|
|
|

Offering students a safe and engaging learning environment
makes Spokane Public Schools a choice for nearly 90% of Spokane
area parents. Through the 3Rs of Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships,
our district is committed to ensuring a positive learning experience
for your child.
“Excellence for Everyone” is more than our school district’s
motto. It’s our goal to ensure that ALL students, including
those with fewer advantages, are achieving at high levels. With
dedicated and well trained teachers and staff we seek to maintain
the needs of a diverse community that is committed to educating
its children for the demands of the 21st century.
Our work is recognized by others. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
has acknowledged Spokane Public Schools as a high achieving school
district by granting the district $16.4 million. The funds have
been allocated to individual schools over a five-year period through
a project called SHAPeS, or Spokane High Achieving and Performing
Schools. SHAPeS encourages professional development for teachers
and personalized learning environments.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson has recognized
the school district for “breakthrough performance.”
Her 2003 “State of Education” report cited the district
as one of four in the state that “truly collaborates professionally
to achieve success for kids, has good leadership, and uses student
data to improve teaching and learning.”
|

|
Excellence in Instruction
- Seventy percent of Spokane Public Schools instructors hold Master’s
degrees.
- District leaders are committed to maintaining reduced class
sizes.
- Rigorous and continual professional development ensures that
all teachers are able to implement the newest and best in available
curriculums, technologies, and instructional methodologies.
- Curricular alignment ensures that district learners are mastering
state-mandated learning goals and national standards for achievement.
- Specialists in art, music, counseling, physical education, and
library are critical to the well-rounded education we offer.
- New high school requirements in math and fine arts ensure that
graduates are taught a broad spectrum of subject matters.
Excellence in Results
- From SATs to WASLs, Spokane Public Schools students continue
to achieve ever-higher marks and better comparative averages than
other districts in both the state and nation.
- In 2003, juniors from Spokane Public Schools bettered the national
average by 26 points on the verbal portion of the SAT and 13 points
on the math portion.
- In 2003 the school district improved in the WASL math, reading,
and writing in each of the three grades assessed from the prior
year.
- Spokane School District students continue to surpass advanced
placement grades in the state and country. In 2003 more students
took more exams than ever before.
Excellence in Community Support
- A volunteer board of community activists leads Spokane Public
Schools. The Board of Directors has been recognized for work in
areas of equity and in the provision of outstanding community
service.
- Extensive volunteer participation provides enriched learnings
for students. Site-based associations promote family and neighborhood
participation in school development programs.
- A district-wide Citizens Advisory Committee provides direction
and reflection to district leaders on a variety of topics.
- Business and community partnership programs abound and provide
community placement opportunities for students and support for
the school district.
- Citizen-led bond and levy teams provide continual and critical
support, including leading passage of the largest bond measure
ever.
Famous Alumni of Spokane Schools:
- Craig T. Nelson - Actor
- Kim Clark - Harvard Dean
- Robert Joss - Stanford Dean
- Patrice Munsel - Opera Star
- Gerry Lindgren - Olympian
- Eleanor Chase - Civic Leader
- Mark Rypien - Superbowl MVP
- Ryne Sandberg - Baseball MVP
|
- George Nethercutt - Congressman
- John Roskelley - Mountaineer
- Ron Sims - King Co. Executive
- Helen Hazen-Rymond - Philanthropist
- Ed Tsutakawa - Civic Leader
- Scott O’Grady - Military Hero
- Sam Reed - Secretary of State
|
Did You Know?
- The district has 6 high schools, 6 middle schools, and 34 elementary
schools, and a voter-approved renovation plan for every school.
- Spokane Public Schools serves more than 30,000 students and
is the largest employer in the city of Spokane.
- The district maintains and owns 560 acres of property.
- Spokane Public Schools has over 8,000 active parent/community
volunteers as well as over 500 community and business supporters.
- Every first-year teacher is assigned a master teacher mentor.
- Our technology services department maintains over 13,000 computers
and 4,000 printers and scanners.
Excellence in Programs
- Gifted education opportunities abound. Courses range from honors
and advanced placement at the secondary level to weekly or daily
gifted programs at the elementary level.
- Special education and resource support is available for every
qualifying student.
- Homeschoolers are given assistance through The Enrichment Cooperative,
which provides teaching staff and instructional support materials.
- Alternative educational options include a full-service high
school that houses a variety of specifically designed programs
as well as a school for Native American learners.
- Montessori and Alternative Parent Participation Learning Experience
(APPLE) programs provide elementary options for families seeking
non-traditional settings, while SPRINT offers similar options
to middle school families.
- The Spokane Skills Center provides professional-technical skill
development in a variety of subject areas.
- Senior high students can acquire college credit through successful
completion of coursework through both Running Start and Advanced
Placement programs.
- A rich extracurricular program provides district students with
substantial opportunities for participation in fine and performing
arts, athletics, entrepreneurial development, foreign studies,
cross cultural studies and award-winning diversity efforts that
ensure equity for all students.
- After-school programs at both the elementary and middle school
level keep school children busy and engaged in high-interest learnings.
- Before- and after-school childcare is also available for younger
elementary children.
- State of the art technology and cutting edge instruction ensure
mastery in a variety of professional and technical courses and
lead to industry certification in culinary arts, Microsoft Office,
A+, Cisco, and pre-apprenticeship programs. College credit is
available in business classes, family and consumer science courses,
and applied technology classes.
|
|