All timeline stories.
Jun
2018
1865
Minnehaha School District’s first schoolhouse was built of logs on a donated land claim
Jun
2018
1853
Salmon Creek School was founded by Hester Goddard. In early 1855, residents built a 12- by 14- foot log cabin, Hester was the teacher.
Jun
2018
1852
Vancouver School District was formed. The commissioners divided the county into six school districts, with Vancouver district designated as No. 6. Later, Vancouver became No. 37.
May
2018
VPS earns National District of Distinction Award
The district is one of nearly 50 school districts to earn a District of Distinction award for its network of 13 Family-Community Resource Centers.
May
2018
Jump Start takes off in 21 elementary schools
Kindergarten Jump Start, a free school-readiness program, was offered at all 21 elementary schools. The program sets the stage for student success.
May
2018
Design II, Chapter 2 Strategic Plan Adopted
The Board of Directors adopted the district’s refreshed strategic plan, Design II, Chapter 2 at the June 10 school board meeting. The updated plan will guide the district through the year 2020.
May
2018
Community Peers into the Future of Vancouver Public Schools
On Oct. 29, nearly 130 internal and external stakeholders participated in the Design II, Chapter 2 community symposium. Their mission: to expand the discussion on strategic planning for the next five years. In [...]
May
2018
Students kick off Design II symposia
On Sept. 23, approximately 45 students from Columbia River, Fort Vancouver, Hudson’s Bay, Lewis and Clark, and Skyview high schools; Vancouver School of Arts and Academics; iTech Preparatory; Vancouver Home Connection; and Vancouver Virtual Learning [...]
May
2018
Safe and Supportive Schools
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Response to Intervention (RtI) are introduced at the middle school level. Eighteen VPS schools have adopted PBIS or both PBIS and RtI and are in various stages [...]
May
2018
Safe and Supportive Schools
Three elementary schools practicing Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are named exemplars, signifying the highest level of implementation. Peter S. Ogden, Minnehaha, and Harney elementary schools become model PBIS schools for the rest [...]
May
2018
Awards and Accomplishments
More students take on and complete the district’s most rigorous coursework. Over the past decade, the percentage of high school students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses increases from 6 [...]
May
2018
Awards and Accomplishments
The number of schools ranked good to exemplary jumped from five in 2008 to 20 in 2013, equaling 12,000 more students being served in higher-ranked schools.
May
2018
Safe and Supportive Schools
In the district’s annual climate survey, nearly 90 percent of parents say that their child is safe at school.
May
2018
Programs of Choice
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) expansion continues. AVID includes approximately 1,000 students at the following schools: Marshall and Martin Luther King elementary schools; Alki, Discovery, Gaiser, Jason Lee, McLoughlin, and Thomas Jefferson middle schools; [...]
May
2018
Awards and Accomplishments
The number of middle school Challenge and Honors section registrations increases from 1,152 in 2008-09 to 2,432 in 2012-13.
May
2018
Instructional Quality
A new teacher and principal evaluation system is implemented district-wide.
May
2018
Family Engagement/Family-Community Resource Centers
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awards a $50,000 grant to fund a pilot project at Fort Vancouver High School’s new Family-Community Resource Center (FCRC) to promote regular student attendance and achievement. A new [...]
May
2018
Programs of Choice
Lewis and Clark High School launches with a new blended learning model. The magnet school combines online instruction, group discussions, and teacher support. College-focused Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses [...]
May
2018
Awards and Accomplishments
On-time and extended (five-year) graduation rates increase. The on-time graduation rate increases from 64 percent in 2010 to 73 percent in 2012, and the extended (five-year) graduation rate increases from 69 percent in 2010 [...]
May
2018
Early Learning
Free full-day kindergarten expands to all 21 district elementary schools. An increase of funding from the state allows for the implementation of full-day kindergarten at all elementary schools.
May
2018
Awards and Accomplishments
Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) hosts an unprecedented third National School Boards Association (NSBA) Technology Leadership Network site visit. After NSBA visits in 1993 and 1999, VPS is selected for its sustained commitment to the [...]
May
2018
Flexible Learning Environments
The weLearn 1:1 rollout begins at Alki Middle School, where sixth-graders receive iPads to use at school and home.
May
2018
Awards and Accomplishments
The community approves Vancouver Public Schools’ first technology levy. The six-year technology levy funds mobile computing solutions, professional development, and infrastructure support, as well as computer lab upgrades, standard classroom equipment, a learning management [...]
May
2018
Instructional Quality
Eleven new teachers achieve certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There are 88 nationally certified teachers district-wide. National Board certification signifies advanced knowledge, skills, and practices.
May
2018
Safe and Supportive Schools
Schools practicing Response to Intervention (RtI) display gains in scores on state tests. In the 2011-12 school year, RtI schools outperformed non-RtI schools by 6.12 percent in reading, 4.09 percent in math, and 2.87 [...]
May
2018
Family Engagement/Family-Community Resource Centers
The Family-Community Resource Center (FCRC) network expands to Hazel Dell, Lincoln, and Minnehaha elementary schools. By the 2012-13 school year, the number of FCRC partnerships reaches 659, with approximately $3.5 million in annual partner [...]
May
2018
Programs of Choice
Vancouver iTech Preparatory, a magnet school, opens with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math. iTech Prep’s curriculum blends all curricular areas into project- and problem-based learning. Students are given individual laptops. Curiosity [...]
May
2018
Instructional Quality
A new teacher and principal evaluation pilot program begins. The system is designed to help move principals and classroom teachers from a self-assessment model to one guided by frameworks, or common languages for discussing [...]
May
2018
Awards and Accomplishments
Vancouver Public Schools is one of 40 school districts and education agencies selected for the League of Innovative Schools. The league is a prestigious alliance of school districts committed to working with entrepreneurs and [...]
May
2018
Early Learning
The number of students meeting benchmarks for kindergarten readiness increases from 6 percent between fall 2011 and fall 2012. Thanks in part to an expansion of the Jump Start program through a grant from [...]
May
2018
Awards and Accomplishments
Superintendent Steve Webb receives the Student Achievement Award from the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Region 112. WASA Region 112 honors the superintendent for his leadership in creating the Opportunity Zone to mobilize [...]
May
2018
Flexible Learning Environments
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) pilots begin in some classes at Alki Middle School and Columbia River and Skyview high schools.
May
2018
Safe and Supportive Schools
Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is integrated with a complementary program called Response to Intervention (RtI). In RtI, grade-level teams monitor student behavior and progress toward literacy and math benchmarks. Using data, the [...]
May
2018
Safe and Supportive Schools
Vancouver Public Schools’ (VPS) safety efforts earn top marks from the Washington State Crime Prevention Association. The association bestows its highest honor, the award for Non-Law Enforcement Program of the Year, on VPS.
May
2018
Awards and Accomplishments
The Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) honors Superintendent Steve Webb. In one year, Vancouver Public Schools took three top awards in Washington state. Superintendent Steve Webb was named Administrator of the Year (2011); [...]
May
2018
Family Engagement/Family-Community Resource Centers
Vancouver Public Schools’ Family-Community Resource Centers (FCRCs) win an honorable mention in the American School Board Journal’s 2011 Magna Awards. The Economic Policy Institute’s Broader, Bolder Approach to Education also recognizes the FCRCs as a national [...]
May
2018
Instructional Quality
The three-year retention rate for the 2008-09 cohort of new Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) educators is 89.6 percent. VPS provides newly hired educators with extensive support, including a teacher induction program, teacher mentor program, [...]
May
2018
Family Engagement/Family-Community Resource Centers
The Family-Community Resource Center network expands to Harney Elementary School and Discovery and McLoughlin middle schools.
May
2018
Safe and Supportive Schools
K–12 anti-bullying focus begins. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a program designed to shift school culture and reinforce respectful and positive actions, is adopted. Five elementary schools begin PBIS training and implementation, establishing [...]
May
2018
Awards and Accomplishments
Vancouver Public Schools creates the Opportunity Zone to increase family and community engagement, ensure high-quality instruction, and provide flexible learning environments. The Opportunity Zone includes 14 elementary, middle, and high schools with large concentrations [...]