School Board in Washoe County up for award

RENO — Washoe County School District is one of three finalists in a nationwide award for excellent school boards.

The district announced this week that it’s a top contender for the 2011 Award for Urban School Board Excellence sponsored by the Council of Urban Boards of Education.

The award honors school boards that demonstrate strong leadership and improve student achievement.

Judges said Washoe County schools had an aggressive agenda of change and reform and made gains to raise test scores and address a high dropout rate.

District officials say the graduation rate improved 7 percentage points in 2010 from 56 percent to 63 percent.

The Council of Urban Boards of Education includes 110 urban school districts in 35 states and the Virgin Islands.