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Accreditations & Distinctions

Blue Ribbon School

RECOGNIZED THREE TIMES AS A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL

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In 2020, 2009, and 2001, the U.S. Department of Education designated ​Waldron Mercy Academy as a National Blue Ribbon School (the most prestigious education award in the country) for its excellence in leadership, teaching, curriculum, student achievement, parent involvement, and community support. The program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that have placed in the top 10 percent on state or national assessments, among other criteria. 

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​Schools selected for recognition prepared an extensive written nomination package representing a thorough self-evaluation. The process involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the school and developing plans to improve for the future.

Accreditations

Waldron Mercy Academy is accredited by the Middle States Association with the Service Learning Program of Distinction. Of the 2700 schools within the MSA, Waldron Mercy is the first and only school to be honored with a Program of Distinction for service.

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Accreditation begins as a self-evaluation process that schools voluntarily undergo to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of performance standards. The accreditation process helps schools – and ultimately students – to continuously grow and improve.

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Following the self-study, a team of volunteer educators from Association member schools conducts an on-site peer review visit to observe school operations and interview various stakeholders. The visiting team makes its recommendation to the Middle States Association Commissions, which votes on the accreditation.

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“The accreditation process examines schools in a holistic way, supplementing student testing data and providing a more complete measure of a school’s performance,” said Henry G. Cram, Ed.D., president of the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. “School leaders, teachers and parents are to be commended for working together to create a concrete plan focused on providing high quality education for all students.”

Action Research Project

Part of the Middle States Accreditation process requires the creation of an Action Research Plan that will sustain excellence in the school. After careful research, our faculty and staff chose to focus on a plan to benefit the mental health of our students: building grit and resilience.  Faculty members will use Dr.Kenneth Ginsburg’s 7Cs Model of Resilience (Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, Contribution, Coping, and Control) as a framework to create changes in educational strategies. The curriculum changes began in the fall of 2019. 

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