To spotlight effective practices, the Washington State Board of Education (SBE) is highlighting schools that are closing achievement gaps and performing at high levels. In 2009, SBE partnered with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to create the Washington Accountability Index. The Index is a new way to measure schools' improvement, the degree to which they close gaps for low income students, and, starting in the 2009-2010 school year, the closing of the gap for students of color. Through the Measurement of Student Progress (Washington Assessment of Student Learning prior to 2010) as well as graduation data, the Index provides schools with a "snapshot" of their achievement in language arts, math, science, and extended graduation rates. The Index takes into account improvement from the previous year and a school's relative performance compared to demographically similar schools. In the spring of 2010, SBE and OSPI awarded top Index performers with the Washington Achievement Award. A statewide recognition ceremony honored 174 schools for exemplary performance in language arts, math, science, graduation rate, gifted education, and Overall Excellence (top five percent statewide). From the list of Overall Excellence award winners, SBE selected a few schools with the highest percentages of low-income students (measured by students eligible for free and reduced price meals) and students of color. These are examples of schools that are beating the odds and are closing the academic achievement gaps. The purpose of this paper is for schools to learn from Crownhill's extraordinary success. This paper hopes that schools may incorporate similar professional practices. (Contains 5 sources and 4 footnotes.)