Parrsboro Celebrated as Nova Scotia's First Accredited School

Parrsboro Regional Elementary-High School has become the first school in Nova Scotia to be awarded accreditation under a new school-improvement program.

The distinction caps five years of work by the small, rural school to set higher standards, increase student achievement and improve the school's overall performance.

"I am extremely proud of staff, students and community members who have put so much effort into meeting their goals," Education Minister Karen Casey said today, May 28, at a ceremony honouring the school. "This is a school that has successfully pioneered a school-improvement strategy that leads to a model for other schools across Nova Scotia."

Parrsboro was one of eight schools selected in 2002 to pilot the Nova Scotia Accreditation Program, a provincewide school-improvement process identified as a priority in Learning For Life II, the province's multi-year plan for education. There are now 130 schools working on school-accreditation plans. Every school in the province will be working on accreditation plans by 2010.

"Accreditation is all about accountability," said Ms. Casey. "It is about ensuring every one of our schools is continually improving, offering quality programs and ensuring that the academic needs of all students are being met."

Parrsboro focused its efforts on improving student achievement in mathematics and language arts, and enhancing overall school performance by establishing programs to improve the school learning environment. The school demonstrated progress in raising student achievement in mathematics and literacy, and establishing a more caring and safe learning environment for its 470 students.

Grade 6 writing results are above the provincial average and 11 per cent of the school's students improved reading levels between 2003 and 2006. At the high school level, academic performance improved by 17 per cent. Results for students taking the English 12 and English Communications 12 provincial exams were at, or above, the provincial average.

"Our entire school community put a great deal of time and effort into this plan," said principal Pam Hoar. "We set our sights high for the sake of our students, and we are proud of the growth we have seen. The accreditation program has helped us foster a culture of continuous improvement."

The Nova Scotia Accreditation Program requires schools meet a standard of excellence based on goals that are specific and strategic, measurable, attainable, results-based and timely (SMART).

Under the program, schools establish internal review teams to collect and evaluate data to identify both strengths and areas needing improvement. Based on those areas needing improvement, schools develop goals and a five-year school-improvement plan.

The plan is examined by an external review team of independent educators and administrators who visit each school before approving it. Schools implement their improvement plan, and provide annual updates to school advisory councils. An accreditation team returns to the school after four years to assess progress. Schools receive accreditation after they show progress toward the goals in their improvement plans.