Pictured are (l-r) Dr. Joseph Morton, State Superintendent; Sandra Ray, Vice-President, State Board of Education; Dr. Elton Bouldin, Principal, WES; and Governor Bob Riley, President, State Board of Education.

In the Fall of 2006, West Elementary received a Recognition Proclamation and a $5,000 academic award for "Exceeding the Challenge" with disadvantaged students. Specifically, the recognition was for having a subgroup in which the percent of students scoring proficient in reading and math exceeded its state counterpart during the 2005 - 2006 school year.