(Photos courtesy KCTS 9 – above, at Chief Sealth IHS; below, at Denny IMS)
In a program that premiered tonight, KCTS announced that Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School are two of this year’s three “Pathways to Excellence Award” recipients:

KCTS 9 is pleased to announce the 2015 Pathways to Excellence Award winners, recognizing schools in Washington state that are helping low-income students and students of color achieve at higher levels, making measurable progress in closing the achievement and opportunity gaps. Each school is improving teaching and learning and expanding connections with families and communities in meaningful ways. The honorees are selected by KCTS 9 in partnership with the Washington State Board of Education.

The 2015 honorees are:

Denny International Middle School, Seattle Public Schools, West Seattle
Chief Sealth International High School, Seattle Public Schools, West Seattle
Chinook Elementary School, Auburn School District, Auburn

My School, Our Future: 2015 — a new half-hour special on KCTS 9 — looks at the three Washington State schools to see how dedicated teachers, families and students are working together to beat the odds. See their stories and those of past award-winners, at KCTS9.org/pathways.

Ensuring that all children, regardless of racial, ethnic or socioeconomic background, have fair and equitable access to quality learning experiences is one of the great challenges of our time. Across the country, schools are struggling to fully serve low-income students and students who have been traditionally underserved — including African Americans, Latinos, and American Indians — and ensure that all students find a pathway to success. When we hear about the opportunity gap — the disparity in access to the quality educational resources needed for all children to be academically successful — the headlines are usually quite grim. Fortunately, some Washington schools are generating good news. These bright spots are an inspiration to parents, teachers, principals and communities, showing that there are strategies that are working to combat the persistent gap in educational equality and provide students with the skills they need to succeed in school and life.

You can watch the feature about Sealth here; about Denny, here. On TV, the full half-hour program about all three schools will be shown on KCTS 9 on October 17th, October 20th, and October 31st – check the schedule for more information.