Lexington Elementary To Receive One-of-a-Kind Glass Installation Featuring Student Handprints (Photo) - 06/30/26

When students walk through the doors of Lexington Elementary this fall, they'll be welcomed by a work of art created especially for them. With every student's handprint incorporated into the artwork, the installation captures a moment in the school's history and is a lasting reminder that the heart of a school is its children.

As part of the Washington State Arts Commission's Art in Public Places program (AIPP), Lexington Elementary has been selected to receive a custom glass installation by Washington artist Lisa Stirrett. Inspired by Lexington's vision, Kelso's community, and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, the artwork celebrates the people and place that make the school unique.

The focus of the installation is three striking glass salmon, symbols of perseverance, resilience, and the enduring connection to home. Woven throughout the artwork are meaningful details that reflect the Pacific Northwest and the Lexington community. Most special of all, the installation incorporates the actual handprints of every Lexington student, creating a lasting tribute to the children who will fill the school with learning, laughter, and possibility. Approximately 100 handprints are embossed into the back of one of the salmon, while the remaining handprints are thoughtfully integrated throughout the artwork.

Composed of hundreds of individually crafted pieces of glass, the installation is both an artistic and engineering achievement. Each of the three salmon weighs approximately 150 pounds, and a specialized crew of five installers will spend two days—July 14 and 15—carefully assembling the artwork in the school's main commons near the front entrance.

"Public art has the power to create a sense of belonging," said Lexington Principal Tim Yore. "This installation tells the story of our community and gives students something inspiring to experience every time they walk through our doors. It's a reminder that this school was built with them—and their future—in mind."

Lexington received the artwork through the Washington State Arts Commission's Art in Public Places program, which reserves one-half of one percent of the state's construction costs for public art in newly constructed public buildings. Through a collaborative design process, local representatives worked alongside ArtsWA to select an artist and help shape a piece that reflects Lexington's identity and values.

Since 1974, ArtsWA's State Art Collection has grown to more than 5,000 works displayed in schools and public buildings across Washington. The collection is one of the nation's largest state-supported public art programs and is unique in its commitment to bringing original artwork into K–12 schools.

For Lexington students, the installation represents more than a decorative feature—it is a lasting investment in creating a welcoming environment where art, community, and learning come together. For years to come, thousands of students, families, staff, and visitors will enter the school beneath a work created to reflect the spirit of Lexington Elementary and the Kelso community.

About Kelso School District

Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.

Kelso Students Among Nation's Fastest Improving Readers: Reading Growth Ranks In Top 15% Nationwide - 06/25/26

Kelso School District has been recognized as a "District on the Rise" for reading achievement by Education Scorecard, a national research initiative led by researchers at Harvard and Stanford Universities. The designation highlights districts whose student achievement has improved significantly more than closely matched peer districts since the pandemic.

The recognition comes as student achievement growth has remained largely flat across Washington state. While statewide average test scores have shown little improvement since 2022, Kelso students have demonstrated accelerated growth in both reading and mathematics.

According to the report, Kelso's reading achievement increased by approximately one-quarter of a grade level between 2022 and 2025, placing the district in the 87th percentile nationally for reading growth. During the same period, Kelso students gained approximately 0.65 grade levels in mathematics. Together, Kelso students averaged 1.13 years of learning growth per year, exceeding both the Washington state average of 0.98 years and the national average of 0.96 years.

"Being named a 'District on the Rise' matters because it is really about students learning at higher levels," said Superintendent Mary Beth Tack. "Our students are making significant gains in reading and math, and that translates into more opportunities and brighter futures."

District leaders believe the recognition reflects years of focused and intentional work to improve student outcomes following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We made a commitment we would not simply recover, we would improve," Tack said. "We stayed focused on what matters most, remained disciplined in our approach, and continued the strategic investment in what we knew would make a difference for students."

Kelso attributes its academic growth to four key districtwide investments:

• Early Learning – Expanded preschool and Transition to Kindergarten opportunities help ensure students enter school ready to learn and reduce learning gaps before kindergarten.
• Social-Emotional Learning – Elementary students receive daily social-emotional learning instruction designed to help them feel safe, connected, and ready to engage in learning.
• Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) – Kelso educators collaborate around essential learning standards, common assessments, and timely interventions to ensure every student receives high-quality instruction and support.
• Science of Reading – The district has maintained a long-term commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction, including explicit teaching of foundational reading skills, language development, and comprehension strategies.

"When strong systems come together, strong outcomes follow," Tack said. "This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our entire district team and the extraordinary work happening in classrooms every single day."

District leaders emphasize that while the recognition is encouraging, it is not a finish line.

"We are proud of this progress, but we know our work is not done," Tack said. "Our scores are improving, yet we remain focused on helping every student reach their full potential. This recognition tells us we're moving in the right direction, and we're committed to building on that momentum."

The district's long-term goal remains unchanged: ensuring 100% of Kelso students graduate prepared for their next step, whether that is a two-year college, four-year university, apprenticeship, military service, or career pathway.

"Districts don't rise—students do," Tack said. "This recognition tells us our students are rising, our staff are making a difference, and our community should be proud of what we're accomplishing together."

About the Education Scorecard
The Education Scorecard is a collaborative project led by researchers from Harvard University and Stanford University that tracks student academic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. The project analyzes student achievement data from districts across the United States and identifies districts demonstrating exceptional academic growth compared to similar peer districts.

About Kelso School District

Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.