Christ the King

School Receives High Marks for Programs and Mission

From their arrival and greeting to the reception and dinner through the several days and nights of evaluating every aspect of Christ the King School, the recent New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accreditation committee visit was a resounding success. The evaluation program which CKS underwent was a three-fold process: a self-study conducted by the school, an evaluation by the visiting committee, and the development of a follow-up program to be carried out by the school to implement the fi ndings and recommendations of the committee. Schools undergoing NEASC reviews are evaluated in terms of their compliance with the Standards for Accrediation, the quality of the schools’ Action Plan for improvement, and how well the school serves the needs of its students.

Concluding over 18 months of self-study in sixteen key areas of standards assessment, CKS received positive ratings in nearly every area and “Exemplary” ratings-the highest rating available-in five of those fields; the congruence between the school’s stated mission and it’s actual programs, policies and decision-making, the number of qualifi ed faculty available to carry out the mission, the administration’s leadership, and the commitment of the school to institutional improvement and accreditation.

Major commendations were received for:

• The Pastor’s unwavering support for CKS and his wisdom, guidance, and vision for the school
• The Principal for her dedication to the the greater good and vitality of the school and her effective leadership and ministry
• The Vice-Principal for his support of Catholic education, teaching expertise, and rapport with children
• The faculty for their love of teaching the nurturing atmosphere they have created, and their commitment to the school
• The students for their spirit, friendliness, and heartfelt display of Christian values
• The warm and accommodating manner in which all are greeted upon entering the school especially as demonstrated by the Administrative Assistant

The few areas where the visiting committee saw need for improvement were already in the process of being addressed even as the visiting team was in their review process.

The Visiting Committee also observed that CKS’s programs demonstrated “appropriate intellectual, social, physical, aesthetic, emotional, and ethical development of students” and the faculty’s clearly demonstrated ingenuity, dedication, and commitment were fundamental to the success of the school. The staff was also cited for their “Catholicity” as demonstrated in their dedication, through readings, prayers, and activities. While there is always room for improvement, NEASC committee’s report underscores the quality of education, dedication to a student-centered curriculum and exemplary faculty present at Christ the King.

What is New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)?

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges is an organization that provides accreditation to over 2,000 public and independent schools and colleges in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Founded in 1885, NEASC is the nation’s oldest regional accrediting association. It focuses not only on higher education, but also schools ranging from pre-kindergarten all the way to post graduate level. NEASC believes that providing accreditation to schools will improve education by causing these schools to strive for the accreditation. Certain standards need to be met to achieve and maintain accreditation, and that in and of itself should improve the institution. For more information about NEASC visit: neasc.org.