December 8, 2009: School Improvement Efforts Recognized by Province

Liverpool Regional High School and Lunenburg Junior/Senior High School have become the most recent South Shore schools to be awarded accreditation under the provincial government’s school  improvement program.

They join New Ross Consolidated School, Forest Heights Community School, Dr. J.C. Wickwire Academy and Park View Education Centre in receiving provincial recognition for their work in setting higher standards, increasing student achievement and improving overall performance.

Eight schools – including Dr. J.C. Wickwire – were selected to pilot the Nova Scotia Accreditation Program in 2002. Since then, the number of schools participating in the province-wide program has been gradually increased. It will be mandatory for all Nova Scotia schools in 2010.

“Congratulations to Liverpool and Lunenburg high schools on achieving accreditation status,” said Board Chair Elliott Payzant. “Developing and implementing a school improvement plan involves a tremendous effort from school administrators, teachers, assistants, students and the community working together to achieve their goals.”

Becoming accredited is a five-year process that begins with an internal review team collecting and evaluating information to identify school strengths, as well as areas needing improvement. Based on those evaluations, the school develops goals and an improvement plan.

The plan is examined by an external review team of independent educators and administrators who visit the school before approving the plan. The school implements its plan and provides yearly updates on its activities and progress.

Three years after the plan’s implementation, an accreditation team visits to the school and assesses its progress towards achieving its goals. If the school shows significant progress toward achieving the goals in its improvement plan, it receives accreditation.

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