OLYMPIA — Four schools in Washington have earned the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Distinguished Schools Award, according to an announcement from the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

ESEA Distinguished Schools Awards recognize schools that bridge educational gaps, the announcement said. For the 2022–23 school year, Washington state’s Paterson Elementary and Pomeroy Elementary schools have earned recognition as National Distinguished Schools, and Hamilton Elementary in Port Angeles and Maple Elementary in south Seattle have earned recognition as State Distinguished Schools.

Schools are eligible for the ESEA Distinguished Schools Award if 35% of their student population is identified as low-income, according to the announcement. The award honors schools that show a commitment to closing educational achievement and opportunity gaps.

“We are very excited about this recognition, as it solidifies the hard work our staff and our students have put into their teaching and learning,” Rachel Gwinn, principal of Pomeroy Elementary School, wrote in the announcement.

Recognized schools show notable efforts to educate, innovate, and create collaborative environments for students, the announcement said. Distinguished Schools have outstanding performance in three categories:

•  Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years

• Closing the achievement gap between student groups for two or more consecutive years

• Excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g., homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.)

National ESEA Distinguished Schools will receive a plaque, a banner, and a grant of $30,000, according to the announcement. Representatives from these schools will also attend the National ESEA Conference in February in Portland, Ore. State ESEA Distinguished Schools will receive a plaque and a grant of $15,000. The grants can be used for professional development, team building, or other program development activities, offering all awarded schools an opportunity to continue investing in educational excellence.

“It is an amazing acknowledgment that highlights the hard work and dedication to the teaching and learning that our staff, students, and families display on a daily basis,” Joe West, principal of Paterson Elementary School, wrote in the announcement. “This recognition is a great reminder … of why we do the work we do, and the impact we, as educators, can have on the students, families, and community in which we serve.”