Catholic Schools achieve full accreditation
Bishop Robert Marshall is please to announce that Diocese of Alexandria Catholic Schools have earned system-wide accreditation by Cognia™, a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers.
Bishop informed the principals yesterday during the 2023-2024 School Mass at St. Frances Cabrini Church.
Cognia (formerly AdvancED), nationally recognizes districts that meet rigorous standards that focus on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meet the needs of learners, and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the system and all of its schools are accredited, and that the Diocese of Alexandria School System is recognized across the nation as a school system that meets Cognia Standards of Quality, and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.
“Systems accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides the Diocese of Alexandria Schools a nationally recognized mark of quality for our school system and each school within our system,” shared Bishop Robert Marshall. “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our openness to external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.”
To earn accreditation from Cognia, a school district also must implement a continuous process of improvement, and submit to internal and external review. School systems in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a five-year term.
Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia System Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school system and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish. Diocese of Alexandria schools are to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards, is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”
Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), 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 the Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org.
About Cognia
Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and improvement services to institutions and other education providers. The result of the merger of AdvancED and Measured Progress, Cognia was formed to bridge the gap between school evaluation and student assessment. As a global nonprofit working in over 80 countries, our 36,000 institutions serve and support nearly 25 million students and five million educators every day. Cognia serves as trusted partner in advancing learning for all learners. Find out more at cognia.org.
About the Diocese of Alexandria Schools
Some of our schools had been individually accredited through Cognia; this system-wide accreditation renews and expands that recognition. The eight schools of the Diocese of Alexandria are Holy Savior Menard Central High School, Alexandria; St. Frances Cabrini School, Alexandria; Our Lady of Prompt Succor School, Alexandria, St. Mary’s Catholic School, Natchitoches; Sacred Heart School, Moreauville; St. Joseph School, Plaucheville; St. Mary’s Assumption School, Cottonport and St. Anthony of Padua School, Bunkie.