Avon High School Prepares for NEASC Accreditation Visit

Avon High School is expecting New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) officials to visit the school on Oct. 27 as part of the accreditation review process. 

NEASC visitors will tour the school alongside students. 

"They shadow students and experience Avon High School through the eyes of the student," Avon High School Principal Christopher Tranberg said.

The high school goes through the accreditation process every 10 years, he said. 

During that visit, accreditation officials will also assess whether the whole school is observing its defined set of core values. Faculty and administrators are raising awareness of those values and reinforcing them with the students. 

The high school has already submitted a self study to NEASC reviewing how well it adheres to NEASC guidelines in the areas of academics, curriculum, instruction, leadership, community and the quality of the physical high school building. 

"We've been working hard on updating curriculum," Tranberg said, also noting collaboration between teachers with a department as a goal for the school year. 

So far, the district has updated its English and math curriculums, according to Tranberg. High school classes will emphasize close reading of texts and increase students' exposure to non-fiction books. The curriculums also serve to prepare students with skills needed in college like speaking, listening and working in groups. 

The high school is in the process of working with a consultant to review the curriculums for science, social studies and elective courses, Tranberg said.

Tranberg has also been staying current with technology and social media channels for distributing information in order to meet a call for more communication between the high school and families. He recently started a Twitter account to share the good things happening at Avon High School. Tranberg is also writing a weekly newsletter to parents called The Friday Falcon. 

The accreditation feedback will identify what the high school is doing well and areas for improvement for the school to implement. NEASC will likely submit the report to the high school eight to 10 weeks after its visit, according to Tranberg. 

What's your take as a parent or student? What does the high school do well and what are areas for improvement.