening in classrooms and schools across our district every day,” said Heather Tow-Yick, superintendent of the Issaquah School District. “Our teachers, classroom support staff and school leaders work closely with families to support student well-being and strong learning outcomes. We are grateful for the continued engagement of our families and the support of our school board. Most importantly, we remain focused on ensuring every student thrives in a safe learning environment and graduates prepared for the future.”

The district’s results are supported by a continued focus on strong instructional design and student-centered supports, including the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and inclusive classroom practices. Over the past year, the district achieved one of the highest graduation rates in Washington state, and 13 Issaquah School District schools were recognized by the Washington State Board of Education for exceptional progress in closing opportunity gaps, student growth and academic achievement. District leaders also point to the ongoing development and implementation across all grade bands of the Portrait of a Graduate framework, which focuses on durable skills that help students build confidence and develop agency, so they are prepared for the opportunities and challenges ahead.

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) evaluates school districts for the award based on these metrics of student opportunity and outcomes:

Student Opportunity Measures

• Regular attendance
• Kindergarten readiness
• Highly capable program participation
• High school level math in 8th grade
• Dual credit participation, including Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• Dual credit participation, excluding CTE

Student Outcome Measures

• 4th grade reading
• 8th grade reading
• 8th grade math
• Ninth graders on track (to graduate)
• 4-year graduation rate

The award criteria align with the state’s Annual Snapshot on Student Opportunity and Outcomes, which shows how individual districts and the state as a whole are progressing on key focus areas. While OSPI did not include access to dual language programming in the methodology, our school district received a commendation for the steps we have taken to provide students with the opportunity to learn English alongside another language –– skills that will serve students for the rest of their lives.

“It is an honor to recognize the Issaquah School District for their dedication to student opportunity and success,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “From high-quality instruction, to targeted strategies to improving attendance, to ensuring all students have access to advanced coursework, the Issaquah School District is an inspiring representation of Washington’s outstanding public schools.”

Our district will receive a banner and a plaque from OSPI recognizing our achievement and commitment to student success.

For more information from OSPI:

• State Superintendent’s Award for Educational Excellence
• ISD’s Roadmap to Success for Every Washington Learner