MATTAWA - Saddle Mountain Intermediate School and Morris School Middle School are recipients of the 2011 Washington Achievement Award, according to Liz Leitz, assistant to the superintendent.

Saddle Mountain earned exemplary marks in multiple categories: Overall Excellence, Language Arts, Math and Improvement for 2011. Saddle Mountain was a repeat recipient, having earned the 2010 Improvement Award.

Morris Schott earned exemplary marks in two categories: Improvement and Closing Achievement Gaps.

"This is an extraordinary accomplishment and is a direct reflection of the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers, and the support and guidance of our parents," Leitz said. "These awards are well deserved."

The Washington Achievement Awards, sponsored by the Washington State Board of Education and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, celebrate the state's top-performing schools.

The selections are based on these schools' performance on the Achievement Index, a comprehensive measurement of Washington schools' performance for the three previous years.