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June 6, 2003/Sivan 6 5763, Vol. 55, No. 41
High school accredited
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
In its second year in operation, the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School has earned accreditation for the 2002-2003 school year through the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.
In order to become accredited, schools must meet North Central's quality standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals and focus on school improvement. North Central accredits more than 9,000 schools in 19 states.
According to Donald Enz, Arizona state director for North Central, the high school worked very quickly through the process of accreditation, which is usually a five-year cycle.
"They worked very hard at accreditation and they've moved quickly into accreditation for being so young," Enz said. "I think that points to the fine quality school that they are."
According to Headmaster Jay Schechter, the accre-ditation improves the school's credibility and will assist the students in getting into the colleges of their choice.
"This, to me, makes a statement to the community about the superb educational program and extracurricular program at the Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School," said Schechter.
The Accreditation Com-mittee at the school was headed by Colleen Megowan, department chairwoman for science and mathematics, and Tina Sheinbein, director of institutional advancement.
"As a team we set ambitious academic and interpersonal goals for our school community," said Megowan. "We have already begun the implementation process. The philosophical commitment to these goals was already there; all we had to do was write them down and describe how we planned to achieve them."
Enz said that most of the 400 accredited schools in Arizona are public high schools and college-preparatory private schools, although recently there has been more interest in the accreditation of elementary schools.
None of the four other Jewish day schools in the Valley is accredited by North Central, according to the organization's Web site.
Contact the writer at beth_olson@jewishaz.com.
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