The St. Croix Educational Complex has been recommended for full re-accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the Department of Education announced Friday. The recommended term is for seven years, up to 2021.
Complex was visited this week by a five-member validation team from Middle States, which presented an oral report of their findings on Friday to the school’s administrators and staff, along with St. Croix District officials.
"I had a range of emotions as the visiting team chair read the oral report," St. Croix District Superintendent Gary Molloy said. "I went from nervous to relieved, happy and excited because this process toward re-accreditation has been anything but regular for Complex. But having the visiting team here helped them see the true essence of our students and the caliber of education we offer."
"The spirit, determination and caring atmosphere is due to the administration and faculty going the extra mile to ensure that everyone gets the best education possible," Molloy said. "This process did wonders for the Complex family, and gave everyone a chance to really take a good look at themselves and beginning planning for the future."
In preparation for this week’s site visit, Complex has spent more than a year in self-study, which includes conducting a thorough internal review of all policies, procedures, facilities, student needs and academic content. During the review process, Middle States looks at how each school meets its 12 "standards of quality" and the self-study is conducted to highlight both the school’s strengths as well as areas in need of improvement. An action plan, which lays out new goals and objectives, is then generated and presented to the Association’s representatives for review (see http://www.middlestates.org/accreditation.php).
The subsequent site visit from Middle States is meant to "validate" what each school puts in its self-study and, in order to do so, visiting team members interview everyone from the students and staff to parents and community members involved in activities on the school’s campus.
The team’s positive recommendation will now be forwarded to the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools.
"We anticipate continued good news as this recommendation is forwarded on for final action," Education Commissioner Donna Frett-Gregory added Friday. "It is also exciting for me to offer my congratulations to the administration, staff and students at the Educational Complex. Going through the accreditation process is never easy and, this time around, the school’s faculty and staff also had to work around the ongoing double session – it is truly commendable what they have been able accomplish during this time. It is evident that the Complex community not only rose to the occasion but also demonstrated to Middle States their continued commitment to excellence. We are extremely proud of them!"
