2 Mid-Columbia school districts named top 25 in WA for academic growth
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- Two Mid‑Columbia districts earned state awards for improving academics over three years
- Kiona‑Benton City raised attendance, dual‑credit and 4th/8th grade reading
- Finley lifted regular attendance, CTE participation and 8th‑grade scores
Two Mid-Columbia school districts are being applauded by the state education department for improving student academics over the last three years.
Kiona-Benton City and Finley are both a top 25 top-performing school district when it comes to advancing student progress in several key focus areas. They’re among 46 school districts recognized with the inaugural State Superintendent’s Award for Educational Excellence.
“There are a lot of public schools in our state that are doing some truly fantastic work around creating opportunities for students. We wanted to make sure this work is being talked about, acknowledged and celebrated,” Washington Superintendent Chris Reykdal said in a statement.
Ki-Be Superintendent Pete Peterson said his district has been focused on improving student attendance and expanding opportunities for students to enrollment in CTE and dual credit programs.
A small grant helped them hire a temporary staff member who helped schools bump attendance rates. In 2025, nearly two-thirds of students had regular or exemplary attendance, and about 70% were involved in dual credit opportunities.
The award is a special recognition at a time when the Legislature is considering reductions to programs that have the biggest impact on rural students’ lives, Peterson said.
“It’s a great reflection of the work our staff and students are doing,” he said. “It’s a good demonstration that, regardless of any other circumstance around the state or region, our people are going to do what’s best for kids all the time and continue to work hard at it.”
The share of students reading on grade level saw a stark rise in Ki-Be over the last few years. It surged 20 percentage points among 4th graders, and about 13 points among 8th graders.
Today, about 46% of 4th graders and 53% of 8th graders are reading at grade level or higher.
The number of freshmen acing classes is also up. Nearly 75% of Ki-Be’s 9th graders passed all their courses last school year.
Finley has seen notable progress in its secondary schools and dual credit participation.
Regular attendance over the past few years has skyrocketed 22 percentage points. About 87% of all its students are attending regularly, and 70% are participating in CTE programs.
Eighth grade students saw prominent gains in reading and math. About 63% of students read at grade level or higher, and 33% tested at grade level or higher in math.
Finley Superintendent Bryan Long said his schools have focused on the nine characteristics of high performing school systems defined by the Center of Educational Effectiveness.
That includes an emphasis on communication, clear focus, high standards, effective leadership, supporting environments, parent involvement, curriculum, teaching and professional development.
“As we work together and achieve together, the outcome of student learning is paramount,” Long said. “Simply put, our students are learning, and they are achieving. We are proud to share in this success and encourage all students, staff, and community to continue moving forward knowing the entire state is cheering you on.”
The new state award is a replacement for the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools award, which recognized schools nationwide for excellence in student achievement and closing opportunity gaps.
The program was discontinued in August, and afterward the federal education encouraged state education departments to create their own programs. Over its four decades, the Blue Ribbon Schools award recognized more than 9,000 schools.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 12:04 PM.
