Canyon Creek Middle School, Columbia River Gorge Elementary School, and Washougal Learning Academy are recognized for the 2022-23 school year
In June 2024, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced that three Washougal schools are being recognized for academic growth and closing opportunity gaps in the 2022-23 and 2021-22 school years. Canyon Creek Middle School, Columbia River Gorge Elementary School, and Washougal Learning Academy are recognized for the 2022-23 school year. Canyon Creek Middle School is also being honored for fostering student academic growth in the 2021-22 school year.
All three schools were recognized for academic growth. The Washington School Recognition Program measures growth based on outstanding year-to-year improvement in Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) standardized test proficiency, graduation rates, attendance rates, and other student success measurements. Across all Washougal schools in 2022-23, Washougal School District saw year-to-year improvement in 70% of the subjects and grades tested in the SBAC.
Canyon Creek Middle School (CCMS) is one of just 104 schools recognized for both the 2022-23 and 2021-22 academic years. CCMS was honored for demonstrating substantial improvements for student groups most in need of support. In the 2022-23 school year, Washougal students outperformed the state average in 82% of the subjects and grades tested in the SBAC. CCMS outperformed the Washington State average in 2022-23 in all three subjects tested: 31.5% points in science, 16% points in English Language Arts, and 7.2% points in math.
“This recognition shows how dedicated our teachers, students, and community are to making academic progress and closing opportunity gaps. We’re determined to continue this positive trajectory into the new school year,” said Aaron Hansen, Interim Superintendent at Washougal School District for the 2024-25 school year.
Canyon Creek Middle School, Columbia River Gorge Elementary School, and Washougal Learning Academy will each receive a recognition banner to display in their buildings.
OSPI has partnered with the State Board of Education (SBE) and Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC) for years to identify and recognize schools for the Washington School Recognition Program. For the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, 571 public schools in 178 school districts across Washington state have earned this honor. Learn more about the Washington School Recognition Program and view a full list of schools receiving recognition on the SBE website.
Information provided by the Washougal School District.
Also read:
- Opinion: A year in review of news stories from a former sports guy
Clark County Today reporter Paul Valencia reflects on his evolving role, revisiting major news, community debates, sports moments, and human-interest stories that shaped Clark County in 2025. - Names released of person killed and Vancouver officers involved in deadly force incident
State investigators have released the names of the Vancouver police officers involved in a deadly force incident, and the Clark County Medical Examiner has identified the man who was killed as 44-year-old Perry J. Sellars of Vancouver. - These new laws and taxes take effect in Washington state on Jan. 1
Several new laws and tax increases passed in 2025 take effect Jan. 1 in Washington, impacting unemployment benefits, business taxes, transportation fees, consumer costs and regulatory requirements. - Opinion: Ready for another pay decrease from the state? It happens Jan. 1
Elizabeth New (Hovde) argues that Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll tax increase will further reduce workers’ take-home pay beginning Jan. 1. - Vancouver rolls out new all-access community center membership
The city of Vancouver is launching a new all-access membership in January that allows residents to use both Firstenburg and Marshall community centers. - Four Western WA counties granted $6.6M in federal funds for road safety programs
Four Western Washington counties will receive $6.6 million in federal funding for road safety projects, including an EMS pilot program in Clark County. - Opinion: Justice for none – Court hands down a mandate without a dime to fund it
Nancy Churchill argues that a Washington Supreme Court ruling on public defense imposes costly mandates on local governments without providing funding to implement them.
