Accreditation (WASC)
WASC Overview 2018/2024
What is WASC? The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is a commission that ensures a high standard of student learning through constant and comprehensive evaluation of schools’ programs and services. The purpose of WASC is to foster excellence in education by encouraging school improvement through a process of continuing evaluation. The WASC commission grants accreditation to schools that meet a certain level of quality based on criteria such as school instruction, school-wide learning expectations, and the school’s philosophy. The ultimate goal of WASC is to help schools meaningfully create the highest quality learning experience they can for all students.
Why should schools be accredited? Accreditation certifies that a school is a trustworthy institution of learning. It encourages schools to improve themselves to promote a higher level of student learning by recognizing, evaluating, and improving upon their strengths and weaknesses. Some benefits of accreditation include: The University of California passed a policy in November 2002 that requires all schools seeking UC approval of their A-G course list be accredited by WASC.Students are only eligible for Cal Grants if they attended an accredited high school. Colleges and universities examine transcripts to determine if the students have attended an accredited high school. Many school districts have policies to accept credits only from accredited schools.
How can I get involved? Parents, students and community members are welcome to be a part of Grace Christian School’s WASC process. If you would like to get involved or just have feedback about how we can improve Grace Christian School, please contact Dr. Don Pettinger at [email protected].
When will the next WASC visit take place? Grace Christian School is Fully Accredited through Spring 2024.