What happens when the high school loses its accreditation?
This is more than a theoretical question. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), one of the nation's major accrediting agencies, revoked the Clayton County school system's accreditation in late August after the district's leaders failed to achieve eight of nine mandates for improvement set by SACS in February 2008. This situation is impacting thousands of students, many who are applying to college right now.
There is a great summation of the situation at US News & World Report posted on 9-19-2008. (click logo for link to article).
Supposedly, college-bound students will not be directly impacted by the revocation. Per the US News reporting, Georgia does not require in-state applicants to its state universities to graduate from accredited high school. Several colleges, including Harvard, said its admissions process doesn't really look at lack of accreditation. The reason given is they admit students from other than "traditional" high schools including home school and foreign students.
So what does this mean for students at marginal high schools? The impact on college admissions becomes how the college will evaluate the applicant GPAs. The use of "neutral" or equally administered admissions tests like SAT, SAT IIs, ACT, and AP tests may become more important when the value of the grades becomes questionable. The more elite the college, the important testing may become to prove the level of education received.
The same US News article had a great quote from Forest Park High School Parent Teacher Student Association President Theresa Brown-Manuel. She feels strongly that parents should ask: "What can I do as a parent and as a member of the PTSA to help solve this problem? Well, I can do a lot." Parents and students need to be involved with their high schools to INSIST that they be given the best education possible. Look at testing scores. Look at what percent of students go on to colleges. If they are not good enough, work to make them better!
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