The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is one of the six accrediting agencies in the U.S. It provides accreditation to both private and public elementary schools, secondary schools, and universities in California, Hawaii, and peripheral territories.

Members of the WASC committee visited Arcadia High School (AHS) on Nov. 6-9. The visitors include Mrs. Brenda Robinette from La Costa Canyon High School (Visiting Chair), Mr. Dalton Cole from LA Unified, Mrs. Karen Brossia from Yucaipa Unified, Mr. Eric Martin from Perris Union High School District, and Mrs. Margo Jackson from Long Beach Unified. 

The committee arrived on Sunday, Nov. 6, for an initial meeting with the five focus groups, which were 40 people groups led by all of the department chairs at AHS and were centered around the aspects of organization, curriculum, learning and teaching, assessment, and school culture. The committee toured the school, followed by a reception and a meeting with the AHS parents.

The purpose of accreditation is to demonstrate that schools maintain a qualified faculty, have a clear goal and aligned purpose, and provide a high-quality education. Accreditation from WASC is very important for schools for several reasons. First and foremost, it indicates that the school is a trustworthy institution that has a safe community. Secondly, it validates the school’s programs and transcripts, which can be used for further education. Thirdly, accreditation can help visitors from other institutions gain valuable insights and share educational experiences. Overall, the accreditation of one school does not only benefit itself but also fellow educators from around the world, and is a proud symbol that the school has the ability to prepare its students for their future.

For the next three days, WASC visited classrooms and engaged with students and classified staff, and looked at the three WASC goals: increasing career readiness opportunities for students campuswide, aligning instructional practices to promote student well-being, and building a community of support within classes and across campus. This was along with the 150-page Action Plan, which details exactly how the school will achieve these goals. During this time, the committee made recommendations for the plan so that once AHS adjusts the report, they will turn it over to the WASC commission for final review.

“Well, we were super organized and knew going in that it would be a great visit. There were so many meetings and things to remember so the stress levels were quite high. The team seemed very impressed by our school–the students, the staff, and the hospitality—it was very rewarding”, said WASC chair Ms. Ashley Novak.

This WASC meeting is precious for AHS because, through meetings and self-study, it demonstrates that the school is successful when it comes to supporting the learning and well-being of students, and that the school is actively engaged in annual self-evaluations and peer reviews. It also provides clear guiding principles for school performance and continuous improvement. In general, the WASC visit is an event that incorporates the sharing of wonderful experiences between educators, the interactions between visitors, students, and parents.

Photo courtesy of WIKIMEDIA COMMONS