Wasatch County School District (WCSD) has been named Utah’s 2025 Best of State winner in the Educational Institution category, recognizing the district’s exceptional achievement, innovative practices, and profound contributions to the quality of life in Utah.
The Best of State Awards honor outstanding individuals, businesses, and organizations that inspire others through excellence and innovation. WCSD stood out among nominees across all fields for its system-wide commitment to high-impact Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), measurable academic gains, and its relentless focus on equity, innovation, and student success.
“This award is a reflection of our incredible educators, students, and community,” said Superintendent Paul Sweat. “We’ve built a culture that believes every student can succeed—and we’ve done the hard work to back that belief with systems, support, and results.”
Under WCSD’s leadership, the district rose from 28th to 1st in the state in Language Arts and from 33rd to 3rd in Math. Most recently, it was designated a national Model PLC District by Solution Tree, a distinction held by less than 1% of districts nationwide. Wasatch also earned recognition in the 2025 Harvard-Stanford Education Recovery Scorecard as the only district in Utah to demonstrate academic growth in both math and reading since the pandemic.
“In Wasatch, we don’t accept the idea that some kids can’t learn,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Garrick Peterson. “We use data to drive decisions, build adult capacity, and innovate at every level—because our students deserve nothing less.”
Judged independently by over 100 experts and verified by certified public accountants, the Best of State selection process evaluated nominees on achievement (50%), innovation (30%), and community contribution (20%). As a medal winner, WCSD will be honored at the Best of State Gala in Salt Lake City and is now eligible for the prestigious BOSS (Best of State Statue) Award.
“We are incredibly proud of this recognition,” said Board of Education President Kim Dickerson. “It’s an affirmation of the work our teachers and leaders are doing every day to ensure Wasatch County students are thriving. This is more than an award—it’s a celebration of what’s possible in public education.”
Resources:
Side-by-side comparison of Wasatch vs Utah RISE performance across all demographic subgroups
