The line at the Twin Lakes catered buffet table looked significantly longer than normal. The popular Federal Way Chamber of Commerce membership luncheons typically draw a sizable crowd, but none quite like the one that showed up at the Twin Lakes banquet hall last Wednesday.

Aside from the usual business networking and camaraderie, last week's meeting featured a rare state of the schools address from Federal Way Public Schools Superintendent Tom Murphy, presented at a time of increasing uncertainty about the district's future. With recent news of WASL scores and a lawsuit against the state, the superintendent spoke to a packed house of Federal Way citizens eager to hear down which paths Murphy intends to steer Washington's seventh largest school district.

His take on the district's progress? FWPS has made sizable gains, but still faces many tough obstacles in the future.

"What hasn't changed over all of these years is the commitment we have to all students," Murphy said, "the commitment to place each and every student in the best possible position for success for the rest of their lives."

For its size, Federal Way stands as one of the state's most diverse districts, with people of color comprising more than 52 percent of its 22,500 enrolled students. 2,300 of those students require special services because they do not speak English.

Additionally, 47 percent of FWPS students qualify for free or reduced lunch because their families live at or below the federal poverty line.

But the district, Murphy said, has combated these obstacles by doubling its efforts to include and challenge these students to excel.

FWPS received the Diversity Award from the Washington State School Directors Association in recognition of its emphasis on fairness, openness and equitable access for its students. The district also receive praise for its efforts to eliminate prejudice, bigotry and discrimination, address racial integration and language needs, hire a diverse staff and involve the community, Murphy continued.

Several district schools have received national recognition for closing the achievement gap, the superintendent added.

FWHS, Thomas Jefferson and Todd Beamer were honored by Standard and Poor for making what Murphy called "substantial strides" in closing the achievement gap. FWPS is the only district with more than one school on the list, and TJ and FWHS led all South Sound schools in narrowing their achievement gaps.

Out of 55 schools statewide, three Federal Way Schools - Lake Grove, Olympic View and Sunnycrest elementary schools - earned the district OSPI awards in academic achievement. Wildwood Elementary received $25,000 as a recipient of the Apple Award, honoring the school's significant increase in achievement. Murphy said that 100 percent of Wildwood's Hispanic students passed the fourth grade reading WASL.

Across the district, reading WASL scores ranked FWPS above its neighboring districts in the South Sound and many others statewide.

"86 percent of fourth graders, 66 percent of seventh graders and 87 percent of tenth graders passed the reading portion of the WASL. These scored placed FWPS above the state average.

But math WASL scores, Murphy admits, continue to require improvement.

"The gap in achievement is not closing (in math)," Murphy told members of the Federal Way Chamber, "In fact, it's getting more pronounced as students move through the system."

"This is unacceptable," Murphy said.

"Across the board, even though your students are outperforming students in surrounding districts, even though your students are performing above the state average," said Murphy, "Rapid and substantial improvements must be made in math to place all students in position for success."

"We got there in reading," the superintendent said, "We'll get there in math."

Murphy's address did not mention a lawsuit against the state to secure more funding for the district, however, the superintendent did discuss what the district considers an inequitable state funding structure and their appeal to state legislators to, in his words, "right this terrible wrong."

"Your Federal Way Public Schools is the seventh largest school district in Washington, yet we rank 263rd out of 296 districts in dollars-per-student funding," Murphy told the audience.

"Equitable funding is ethically, morally and legally the right thing to do," he added.

The superintendent's closing remarks made an appeal to the parents in the audience.

Encouragement in the home helps fortify the achievements in the classroom, Murphy suggested.

"Make the education of our children our highest priority," Murphy said. "Place academic achievement above all else; above sports, iPods, video games, and just hanging out with friends."

"Let them know there is know there is nothing more important than working hard and learning as much as they can," Murphy said.