Just after a week of news that the Renton School District is making gains in state assessments, comes more news that one of its schools has been named a 2011 School of Distinction.

Maplewood Heights Elementary is among the state’s top five percent improving on state math and reading tests in a five-year period.

The award is presented by the Center for Educational Effectiveness.

Students at the school scored nearly 90 percent on the last year’s fourth-grade reading test; up from 81 percent five years ago. In 2006, third-grade math scores were 76 percent, last year they were over 83 percent.

Maplewood Heights is one of 99 schools to receive the award.

This is the fourth annual Schools of Distinction award given by The Center for Educational Effectiveness and Phi Delta Kappa, Washington State Chapter.