WASC
Accrediting Commission for Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) is one of six regional accrediting associations in the United States. The Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASC, extends its services to over 4,500 public, independent, church-related, and proprietary pre-K–12 and adult schools, works with 16 associations in joint accreditation processes, and collaborates with other educational organizations.
The ACS WASC accreditation process fosters excellence in elementary, secondary, and adult education by encouraging school improvement. WASC accreditation recognizes schools that meet an acceptable level of quality, in accordance with established, research-based WASC criteria.
Princeton High School WASC
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a voluntary dual-purpose process that schools (1) must be worthy of the trust placed in them to provide high-quality learning opportunities and (2) clearly demonstrate continual self-improvement.
An accredited school is focused on a mission and goals for students; it is student-oriented and examines its students' performance continuously; it accepts objective evaluation from a team of outside peer professionals trained by WASC; it maintains a qualified faculty within an effectively organized school; it collaboratively assesses the quality of its educational programs on a regular basis; and it plans for the future.
Who benefits from accreditation?
Everyone. ACS WASC accreditation is a valuable service to the public, students and educational institutions themselves.
For example:
- The public is assured that accredited institutions are evaluated extensively and conform to general expectations of performance and quality. Because accreditation requires continual self-evaluation, frequent reports, and periodic external review, the public can be assured that the educational quality of programs and services offered by the institution are current, reflect high standards of quality, and are offered with integrity.
- Students can be assured that the institutions in which they seek to enroll have been reviewed and the educational programs that are offered have been evaluated for quality.
- Educational institutions benefit from the stimulus for self-study and self-improvement provided by the accreditation process.
Also helpful is the ongoing counsel provided by the accreditation commissions and the hundreds of peer experts used in the process of external evaluation.
Accreditation status also increases opportunities for public and private funding for both the institution and students and enhances the institution’s credibility and reputation.
What types of schools are accredited by ACS WASC?
ACS WASC extends its services to 4,500 public, independent, church-related, and proprietary schools of the following levels and types:
- Elementary schools
- Junior high, middle, and intermediate schools
- Comprehensive and college preparatory high schools
- Continuation high schools
- Alternative education schools
- Charter schools
- Private and religious schools
- Online Schools
- Occupational/vocational high schools
- Regional occupational programs/centers
- Adult and postsecondary schools, vocational skill centers
- Supplementary Education Programs/Centers
