Awards and Recognitions

    • 2022-2023 Washington named #1 Magnet Elementary School in the nation by the Magnet Schools of America
    • 2020-2021 Bob Grant WCPSS Principal of the Year Finalist
    • 2019-2020 Bob Grant WCPSS Magnet Principal of the Year
    • 2019-2020 Bob Grant WCPSS Principal of the Year Finalist
    • Nationally Certified Magnet School 
    • National Register of Historic Landmarks; as the first public high school for African American students in Raleigh, North Carolina
    • 2018-2019 Roxann Sykes WCPSS Assistant Princpal of the Year 
    • Magnet School of Distinction Award by Magnet Schools of America
      • 2018, 2016, 2015, 2011
    • Magnet School of Excellence Award by Magnet Schools of America
      • 2019, 2017, 2014, 2012, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 
    • 2011 Green Ribbon PBIS school
    • 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09, 2002
    • NC School of High Growth
    • 2009 Designated A+ Fit School by the State of North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission
    • 2008-09 NC School of Distinction
    • Wake County Scholastic Pursuit Tournament Winners
      • 2017-18, 2008-09, 2007-08
    • 2007 Heidi Bledsoe awarded the Nancy Melton Britt Leadership Award 
    • 2007 Jennifer Ijeoma - Top 10 Teacher Assistant of the Year Finalist
    • 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 NC School of Excellence
    • 2005 School of Honor - "A Lights of Hope School: Fulfilling the Dream"
    • 2005 Torri Jackson - Top 10 Teacher of Year Finalists
    • 2005 Vickie Allen - Top 10 Teacher Assistant of the Year Finalist 
    • 2004 Valerie Hunter - Top 10 Teacher Assistant of the Year Finalist
    • 2003 Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Magnet School of Merit Award
    • (#1 Magnet School in the United States)
    • 2002 Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Math and Science
    • 2002 Wake PTA Outstanding Principal K-5, and Outstanding Custodian K-5 
    • 2001, 2002 NC School of Distinction - ABC Accountability Program
    • 2001 Wake County Academically Gifted Teacher of the Year, Wake County PTA Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year, Wake County PTA New Program of the Year, ECOFEST
    • 2001 Wake County Teacher of the Year Finalist
    • 1998 Governor's Entrepreneurial School Award
    • 1998-2001 Received Grants: $350,000 NSF Engineering Fellows, $20,000 Dewitt/Wallace/Reader's Digest Library Power Grant, the Safe Schools Grant for Families and Teacher's Together, Wake Education Partnership Food for Thought grants(2), $10,000 Parent Grounds Grant
    • 1998-2001 Student awards: first place in the state science fair; regional awards (2) in PTA Reflections contest; regional and creativity awards for Odyssey of the Mind team; blue ribbons in State Fair art competition.