Awards & Recognition
![LWSD sailboat logo thumbnail]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1712613268/lwsdorg/iftqvbm5tmmtmjjj0ink/LWSDlogo-sailboatsonly-post-thumbnail-800x720.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1712613268/lwsdorg/iftqvbm5tmmtmjjj0ink/LWSDlogo-sailboatsonly-post-thumbnail-800x720.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1712613268/lwsdorg/iftqvbm5tmmtmjjj0ink/LWSDlogo-sailboatsonly-post-thumbnail-800x720.png","width":800}])
Award reflects District’s goal of fiscal responsibility
Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD’s) 2025-26 Budget has earned the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) Meritorious Budget Award (MBA). This award promotes and recognizes excellence in budget development, communication, and presentation in school districts. LWSD has received this award nine years in a row. LWSD is the only district in the state of Washington to receive this award.
49 school boards across the state recognized
Redmond, Wash. – For the fifth consecutive year, the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) Board of Directors has been named a “Board of Distinction” by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA). Only 49 of Washington’s 295 school boards received recognition as Boards of Distinction. LWSD is one of 17 recognized in the “Large School Districts (9,001+ students FTE)” category.
![OSPI State Recognized School logo]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1746564877/lwsdorg/xdqrks5tfevcb5xbijz3/OSPIStateRecognizedSchoollogo.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1746564877/lwsdorg/xdqrks5tfevcb5xbijz3/OSPIStateRecognizedSchoollogo.png","width":325}])
Recognition from State Board of Education, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee
Redmond, Wash. – The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has announced that 20 different LWSD schools have been recognized through the Washington School Recognition Program for the 2023-24 school year.
Award reflects District’s goal of fiscal responsibility
Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD’s) 2024-25 Budget has earned the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) Meritorious Budget Award (MBA). This award promotes and recognizes excellence in budget development, communication, and presentation in school districts. LWSD has received this award eight years in a row. LWSD is the only district in the state of Washington to receive this award.
![Meritorious Budget Award]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1607980423/lwsdorg/fzahzvqa2zntwxlx62pf/meritorious-budget-award.png","width":130}])
Award reflects District’s goal of fiscal responsibility
Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD’s) 2023-24 Budget has earned the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) Meritorious Budget Award (MBA).
![A red and white circular emblem features a stylized school building with three figures in the foreground, set against a white background with text.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1700680871/lwsdorg/g602fdaur8ozo7rxsbja/NSOC_LOGO-1-800x720.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1700680871/lwsdorg/g602fdaur8ozo7rxsbja/NSOC_LOGO-1-800x720.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1700680871/lwsdorg/g602fdaur8ozo7rxsbja/NSOC_LOGO-1-800x720.png","width":800}]){kind=logo}
Clara Barton Elementary (2023) and Ella Baker Elementary (2022) were recognized as National Schools of Character.
34 school boards across the state recognized
Redmond, Wash. – For the third consecutive year, the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) Board of Directors has been named a “Board of Distinction” by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA).
Redmond, Wash. – Clara Barton Elementary in Redmond has been recognized as a National School of Character. This is the second time Clara Barton Elementary has been recognized with this award.
LWSD News Stories
![Olivia Green and Asher West-Herr JHS Thespy winners]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1791395007/lwsdorg/xb9yozvje8annsbrlis7/OliviaGreenandAsherWest-Herr.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1791395007/lwsdorg/xb9yozvje8annsbrlis7/OliviaGreenandAsherWest-Herr.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1791395007/lwsdorg/xb9yozvje8annsbrlis7/OliviaGreenandAsherWest-Herr.png","width":645}])
Two Juanita High School seniors earned national recognition for their theatre talents this summer, receiving awards at the 2026 International Thespian Excellence Awards, better known as the Thespys.
![Shaurya Jat and Ritika Malpani]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1790271163/lwsdorg/yuhhcfmqpptbv6j3kx4t/ShauryaJatandRitikaMalpani-forwebsite.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1790271163/lwsdorg/yuhhcfmqpptbv6j3kx4t/ShauryaJatandRitikaMalpani-forwebsite.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1790271163/lwsdorg/yuhhcfmqpptbv6j3kx4t/ShauryaJatandRitikaMalpani-forwebsite.jpg","width":645}])
Two Redmond High School seniors earned the top two honors in the interpretive category of the 2026 David McCullough Essay Prizes, a national competition hosted by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
![ILA use at LWSD graduation ceremony]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1788547348/lwsdorg/eekfs9hyk6cagiedovmd/tranlsationILAatgraduationthumbnail.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1788547348/lwsdorg/eekfs9hyk6cagiedovmd/tranlsationILAatgraduationthumbnail.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1788547348/lwsdorg/eekfs9hyk6cagiedovmd/tranlsationILAatgraduationthumbnail.jpg","width":800}])
A new way to experience graduation together
Imagine traveling thousands of miles to watch your granddaughter graduate. You find your seat. The ceremony begins. Your family’s excitement fills the room, but you don’t speak English. For one family at Lake Washington High School, this was exactly the situation.
Redmond, Wash. – Sixty-one Lake Washington School District (LWSD) high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the semifinalists on Wednesday, September 9.
![First day of school]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1788217097/lwsdorg/qirirckns0shl374lrhh/first-day-of-school-thumbnail.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1788217097/lwsdorg/qirirckns0shl374lrhh/first-day-of-school-thumbnail.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1788217097/lwsdorg/qirirckns0shl374lrhh/first-day-of-school-thumbnail.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1788217097/lwsdorg/qirirckns0shl374lrhh/first-day-of-school-thumbnail.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1788217097/lwsdorg/qirirckns0shl374lrhh/first-day-of-school-thumbnail.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1788217097/lwsdorg/qirirckns0shl374lrhh/first-day-of-school-thumbnail.png","width":1913}])
Welcome back to the 2026-27 school year at LWSD!
![A white "TSA" logo with a blue outline is centered on a white background, framed by red bars at the top and bottom, with "TECHNOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION" written in white text on the bottom red bar.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1695147015/lwsdorg/ajqswtymeyzpybqto9yr/TSA.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1695147015/lwsdorg/ajqswtymeyzpybqto9yr/TSA.png","width":290}])
More than 9,500 middle school and high school Technology Student Association (TSA) members gathered at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, June 22-26, 2026, in the Washington, DC area for the 48th National TSA Conference. Several Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students and teams made a splash throughout the competition by finishing in the top ten.
![JHS CodeNW]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1784128834/lwsdorg/wsc2njhucnpliweip4i1/JHSCodeNW.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1784128834/lwsdorg/wsc2njhucnpliweip4i1/JHSCodeNW.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1784128834/lwsdorg/wsc2njhucnpliweip4i1/JHSCodeNW.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1784128834/lwsdorg/wsc2njhucnpliweip4i1/JHSCodeNW.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1784128834/lwsdorg/wsc2njhucnpliweip4i1/JHSCodeNW.png","width":1319}])
What started as a student-led idea at Juanita High School is now helping students across Lake Washington School District (LWSD) explore coding, web development and artificial intelligence. Through CodeNW, a nonprofit founded and led by Juanita High School rising seniors Varun Patankar, Karunya Penumalla, Vijay Patankar and Taiki Sakakihara, students have created learning opportunities designed by students, for students.
![LWSD athletes at WSSB annual track meet]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1784042257/lwsdorg/wnd9677kfh6mfhnwrjip/VisionImpairedTrack.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1784042257/lwsdorg/wnd9677kfh6mfhnwrjip/VisionImpairedTrack.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1784042257/lwsdorg/wnd9677kfh6mfhnwrjip/VisionImpairedTrack.jpg","width":640}])
Six Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students demonstrated determination, resilience and athletic achievement at the Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB) Annual Track Meet on May 28 in Vancouver, Washington. The event brings together students ages 5-21 who are blind or have low vision from across Washington state for a day of competition, connection and celebration of athletic accomplishment.