After months of carefully considering leading administrators and high-performing districts nationwide, K-12 Dive is proud to announce the eighth annual K-12 Dive Awards.

To determine nominees for our 2023 district, superintendent and principal of the year, we spoke with education stakeholders and past honorees, and we revisited information gathered in our reporting throughout the year. From there, we culled the list for factors including student achievement, novel approaches to school models, community engagement, and challenges faced. This ultimately informed a final, albeit difficult, decision by the K-12 Dive team.

Though this year’s winners serve markedly different communities and student populations, you’ll notice they share common themes: a commitment to high expectations, a flair for innovation, a drive to build positive school culture, and a passion for opening students’ eyes to what’s possible.

We’re excited to share their stories with you.