PORT ANGELES — Neah Bay Elementary School has been named a “Golden Apple Award” Pathways to Excellence winner by KCTS-9, a Public Broadcasting Service affiliate in Seattle.
Twelve teachers and schools will be presented with the awards at a Jan. 17 ceremony.
“We’re pretty darn excited,” said Alice Murner, who has been principal of the school since 2001.
Neah Bay Elementary was named a 2013 School of Distinction and received two 2012 Washington Achievement Awards.
“We’ve just been really busy around here,” Murner said.
The award recognizes the school’s efforts over a long period of time.
“Such accolades are the direct result of years of dedication on the part of students, their families, school staff and the community,” the award says.
In the 2012-13 “Measure of Student Progress” exams, Neah Bay students exceeded state standards at a rate higher than the state average in five of eight categories.
“The staff’s efforts to support every student in meeting high academic expectations have led to incredible strides,” according to the award.
The fifth grade — now sixth grade at Neah Bay Middle School — in particular shone.
Better than state standards
In 2012-13, 83.3 percent met standards in reading, and 77.8 percent met standards in science— a rate higher than the state average.
In math, 66 percent of the fifth-graders met standards, again above state averages.
By comparison, in 2005-06, 18.2 percent of fifth-grade Neah Bay students met state standards in science, with 27.3 percent in math.
Two other schools received the Pathways to Excellence award: Hudtloff Middle School in Lakewood and Toppenish High School in Toppenish.
The remaining nine Golden Apple recipients were teachers, principals and counselors.
Recipients will be profiled in a special feature on achievements and methods used to get positive educational results, said Maria Meyer of KCTS.
The feature is expected to air on public television stations across the state in February, shesaid.
Nominees were selected by a panel of education leaders from the community, and past Golden Apple Award winners evaluated the nominees and selected this year’s winners.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.