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ISTE Distinguished District Award

Nominations are now open! The deadline to apply is January 31, 2024.

ISTE Distinguished Districts are U.S. school systems that are transforming education by embracing change to improve teaching and learning, ensure equity for all students and serve as an example for other schools to follow. 

Candidates:

  • Demonstrate the innovative and effective use of technology throughout their district.

  • Ensure equitable, accessible and appropriate technology use for all students, and are focused on improving learner outcomes and continuously enhancing the learning experience.

  • Involve all stakeholders, including staff, students, families and the community, in the process of continuous improvement.

Award-winning districts:

  • Integrates the ISTE Standards in their professional learning offerings

  • Apply innovative and design thinking principles in their strategic plans

  • Actively incorporate the ISTE Standards across grade levels and curriculum areas.

ISTE Distinguished Districts

Atlanta Public Schools - Atlanta, Georgia district personnel
2023 Distinguished District Award Winner
Atlanta Public Schools

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in Georgia, serving 60,000 students at 87 learning sites. Its vision is to be a "a high-performing school district where students love to learn, educators inspire, families engage and the community trusts the system."

Los Angeles Unified School District - Los Angeles, California district personnel
2023 Distinguished District Award Winner
Los Angeles Unified School District

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest school district in the nation, serving over 429,000 students across 710 square miles. Its core beliefs are mutual respect, excellence and high expectations, equity and access, and collaboration.

Parkway School District - Chesterfield, MO district personnel
2023 Distinguished District Award Winner
Parkway School District

Chesterfield, MO

Parkway School District serves 17,000 students in 30 schools, 17 of which are National Blue Ribbon Schools. It is also a National School District of Character that prioritizes success and innovation to prepare their learners to “respond to the challenges of an ever-changing world.”

About the Awards Process

ISTE Distinguished District Award winners receive:

  • An engraved plaque acknowledging the district’s outstanding achievement.

  • Up to four, one-year premium individual ISTE memberships ($295 value each).

  • One ISTE Certification enrollment ($800 value).

  • Up to four complimentary registrations for ISTELive 24 ($525 value each).

  • A $2,000 travel stipend to attend ISTELive 24.

  • An opportunity to be featured in an ISTELive panel with the ISTE CEO.

  • Recognition at ISTELive 24.

  • Recognition on the ISTE website.

  • Opportunities to contribute to the field.

View Award Criteria 🡕 | Nominate Your District 🡕

Previous ISTE Distinguished Districts

Fulton County Public Schools - Atlanta, Georgia district personnel
2022 Distinguished District Award Winner

Fulton County Schools, Atlanta, Georgia

Indian River School District - Selbyville, Delaware district personnel
2022 Distinguished District Award Winner

Indian River School District, Selbyville, Delaware

Modesto City Schools - Modesto, California district personnel
2022 Distinguished District Award Winner

Modesto City Schools, Modesto, California

Meriden Public Schools, Meriden, Connecticut district personnel
2021 Distinguished District Award Winner

Meriden Public Schools, Meriden, Connecticut

Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, Florida district personnel
2021 Distinguished District Award Winner

Orange County Public Schools, Orlando, Florida

San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco, California district personnel
2021 Distinguished District Award Winner

San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco, California

Lakota Local Schools, Liberty and West Chester Township, Ohio district personnel
2020 Distinguished District Award Winner

Lakota Local Schools, Liberty and West Chester Township, Ohio

Moreno Valley Unified School District, Moreno Valley, California district personnel
2020 Distinguished District Award Winner

Moreno Valley Unified School District, Moreno Valley, California

Prince William County Schools, Manassas, Virginia district personnel
2020 Distinguished District Award Winner

Prince William County Schools, Manassas, Virginia

Flagler County Public Schools, Palm Coast, Florida district personnel
2019 Distinguished District Award Winner

Flagler County Public Schools, Palm Coast, Florida

Middletown City School District, Middleton, Ohio district personnel
2019 Distinguished District Award Winner

Middletown City School District, Middleton, Ohio

St. Vrain Valley School District, Longmont, Colorado district personnel
2019 Distinguished District Award Winner

St. Vrain Valley School District, Longmont, Colorado

Pickerington Local School District, Pickerington, Ohio district personnel
2018 Distinguished District Award Winner

Pickerington Local School District, Pickerington, Ohio

Illinois, United States
2017 Distinguished District Award Winner

Gurnee School District 56, Gurnee, Illinois

Alabama, United States
2016 Distinguished District Award Winner

Mountain Brook School System, Mountain Brook, Alabama

British Columbia, Canada
2015 Distinguished District Award Winner

Surrey School District, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

South Carolina, United States
2014 Distinguished District Award Winner

Richland School District Two, Columbia, South Carolina

North Carolina, United States
2013 Distinguished District Award Winner

Rowan-Salisbury School System, Rowan County, North Carolina

North Carolina, United States
2012 Distinguished District Award Winner

Mooresville Graded School District, Mooresville, North Carolina