Consistent improvement in graduation rates, over a five-year period, earned two East County schools recognition as Schools of Distinction.

Both East Grays Harbor High of Elma and Montesano Junior/Senior High schools received the award, announced on Sept. 27 by the Center for Educational Effectiveness (CEE).

CEE partnered with the Association of Educational Service Districts, Association of Washington School Principals, Washington Association of School Administrators, Washington State Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and Washington State School Directors’ Association to acknowledge student learning and achievement at 94 schools across the state. Of the schools selected, 51 were elementary, 20 middle/junior high, 23 high schools and six were alternative schools.

The associations recognized elementary and middle schools with sustained improvement in English language arts and math achievement while high schools were recognized for sustained improvement in graduation rates.

Alec Pugh, principal at Montesano Junior/Senior High School, said the school made improvements across the board, not just in the categories recognized by the School of Distinction award. The school had a graduation rate of 93 percent in 2015, said Pugh.

“This means our kids are working hard and so is our staff,” Pugh said. “It shows that our staff is trying new things, changing how they teach and it shows that kids are improving.”

Pugh, who has been principal at MHS for four years, said this was the first time during his tenure that the school had been recognized as a School of Distinction. Both Simpson and Beacon Elementary schools have received the recognition in prior years.

Julie Crawford, principal at East Grays Harbor High School said the improvement seen in the school’s graduation rate was an accumulation of three to four year’s of work at the school district and at the school itself. EGHHS had a 72 percent graduation rate in 2015 — up signficantly over the last few years, Crawford said.

“It’s a challenge in alternative learning, some of the students are coming from great deficits and they have to put in the work,” Crawford said. She added that placing students in internships and jobs helped to demonstrate to the students what they can achieve.

“I’m just really proud of the students and staff who put in so much effort to reach this step in our growth,” Crawford said. “It’s a good team effort — the district, the staff, teachers, counselors working toward this.”

The schools each will receive a School of Distinction banner and certificate.