This June I enjoyed attending high school graduation ceremonies and watching proud families cheer their seniors as they crossed the stage to receive their diplomas. The core of our district mission is to help all students graduate.

We are proud of our 94 percent on-time graduation rate, though we continue to strive toward 100 percent.

Our district vision speaks to preparing students for college and career. Currently, approximately 79 percent of Lake Washington students enroll in some form of post-secondary education immediately following graduation. That number compares favorably to other districts, and we continue to work toward increasing that percentage.

In getting students to that high school diploma, schools at all levels continue to strive for excellence. Twenty of the district’s 51 schools were honored this spring with Washington Achievement awards, some in multiple categories.

We have accomplished a lot this year. It’s easy to forget that our schools had a different grade configuration just a year ago. We now are settled into our new grades K-5 elementary, 6-8 middle school and 9-12 high school system. To make room for that additional grade at high school, we opened additions at Eastlake and Redmond High School, and the new STEM High School. By moving one grade out of the elementary schools, we created space that is needed for our growing elementary population.

The second phase of the district’s school modernization program is also nearing completion. Three new elementary school buildings opened last fall (Keller, Muir, Sandburg/Discovery). Part of the new Rush Elementary opened mid-year.

Next fall, Bell Elementary, Rose Hill Middle School/Stella Schola and International Community School/Community School will reopen in new buildings and the rest of Rush Elementary will be completed. Those projects will complete Phase Two of the modernization program, thanks to bonds passed by voters in 2006.

We introduced a new “1:1” technology initiative this year, providing a small laptop or netbook computer to all students in grades six through 12. Introducing 12,500 more devices onto our network helped identify where our computer infrastructure needs improvement. Along with the new laptop program, teachers and students began to use a new learning management system, allowing teachers to post assignments, calendars, information and communication online in a safe environment.

Next year, we will implement new literacy curriculum materials for preschool through grade six, aligned with the new, more rigorous Common Core State Standards that Washington state, along with 44 other states across the country, has adopted.

Also new next year will be a state-mandated professional growth and evaluation system for teachers and principals. Lake Washington School District has had a teacher professional growth and evaluation system in place for the past 13 years that is very similar to the new state system. The new principal evaluation system will be a change. We have spent this year planning for implementation by piloting the new system.

All of the efforts I’ve written about here are part of our overall strategic plan to accomplish our mission and vision as a school district. Our focus is on ensuring academic success for every student. Our ultimate goal is for all of our students to graduate, ready to take the next step toward a bright and promising future.

Traci Pierce is the superintendent of the Lake Washington School District.