Category Archives: Dual Accreditation

All 23 high schools receive “Accredited with Quality” from the Georgia Accrediting Commission

The Dunwoody Crier is reporting All DeKalb high schools now accredited twice saying

When the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/AdvancedEd put the DeKalb system on probation …  Terry Nall began to search for a backup plan. It led to a state agency not widely familiar to the public.  Continue Reading Story Here >>

DeKalb Schools Press Release
Monitoring Report

The 23 high schools in the DeKalb County School District have met 100 percent of the Georgia Accrediting Commission’s (GAC) standards and received the designation, “Accredited with Quality,” their highest rating. Each school will receive a certificate of designation, which is to be updated annually.

“The GAC assessment was extensive and affirms the great work that is being done in our high schools,” said Michael Thurmond, Superintendent of the DeKalb County School District. “The scholarship and academic achievements of our students have been validated.”
The GAC conducted a rigorous five-month evaluation process that began in September 2014. A team of GAC consultants visited each school, interviewed principals, reviewed evidence, and evaluated each school based on four major standards including organization, personnel, finances, and programs of study based on the interviews and documentation from the schools. In addition, each school’s physical plant was assessed for operational usefulness and safety. The District submitted a master application for all 23 high schools in November 2014. Site visits by GAC consultants were conducted in January 2015. GAC notified the DeKalb Board of Education of the final decision in March 2015.
The application for GAC accreditation was approved by the DeKalb County Board of Education in the spring of 2014 as part of a dual accreditation strategy. The DCSD is also “Accredited on Advisement” by AdvancED/SACS, one notch from unconditional accreditation.
“Thanks to the the tireless efforts of parents, teachers, principals, and support staff, the DeKalb County School District is making great strides inside and outside the classroom,” said Dr. Melvin Johnson, chair of the DeKalb County Board of Education. “The Board will continue to leverage the significant progress that has been made.