WASC

What is WASC? The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (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.  [For more information about WASC, go to: http://www.acswasc.org/]

The WASC review process provides the following:

• Certification that both Alta Vista and La Cuesta High Schools are trustworthy institutions of learning
• Validation of the integrity of our program and student transcripts
• Demonstration that our schools foster improvement of their programs and operations to support student learning
• Assures our community that our purposes are appropriate and being accomplished through a viable educational program
• Provides our schools with a tool to manage change through regular assessment, planning, implementing, monitoring and reassessment
• Assists our schools in establishing priority areas for improvement as a result of the perpetual accreditation cycle that include:
  • School self-assessment of the current educational program for students
  • Insight and perspective from the visiting committee
  • Regular school staff assessment of progress through the intervening years between full self-studies.