Eric Pierce, principal of Western Vance High School, has announced that the school earned continuing accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), an accreditation division of AdvanceED. This action was taken at the national AdvanceED Accreditation Commission meeting recently. Western Vance has been accredited since 2004.
SACS CASI provides nationally recognized accreditation, the purpose of which is continuous school improvement focused on increasing student performance. To earn accreditation, schools must meet SACS CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the school and implement a continuous process of school improvement. Accreditation is granted on a five-year term.
“Accreditation demonstrates to our students, parents and community that we are focused on raising student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment and maintaining an efficient and effective operation staffed by highly qualified educators,” Pierce said.
SACS CASI accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from accredited school to accredited school, but also assures parents that the school is meeting nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice.
Dr. Mark Elgart, president and chief executive officer of AdvancED, the parent organization of SACS CASI, stated, “SACS CASI accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school on the primary goal of creating lifelong learners. Western Vance High School is to be commended for engaging in this process and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.”
Parents and interested community members can learn more about accreditation at www.advance-ed.org.