by David Mendez

The Shoreline School District is among the first recipients for an inaugural statewide award seeking to recognize the best-performing school districts across Washington.

The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction — the state agency overseeing public schools across the state — named Shoreline as a winner of the State Superintendent’s Award for Educational Excellence last week, honoring the work the district and its students have done over the past school year.

“Receiving this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community,” SSD Superintendent Susana Reyes said in a press release. “From our teachers, administrators, and support staff to our students, families, and community partners, this recognition reflects the collective commitment to ensuring every student has the opportunities and support they need to succeed in Shoreline schools.”

Honorees were chosen based on a calculation of 11 measures including student attendance, kindergarten readiness, reading scores for 4th and 8th grade students, math scores and abilities for 8th graders, participation in dual credit programs, student progress for ninth graders and four-year graduation rates.

District students topped state averages in every category the award measures according to a measure of 2024-’25 school year data, including a four-year graduation rate of 92.1%, compared to a state average of 82.6%; and respective eighth grade math and English language arts foundational knowledge rates of 71.1% (state math average is 57.3%) and 80.9% (state ELA average is 70.2%).

The award is a state-level replacement for the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award program, which was cancelled by the U.S. Department of Education in 2025. No Shoreline schools were National Blue Ribbon School awardees during that program’s history.

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

Shoreline School District will receive a banner and a plaque from OSPI to commemorate the award.