March superintendent updates

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for supporting our nearly 2,000 students every day. It takes all of us working together to ensure the success of every student, and I am honored to serve the Eatonville School District. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication.

Academic Success & Attendance Improvements

Our 280-plus Eatonville staff members continue working hard to achieve our Academic Success Strategic Plan goal, which includes a strong focus on increasing student attendance. I am happy to report an 8% increase in attendance between the 2023-24 school year and the current school year! Thank you to our students, staff, and community for making regular, daily attendance a priority — this commitment directly leads to greater academic achievement.

Remarkable Growth in Student Achievement

As highlighted on our Eatonville School District Facebook and Instagram pages, our students are making tremendous academic gains! For example, during the 2023-24 school year, 79.8% of Eatonville’s 9th-grade students passed all their classes. Recognizing the importance of freshman-year success, the school set a goal to increase that percentage to 85% in the 2024-25 academic year.

Now, with first-semester results in, we are thrilled to report that our 9th graders have not only met but surpassed this goal — 90.5% have passed all their classes and are officially on track to graduate! This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication of Eatonville’s educators, staff, and families, who work tirelessly to support student success.

Additionally, over one-third of our K-8 students have advanced one or more levels on their iReady diagnostic assessment in Reading, and nearly a third have done so in Math. This means these students have progressed by at least one grade level by mid-year! I am incredibly proud of our students, staff, parents, and community members for their hard work and unwavering support.

Strong Support from Parents & Community Members

Speaking of the invaluable support from parents, relatives, staff, and community members, a recent survey of 230 middle school students revealed that over 95% reported having a trusted adult or guardian they can talk to. This is a powerful reflection of the caring and involved nature of our greater Eatonville community, where adults actively contribute to our students’ education and well-being. Thank you for being such an integral part of our students’ lives.

Million Dollar Energy Grant

In other exciting news, Eatonville School District has been awarded a $1 million grant to fund energy upgrades at the high school. This grant will allow us to enhance HVAC control system operations and install LED lighting upgrades. These improvements will reduce waste, increase energy efficiency, ensure compliance with the 2019 Washington Clean Buildings Act, and lower heating costs. The upgrades are scheduled for completion by this summer.

Community Use Track & Field Project

As I have shared in previous newsletters, I cannot thank you enough for supporting our school levy measures approved last February. One major component of the six-year Capital Projects Levy was the construction of a new track and field, essential for student safety and increased use. Last fall, our high school football team was only able to practice three times before the field deteriorated to the point that it had to be reserved for games and matches. Additionally, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) has not sanctioned Eatonville to host post-season games for years due to inadequate field, track, restroom, and stadium conditions.

Thanks to our voters and additional grant funding we have secured, I am pleased to announce that we will move forward with the completion of our track and field project by the end of 2025! Please stay tuned for announcements about an upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremony in the coming weeks.

Looking Ahead

As we enter the spring season, I want to extend my gratitude once again to our students, families, staff, and community members for your unwavering support. Your dedication to our schools makes all the difference. I look forward to a season of continued growth, success, and collaboration.

Wishing you all a happy, productive, and inspiring spring!