The Kiona-Benton City School District has been recognized by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with the inaugural State Superintendent’s Award for Educational Excellence, a new statewide recognition honoring school districts demonstrating strong student achievement and academic progress.

Ki-Be was recognized for its academic progress over the past three years, reflecting the district’s ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for students and supporting learning across all grade levels.

“This award is a reflection of the dedication our teachers, staff, students, and families bring to our schools every day,” said Kiona-Benton City Superintendent Pete Peterson. “We have worked intentionally to strengthen learning opportunities and help every student succeed, and it’s encouraging to see that progress recognized at the state level.”

The award recognizes 46 school districts across Washington state and highlights districts showing either top performance in the most recent school year or significant progress over a three-year period.

Award criteria align with the state’s Annual Snapshot on Student Opportunity and Outcomes, which measures district performance across key indicators including kindergarten readiness, Highly Capable program participation, regular attendance, fourth grade reading, eighth grade math, ninth graders on track to graduate, and four-year graduation rates.

“It is an honor to recognize Kiona-Benton City School District for their dedication to student opportunity and success,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “From high-quality instruction to targeted strategies for improving attendance and ensuring students have access to advanced coursework, Ki-Be is an inspiring representation of Washington’s outstanding public schools.”

To ensure fair comparisons across Washington’s more than 300 school districts and state-tribal compact schools, OSPI standardizes performance measures across multiple student success indicators. District scores are averaged, and the top-performing districts in each category are selected for the award.

Kiona-Benton City School District will receive a banner and plaque recognizing the district’s commitment to providing high-quality educational opportunities and supporting student success