Dr. Deneen Guss, County Superintendent of Schools
Washington Unified School District Distinguished School Media Release
Washington Unified School District Distinguished School Media Release
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- Press Release
MCOE Communications
Washington Union Elementary has been recognized as a California Distinguished School as announced by Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. A community celebration to acknowledge this achievement is set for Wednesday, April 5, on the Washington Union campus. Washington Union Elementary, which is part of the Washington Union School District, is the only school in Monterey County to earn the recognition in 2023.“This is an impressive endorsement of the quality of education families have come to expect in this district,” said Gina Uccelli, district superintendent.
Established in 1868 to educate children whose families lived in an area John Steinbeck would later call the “Pastures of Heaven,” the Washington Union School District now serves about 750 students, nearly half of whom live outside the district boundaries. Elementary schools being recognized this year by the California Department of Education were selected by analyzing data from 2022, including test scores, chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, and socioeconomic data. “This is a very special school and that is apparent to anyone who walks on our campus,” said Jill Camron, principal at Washington Union Elementary. “Our students are achieving at a very high level as evidenced by our test scores, but we are truly educating the whole child with art education, music instruction, and outdoor programs.” “All credit to our teachers and staff and the families who entrust us with their children,” she said. The Washington Union School District serves children in TK to grade 8 in three schools. Toro Park School is for TK-3, Washington Union is for 4-5 and San Benancio School is 6-8. You can view the news release announcing this year’s Distinguished Schools on the CDE News Releases Year 2023 web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr23/yr23rel01.asp
For more information or to schedule a visit, please contact the school district at (831) 484-2166, or
email Superintendent Gina Uccelli at guccelli@washingtonusd.org.