MOSES LAKE — Lakeview Terrace Elementary School received the 2009 Washington Achievement Award for overall excellence.

“Being recognized for the award is an honor, especially considering there were only 75 schools in the state to receive an award,” said Michelle Price, Moses Lake School District superintendent. “We didn’t win in just one area, but for overall work, so that is a big deal.”

The award was created by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the State Board of Education to celebrate the top-performing schools and to recognize achievement in multiple categories. The award is based on a school’s performance according to the newly created School Accountability Index, a comprehensive measurement of how schools in Washington are performing over time.

The award is given to elementary, middle, high and comprehensive schools in six different categories: overall excellence, language arts, math, science, extended graduation and gifted education.

“Lakeview was not given this award by accident,” Price said. “All the Lakeview staff work well together. The staff always does whatever it takes to ensure the students’ needs are being met, and this award is just one opportunity to recognize Lakeview for that work.”

Schools are selected based on their statewide assessment data for the three previous years.

“It is no surprise Lakeview received this award,” Price said. “Lakeview is one of our schools that has just consistently had high levels of performance from assessment tests. Lakeview has an excellent group of teachers that care about student performance and always make adjustments in teaching throughout the year.”

OSPI is having an awards ceremony for Lakeview on May 5. It is hosted by Hazen High School in Renton.

“The district is very proud of the entire staff and students at Lakeview for their achievements,” Price said.

The Moses Lake school board members are recognizing staff and students of Lakeview at an upcoming school board meeting.

Visit OSPI’s education awards pages to learn more about the Washington Achievement Awards, including details on accountability index and the criteria for selection. Their Web site is www.k12.wa.us/.