Susan Castillo, Oregon State Superintendent of Public Instruction, will visit Washington Elementary School on May 14 to officially honor staff and students for being named a 2012 Celebrating Student Success Champion school.
The Oregon Department of Education on April 11 announced Washington Elementary as one of just seven schools in the state to receive the prestigious award, which recognizes efforts in working towards closing the achievement gap. Washington Elementary is the only school east of the I-5 corridor and the smallest school to receive the award this year.
During her visit May 14, Castillo will tour the Pendleton school of around 385 students, as well as attend an all-school assembly at 2:15 p.m. Castillo will present Principal Curt Thompson with a trophy for the honor, as well as a $3,000 check for the school. The Nixyaawii Community School drummers will also entertain the crowd.
The Celebrating Student Success award program, now in its eighth year, recognizes high poverty and/or minority schools that have made significant progress in closing the academic achievement gap that so often separates traditionally underserved students from their peers. Schools are selected based on a comprehensive review of student achievement data, evidence of significant gains by historically underserved student subgroups (i.e., minority groups, students with limited English, special education students, etc.), and review of a narrative application by a Blue Ribbon Panel of educators, education stakeholders, and community members from across the state.
Nearly 45 percent of Washington Elementary’s students are Native American, 4 percent are Hispanic, 2 percent are African-American, and the remainder are Caucasian. Students qualifying for free and reduced lunch make up nearly 71 percent of the school’s population; however, all students receive free breakfast as a qualifying Title I school. Special education students make up just over 20 percent of the school’s population.
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Links: Celebrating Student Success Champion Awards, www.ode.state.or.us