Washington Achievement Award (WAA)
How Schools are Selected for Recognition

The WAA uses the State Board of Education Accountability Index and criteria set by the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Waiver for recognition purposes.

The WAA provides multiple ways to demonstrate success. ¹

Overall Excellence

• Elementary
• Middle & Junior High
• High
• Comprehensive

For elementary, middle & junior high, high and comprehensive, schools whose overall two-year average puts them in the top five percent (in four levels: elementary, middle/junior, high and comprehensive). Schools must have at least 10 cells of the matrix rated each year and fewer than 10 percent students designated as gifted each year to be considered. ² Only schools with an income/ethnicity achievement gap of less than 2.5 are eligible.

For schools with significant gifted populations, Schools that have more than 10 percent gifted student population and a two-year average for the peers rating of at least 6.00 also receive recognition. ³

Title I eligible or participating (Title I) schools that are “highest-performing schools” according to the criteria in the ESEA Flexibility Waiver are also recognized in the Overall Excellence category. Highest-performing schools:

• Are in the top 10 percent of all Title I schools.
• Have met either Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) or Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) in both reading and math for three years.
• Do not have significant opportunity gaps.
• Comprehensive and high schools must also be among the Title I schools with the highest graduation rates.

Schools identified as Priority, Focus or Emerging through the ESEA flexibility waiver are not eligible for recognition in the Overall Excellence category.

Special Recognition
Schools will also receive recognition for being top performers in:

• Language Arts (reading and writing combined)
• Math
• Science
• Extended Graduation Rate
• Closing Achievement Gaps ⁴
• High Progress (Title I eligible or participating schools only)

For Language Arts (reading and writing combined), Math, Science, and the Extended Graduation Rate, the overall (column) two-year average is at least 6.00, at least two of the four cells in the column are rated each year, and there are fewer than 10 percent students designated as gifted each year. For Language Arts, both reading and writing must have a two-year average of at least 6.00 and at least two of the cells rated in each column each year. Schools identified as Priority, Focus or Emerging through the ESEA flexibility waiver are not eligible for recognition.

For Closing Achievement Gaps (race/ethnicity) the minority percent must be at least 20 percent, the two-year average for both non-minority and minority must be at least 4.25 and the race/ethnicity gap for both 2009 and 2010 must be no greater than 0. Schools identified as Priority, Focus or Emerging through the ESEA flexibility waiver are not eligible for recognition in the Overall Excellence category.

For Closing Achievement Gaps (income level) the low income percent must be at least 20 percent, the two-year average for both non low income and low income must be at least 4.25 and the income gap for both 2009 and 2010 must be no greater than 0. Schools identified as Priority, Focus or Emerging through the ESEA flexibility waiver are not eligible for recognition in the Overall Excellence category.

For High-progress, the school must be in the top 10 percent of Title I schools for both performance and improvement in both reading and math for three years. Comprehensive and high schools must also be among the Title I schools with the most progress in increasing graduation rates.

¹ The Washington Achievement Award relies mainly on criterion-based measures but also recognizes a percentage of all elementary, middle/junior high, high and comprehensive schools. Schools that meet the “highest-performing” and “high progress” standards in the ESEA flexibility waiver are also recognized.
² For purposes of recognition ‘two-year average’ refers to the average of the 2011 and 2012 indexes. ‘Five percent’ refers to five percent of total schools at that level in the 2012 index. When a tie occurs at the five percent cut off, all schools with that score will be recognized.
³ Results for the peer indicators control for the types of students attending the school (percent gifted, low income, ELL, special education and mobile). This ensures schools with the highest concentrations of gifted students do not automatically receive recognition.
⁴ Schools are recognized for closing achievement gaps for both minority students and low income students.