Rainier Prep

For the third consecutive year, Rainier Prep has earned state recognition for outstanding student growth during the 2024-25 school year.  This places Rainier Prep among a very small group of public schools statewide to achieve this distinction each year. 

Schools are recognized through the Washington School Recognition Program for their work in closing opportunity gaps and supporting students' growth and academic achievement. 

To put that in perspective:

• In any given year, only about 16% of Washington’s roughly 2,300 public schools are recognized by the state for growth, achievement, or closing gaps.
• Over the past three consecutive years, just 69 schools—about 3% statewide—have been recognized for any of three categories: achievement, growth or closing gaps.
• Rainier Prep is the only public middle school to earn recognition for outstanding student growth for each of the past three years.

This achievement is especially meaningful given that Rainier Prep's student body is 96% students of color and 80% from limited-income families.  Rainier Prep has consistently shown strong growth for students who are often the most under-represented and the furthest from educational justice.

Each of Rainier Prep’s target demographic groups has been recognized for outstanding growth at least once over the last three years:

• Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and multiracial students
• English language learners / multilingual learners
• Low-income students
• Students with disabilities / receiving special education services

This award reflects our core values in action: equity, belonging, and academic excellence. At Rainier Prep, we meet students where they are, celebrate who they are, and support them in discovering who they can become. Our classrooms blend rigor and care, ensuring each student receives the attention they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Some of what makes this growth possible:

• Differentiated instruction, including learning blocks and added classroom support
• Daily advisory and enrichment opportunities
• College and Career Success programming from 5th-8th grade
• Exceptional staff with unwavering commitment to kids, families, and each other

This is our community’s vision in action.  It shows us all what’s possible.  When a school community shares a bold vision, provides high levels of support, and creates a culture where every student knows they belong, the result is students who are not just keeping pace.  The result is students who lead in middle school, and then are prepared to enter high school, college, and careers of their choice.  They leave Rainier Prep with the confidence, skills, and sense of purpose to navigate what’s ahead. This isn’t a one, two, or three-time achievement—it’s who we are.  We are proud to be recognized as a school where students’ academic and personal growth is real, consistent, and lasting.