NORTHWEST SCHOOLS EARN U.S. NEWS’ BEST HIGH SCHOOLS DESIGNATION
A number of schools accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools have been listed in the U.S. News & World Report article listing the “Best High Schools.”
U.S. News & World Report uses a methodology developed by School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education data research business run by Standard and Poor’s and based on key principles that high school must meet the needs of all students. They looked at how well students are being served, students meeting benchmarks, and assessment of the degree to which schools prepare students for college. Specific criteria can be reviewed at www.usnews.com.
The Northwest states of Alaska and Utah are not included as those states did not make 2005-06 test data available for the research firm.
Idaho
Cambridge Junior-Senior High School, Cambridge, ID Bronze Award
Castleford School, Castleford, ID Bronze Award
Clark Fork Junior-Senior High School, Clark Fork, ID Bronze Award
Council Junior-Senior High School, Council, ID Bronze Award
Dietrich School, Dietrich, ID Bronze Award
Glenns Ferry High School, Glenns Ferry, ID Bronze Award
Grace Junior-Senior High School, Grace, ID Bronze Award
Kamiah High School, Kamiah, ID Bronze Award
Kootenai Junior-Senior High School, Harrison, ID Bronze Award
Lapwai High School, Lapwai, ID Bronze Award
Meridian Charter High School, Meridian, ID Bronze Award
North Gem High School, Bancroft, ID Bronze Award
Parma High School, Parma, ID Bronze Award
Prairie High School, Cottonwood, ID Bronze Award
Raft River Junior-Senior High School, Malta, ID Bronze Award
Nevada
Advanced Technologies Academy, Las Vegas, NV Silver Award
Community College High School, East, South, and West Campuses, Las Vegas, NV Bronze Award
Edward W. Clark High School, Las Vegas, NV Silver Award
Eureka County High School, Eureka, NV Bronze Award
Las Vegas Academy lf International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts Magnet High School, Las Vegas, NV Silver Award
Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts Magnet School
Oregon
Arts & Communication High School, Beaverton, OR Silver Award
Ashland High School, Ashland, OR Silver Award
Central Linn High School, Halsey, OR Bronze Award
Corvallis High School, Corvallis, OR Silver Award
Crane Union High School, Crane, OR Bronze Award
Crescent Valley High School Corvallis, OR Silver Award
Elgin High School, Elgin, OR Bronze Award
Forest Grove High School, Forest Grove, OR Bronze Award
Gold Beach High School, Gold Beach, OR Bronze Award
Illinois Valley High School, Cave Junction, OR Bronze Award
Joseph High School, Joseph, OR Bronze Award
Lakeridge High School, Lake Oswego, OR silver Award
Lakeview Senior High School, Lakeview, OR Bronze Award
Lincoln High School, Portland, OR Bronze Award
Metropolitan Learning Center Portland, OR, Bronze Award
Neah-Kah-Nie Junior/Senior High School, Rockaway Beach, OR Bronze Award
Nyssa High School, Nyssa, OR Bronze Award
Oakridge High School, Oakridge, OR Bronze Award
Pacific High School, Port Orford, OR Bronze Award
School of Science & Technology, Beaverton, OR Bronze Award
South Eugene High School, Eugene, OR Silver Award
Union High School, Union, OR Bronze Award
Waldport High School, Waldport, OR Silver Award
West Linn High School, West Linn, OR Silver Award
Washington
Brainbridge High School, Brainbridge Island, WA Silver Award
Brewster High School, Brewster, WA Bronze Award
Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport, WA Bronze Award
Cam Jr. Sr. High School, Battle Ground, WA Bronze Award
Chelan High School, Chelan, WA Bronze Award
Cheney High School Cheney, WA Bronze Award
Columbia High School, White Salmon, WA Bronze Award
Connell High School, Connell, WA Bronze Award
Garfield High School, Seattle, WA Silver Award
Ilwaco Senior High, Ilwaco, WA Bronze Award
Inglemoor High School, Kenmore, WA Bronze Award
International Community School, Kirkland, WA Gold Award #17 of 100
Lake Quinault High School, Amanda Park, WA Bronze Award
Liberty Bell Jr/Sr High School, Winthrop, WA Bronze Award
Lopez Middle High School, Lopez Island, WA Bronze Award
Lyle High School, Lyle, WA Bronze Award
Mercer Island High School, Mercer Island, WA Silver Award
Napavine Jr/Sr High School, Napavine, WA Bronze Award
Newberg High School, Newberg, OR Bronze Award
Oakesdale High School, Oakesdale, WA Bronze Award
Olympia High School, Olympia, WA Silver Award
Pateros High School, Pateros, WA Bronze Award
Pullman High School, Pullman, WA Bronze Award
Riverside High School, Chattaroy, WA Bronze Award
Roosevelt High School, Seattle, WA Silver Award
Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, Vancouver, WA Silver Award
Wilson Creek High, Wilson Creek, WA Bronze Award
ACCREDITATION WORKSHOPS HELD IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
NAAS offered three accreditation workshops in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 26, 27, and 28, 2008. Workshops designed towards our different categories of schools included speakers, discussion, and a review of the indicators for the accreditation standards for that particular group. The three workshops included special purpose schools, and residential, distance education schools, and travel study programs. NAAS is the renowned accreditor for these groups of schools and participants enjoyed interacting with staff and representatives for the other schools represented. Allison Powell, the Vice-president of the North American Council for Online
Learning (NACOL) provided an update of their services and activities. NAAS is becoming an active partner with NACOL for the benefit our distance education members.
John Barlow, principal at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas offered outstanding hospitality. Congratulations to the fine Culinary Arts program for the wonderful luncheons provided.
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Frank Walter, Vice President of Education at Insight Schools makes a point in his presentation at the distance education school conference
Travel Study School Conference participants in discussion
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MEMBER SCHOOLS’ HIGHLIGHTS
Two NAAS accredited high schools were named as “Making Strong Gains in closing the Achievement Gap” Oregon.
McLoughlin High School. The principal is Ralph Brown who has served on several accreditation teams in the NE part of the state of Oregon.
Forest Grove High School. The principal is John O’Neil who serves on the Oregon state advisory board of accreditation.
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NAAS STANDING COMMITTEES HOLD ANNUAL MEETINGS
Three of the NAAS Standing committees held meetings recently in Las Vegas. The Standing Committees of the Commission are the developmental and functional entities charged with the responsibility of preparing recommendations for the Commission to consider. They are advisory in nature, having no authority to make policies or changes in the Policies and Procedures or Association Bylaws. Essentially, the committees make recommendations to the commission regarding standards, member services, and our third party agencies. Other standing committees that did not meet at this time include the Executive, Finance, and Strategic Planning Committees.
The Standards Committee will be recommending a sweeping change in the annual reporting process to the commission in June. The committee also took action on standards recommendations that came from the three conference workshops participants held in Las Vegas in February. The significant changes to be recommended to the Commission about the annual report will include returning to a four part Likert scale or eliminating the Likert scale altogether and and having schools report 1) Identifying those indicators upon which school improvement efforts are focused and 2) Identifying the strategies that will be used to make improvements.
Chair Dr. Pam Salazar (NV, left) along with committee members Vicki Puckett (WA) and Georgia Loutensock (UT) discuss recommendations at the Standards Committee.
The Third Party and Research Committee will recommend that two of the Third Party accreditation agencies, Christian Schools International and Association of Christian School and Teachers (Assembly of God), continue the third party relationship with NAAS for another three years. Each agency presented an interim report to the committee at the mid-point of their six-year term of accreditation partnership. This report represents the accountability piece for NAAS and member schools and third party agencies.
Other third party agencies include the Association of Christian Schools International, National Lutheran School Accreditation, Seventh Day Adventists (North Pacific Union Conference), Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools, and Western Catholic Educational Association.
Commissioners Keith Savage (NV), Dr. Bob Donaldson (ID) and Les Daenzer (AK) review materials.
NAAS President-elect Stan Baker (OR) and Jack Schuster (WA) review materials at the Third Party and Research Committee Meeting. Associate Director Leonard Paul takes notes in the back.
The Member Services Committee approved the new NAAS marketing DVD that will soon be available. Discussions in the meeting centered on service for NAAS member schools and helping members feel that they belong to schools connected by affiliation through a shared mission of accreditation
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ONLINE EDUCATION PROVIDES A UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
The Las Vegas Sun newspaper recently ran an article about a student who will graduate this spring from the Clark County School District’s, Virtual High School. The student has never attended a “brick and mortar” high school. The student enrolled due to medical reasons and upon regaining his health chose to remain with the virtual school. In the article, he notes that online learning takes self-discipline to be successful. A number of students use online learning in order to take specialized classes or catch up on academic credits. Some students choose to return to their neighborhood school for classes such as band or orchestra and some students participate in sports in their neighborhood high school.
NAAS is a world leader in accrediting distance education schools. The schools serve as another avenue for students to successful and NAAS is proud to participate in those successes.
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STATE ACCREDITATION COMMITTEES MEET
This is the time of year that State Advisory Committees (SAC) begin to hold spring and summer meetings. The meetings are organized and chaired by the state commissioners and state advisory board members in each of the states. Meetings are scheduled for discussion, business, and approval of school accreditation reports. The agendas focus on the needs of the particular state hosting the meeting. A NAAS staff member also attends to provide updated information and be a resource for accreditation discussion. Member schools may contact their state chair to find out more information about state advisory committee meetings.
The Idaho SAC recently met in Boise, ID
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MEETINGS
The summer commission meeting will be held June 22-24, 2008 in Boise, Idaho.
The next annual meeting will be held December 8-9, 2008 in Portland, Oregon.
A listing of all meetings is posted on our web site under calendar on the top menu.