The Othello School District is in the nation’s 100th percentile for student academic growth between 3rd and 8th grade according to an article published in The New York Times last week.

A recent study by Stanford University compared academic achievement and achievement gaps in school districts across the United States and found the Othello School District is not only among the top in the nation, but has one of the highest growth rates in Washington State. 

Superintendent of Othello School District Dr. Chris Hurst says the research and publication are cause for celebration in his community. 

“I am encouraged that in OSD we are headed in the right direction, especially with our renewed focus on our instructional vision,” Hurst said. “We are doing the right things and engaged in the right work for our kids, and soon everyone will flock to OSD to see what we are doing in providing our students with a World Class education.” 

While conventional understanding of academic performance directly correlates socioeconomic and racial disparities with student performance on standardized tests, the Stanford study brings new evidence to the forefront that “it’s possible to separate some of the advantages of socioeconomics from what’s actually happening in schools.” 

In Othello, the typical student receives the equivalent of 6.5 years of education over five years in Othello schools. As stated in the article, “Across the country, this analysis shows, the wealth of a district tells us little about the effectiveness of its schools.” The interactive article in the Times allows viewers to enter in a school district name to see how it compares with other districts using various metrics.