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Middle States Accreditation at Pope John Paul II High School

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The Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (MSCESS), the premier American regional accreditation agency, is the leader in ensuring that all students in its region receive the highest quality of education and achieve at levels expected by society. Through its accreditation and school improvement services, MSCSS recognizes excellence in educational quality, planning, and growth in student performance and provides the means to meet rigorous standards of educational quality.

 

Pope John Paul II High School is currently undergoing a re-accreditation process that involves all stakeholders in our school community, including school leadership, faculty, staff, board members, parents, students, clergy, and partnering school principals.

 

What is Accreditation?

From the Middle States Website

Accreditation is a self-evaluation process that schools and school systems voluntarily use to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards. The standards examine schools in a holistic way, supplementing student-testing data to provide a more complete measure of a school’s performance and chart a strategic and realistic course for continuous school improvement.

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How Long Does Accreditation Last?

Typically, once accreditation is earned, it is renewed on a seven-year cycle that involves an intensive self-study process conducted by the school, an on-site three-day visit by a team of professional educators, and on-site mid-point reviews in the form of a one-day, one-person visit. In some cases, accreditation is granted for five years, but the protocol is actually a ten-year cycle of activities.

 

How does the accreditation process work?

The process begins with a self-study conducted by the school and requires input from a coalition of school leaders, teachers, parents and students. Following the self-study, a team of volunteer educators from Middle States-accredited schools conducts an on-site peer review to observe school operations and interview various stakeholders. The team then makes its recommendation to Middle States, where it undergoes a multi-level review by some of the best educators in the field before being approved.One-size does not fit all
The Middle States Association’s accreditation process respects the individual nature and character of each school. Although it is required that all schools meet the same Standards for Accreditation, there is sufficient flexibility within the Standards and protocols so that different schools can demonstrate they meet the Standards in different ways.

 

Middle States Standards for Accreditation

The Middle States Visitation team serves to validate the school's Evaluation and Vision of itself using the following 5 standards:

  • Foundations

  • Governance and Organization

  • Student Well-Being

  • Resources

  • Teaching and Learning

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