The Pateros School District was informed Friday, September 17 th that the District (elementary, junior high and high school) has been named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Five Washington Public Schools are receiving the award this year. There are a total of 206 public schools that will be honored nationally. However, the Pateros School District is one of only three K-12 School Districts in the United States to receive this award. Superintendent Dennis Przychodzin said, “What a tremendous honor for the students and staff in our District to be chosen as a recipient of such a prestigious award.” Przychodzin praised the students for their hard work. He also praised the staff for their excellence in teaching and dedication to students. After all, he said, “Our district would not be receiving this award without a staff that not only does an outstanding job of teaching, but truly cares about the students as individuals.”

The award was presented to Superintendent Dennis Przychodzin by Ms. Donna Foxley, U.S. Department of Education’s Region X Representative of Secretary Rod Paige.

Award winners must be high achieving and meet one of the two following assessment criteria:

1. “Dramatically improving” schools are identified as those which have made adequate yearly progress (AYP) and at least 40% of the student population comes from disadvantaged backgrounds. The schools must have dramatically improved the performance of all students to high levels in reading and mathematics on state assessments over at least the last three years.
2. “High performing” schools are identified as those which are in the top 10% of all schools on state assessment scores in both reading and mathematics, regardless of their demographics.

The Pateros School District met the first criterion of “Dramatically Improving” test scores of all students to high levels in reading and mathematics on the state assessments over at least the last three years.

Ms. Foxley presented the award during an all school assembly. She told the students and staff they are considered a part of “the best of the best” in the United States according to the Department of Education.