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Middle States Accreditation
Caravel Academy is accredited through the Middle States Association of Colleges and School. This is a non-profit peer evaluation organization that assesses member schools and determines their adherence to the core values of respect, effective teaching, transparency, responsiveness, societal change, and diversity. Furthermore, the evaluation year assesses the degree to which a school meets a set of standards to include governance and leadership, health and safety, facilities, school climate, improvement and planning, finance, educational program, student services, student life and activities, and technology.
During March of 2015, Caravel Academy welcomed our Middle States Evaluation Team as part of our peer review process. The team, comprised of current and retired educators from the tri-state area, evaluated our self-study report and our campus; interviewed our students, teachers, and parents; and witnessed our mission statement in action. They were especially impressed with our students, noting that our children greeted them with smiles in the hallway, spoke to them respectfully, and frequently commented on the ample preparation they are receiving here at Caravel. In addition, they noted that our students are well rounded and driven to succeed, a highly desired combination of traits when it comes to college acceptance.
The chair of the visiting team, Dr. Rosemary Radzievich, presented her oral report on Friday, March 27. She noted that Caravel Academy meets every one of the standards, and exceeded eleven of them. She shared that exceeding the expectations of the standards is not easily done nor does it often occur. The visiting team also commented repeatedly on how impressed they were that we have continued Robert Peoples’ mission of fostering the family spirit and developing productive, self-sufficient citizens. They were amazed that the Peoples family continues to support the school with such sincere interest and involvement. One of the team members even noted that she was so happy to see a school like ours still exists because she hasn’t seen one like it in decades.
The evaluation team’s commendations included our use of technology, such as the SmartBoards in our classrooms and the success of our one-to-one program. They felt that our students graduate better prepared to function in a technologically advanced world than their peers. The team also noted that we have more than capable leadership and an overwhelming sense of trust and loyalty among the administration, students, faculty, and staff. They noticed from the moment they stepped through the door that everyone here wants the best for the students so that they make the most of their talents and abilities. The team witnessed the Caravel family in action and noted what a special feature this is. They shared that students, parents, and staff all felt it was an honor to be a part of the Caravel family.
Overall, this was an extremely successful Middle States Visit. Our accreditation is an important public acknowledgment that the entire Caravel family works together to provide the best possible education for our children. How wonderfully reassuring it is to have a group unfamiliar with our school step through the doors and be immediately and continually impressed with everything about Caravel.
-Middle States Internal Coordinators
Mary Beardsley and Alison Harper
aharper@caravel.org
mbeardsley@caravel.org