By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Having completed an extensive period of internal evaluation and assessment, Union City High School has earned a six-year accreditation term from Cognia.
Cognia recognizes schools across the globe that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation, and effective leadership.
To earn Cognia accreditation, a school must submit to internal and external review(s).
Receiving certification from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.
“The accreditation process takes place over an entire school year,” UCHS Principal Jacob Cross explained. “The process involves the analysis of extensive academic, behavioral, and attendance data, as well as surveys from various stakeholder groups.
“It requires a great deal of self-reflection. We rate our own performance in multiple areas and then defend our findings with evidence. Essentially, we take a deep look into our current practices and determine what is working well and what we need to improve upon.”
Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, had high words of praise for UCHS.
“Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of ensuring all students can flourish in engaging and equitable learning environments,” Elgart said in a released statement. “We commend Union City High School for meeting high standards and making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”
Cross, Vice Principal John Graham, and faculty member Kelly Hutchens formed Union City’s team and solicited data from school staff and community members in the months-long process.
“This was a group effort, but Mrs. (Kelly) Hutchens deserves much of the credit for this accomplishment,” Cross stated. “She led our accreditation team throughout the process and did a fantastic job.”
Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).
Parents and interested community members can learn more about Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org