About WESD

  • Commitment to Equity Statement

    Washington Elementary School District (WESD) is proud to serve a diverse population of over 20,000 students. WESD is committed to achieving equitable outcomes for all students and staff in order that they find academic, as well as, social and emotional success.

    Our students, their families and staff represent multiple races and ethnicities with over 70 home languages and cultures. Students need to see a strong connection between their home life, their community, and their school, which strengthen a student’s sense of belonging and motivation. Honoring the varied talents, backgrounds and experiences of our students’ families and community members greatly supports student success. Learning depends upon social interactions and students actively constructing knowledge and understanding by connecting their experience of home culture, language and life experiences with what they learn in school.

    Therefore, WESD places a high priority on being informed and knowledgeable about each students’ cultural background and their unique home and community experiences. District leadership, school leaders and staff are committed to partnering with students, families and community members to develop policies, procedures and practices that create and continuously improve equity, diversity and inclusion in WESD.

    About WESD

    Washington Elementary School District (WESD) is proud to serve a diverse population in north central Phoenix and east Glendale. The largest elementary school district in Arizona, WESD is comprised of 33 schools (19 K-6 schools, one K-5 school, seven K-8 schools, one online 3-8 and five middle/junior high schools). 

    WESD has many achievements of which to be proud:

    • A Top 20 School District in the country for student growth, according to the The New York Times.

    • 2024 Arizona Department of Education Letter Grades – Eight WESD Schools are A-rated and 78% are rated as an A or B.

    • Superintendent Dr. Paul Stanton honored with the 2023 All Arizona Superintendent Award Large School Districts by the Arizona School Administrators (ASA)

    • 2025 and 2019 Top Five Finalist for Arizona Teacher of the Year, Arizona Educational Foundation

    • 2022 and 2020 Top Ten Finalist for Arizona Teacher of the Year, Arizona Educational Foundation

    • Acacia and Sweetwater, 2023 finalists for the National Title I Distinguished Award School

    • Sunnyslope Principal named a 2022 Hope Honor recipient by the MASTERS Institute

    • Three Maricopa County Exemplary Principals: Chaparral in 2023; Acacia and Lookout Mountain Elementary Schools in 2020

    • Four-time A+ School of Excellence, Acacia Elementary, Arizona Educational Foundation

    • 2020 A+ School of Excellence, Ocotillo Elementary, Arizona Educational Foundation

    • 2020 Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School, Lookout Mountain Elementary, US Dept. of Education

    • Open enrollment and free full-day kindergarten opportunities are available at all schools.

    • Gifted Services are offered at all schools, with approximately 1,153 students being challenged beyond the traditional classroom setting, including two self-contained programs that serve highly gifted students.

    • Music, art and physical education programs are offered in all District schools.

    • Abraham Lincoln Traditional School features open enrollment and a traditional approach to learning.

    • Arizona Cardinals Preparatory Academy for grades 6-8 provides a small-school experience through a community partnership with Cardinals Charities.

    • National Junior Honor Society organizations are offered at all middle/junior high schools.

    • Parent/teacher organizations (PTO/PTAs) are active throughout WESD schools.

    • National Board Certified teachers and staff are employed at most schools in the WESD.

    • Title I supplemental services for students in need of additional academic assistance are available at 30 schools.

    • Special Education services are provided for approximately 16.5 percent of the student population.

    • A District-wide English language learner program supports the English language acquisition of students from more than 77 different language groups.

    • Translation Services provides interpreters at over 6,770 Parent/Teacher Conferences annually.

    • After-school programs are available at 32 schools to meet the unique needs of school communities and families.

    • District-sponsored before- and after-school child care is available at 23 schools.

    • Grant funds 21 sections of Head Start PLUS full-day programs at 17 sites, serving 341 Head Start 4-year-old students and 30 Early Childhood Expansion students.

    • WESD embraces the community through active partnerships with neighborhood associations, local businesses, elected officials and civic organizations.

    • BEGIN, three-year teacher induction program, began over 35 years ago and is the longest functioning program of its kind in Arizona.

    • Approximately 2,500 students gain extra academic support through WESD summer school programs.

    • Breakfast and lunch are served free of charge daily to all students.

    • All school buses are equipped with GPS tracking that assists with communication and keeping students safe.

    • School-based social workers are available to support families at all 33 schools.