MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District proudly announces that Moses Lake High School (MLHS) and Vanguard Academy have successfully completed the rigorous Washington State Accreditation process, reinforcing their commitment to providing high-quality, rigorous education for their students. This accreditation not only affirms the quality education and rigorous programs available at both high schools but also opens doors for students to various career pathways, prestigious programs, universities, U.S. Military Academies, and international universities. It also ensures eligibility for College Board programs and offers Advanced Placement courses.
“The accreditation process is a valuable process that supports our school's commitment to continuous improvement of student learning, achievement, and growth,” said Thomas Jay, MLHS Assistant Principal.
The accreditation process, which began in the fall of 2023, involved a thorough self-reflection and external review, assessing each school's vision, mission, District strategic plan, and School Improvement Plan (SIP). Throughout the year, school administrative leadership teams conducted a comprehensive self-assessment, analyzing data, determining needs, setting goals, and gathering feedback from staff, students, parents, and community stakeholders. Following the completion of this groundwork, an external team of educators and administrators from the Association of Educational School Districts (AESD) performed a site visit to review each high school’s accreditation process and readiness for the final presentation to the AESD panel.
“The accreditation process allowed us to review what has been accomplished as a new school and helps the Vanguard Academy continue to plan for effective communication about the powerful learning that occurs in a mastery-based learning environment,” stated Matt Stevens, Principal at Vanguard Academy.
After the site visit, MLHS received a number of commendations as well as a few recommendations to focus on. Commendations for Moses Lake High School included leadership, with building leadership positively impacting the school by building trust through communicating clear expectations and maintaining accountability for students and staff. Administrators are visible throughout the campus, regularly sharing data and feedback related to the goals, fostering trust. The School Improvement Plan (SIP) was also commended for being data-driven and well-developed, effectively targeting the school’s key goals.
Recommendations for MLHS included enhancing extracurricular opportunities for further student involvement, including academic support programs, sports, and academic teams, and seeking transportation solutions for students who need them. Additionally, efforts to inform and involve parents and community members should be increased to gather feedback and support. In response, MLHS hosted a “Coffee and Conversations” event where building administrators, parents, and participants shared their thoughts on improvements and positive progress to formulate ideas and strategies with the goal of increasing student achievement and closing the achievement gap to ensure the success of every student at MLHS. Future plans include securing funding for after-school transportation and forming a Parent Cabinet and Student Cabinet to enhance transparency, communication, and involvement.
Vanguard Academy received commendations for its positive learning environment, where students and staff display pride for their community, and for relationship building, with staff being intentional about fostering a safe and supportive climate. The “House” structure at Vanguard nurtures a sense of belonging and family atmosphere for all. Academic monitoring was also praised, with core academics effectively addressed and monitored through classwork and integrated projects.
Recommendations for Vanguard included working towards a consensus about the definitions and implementations of “Mastery Based Learning,” “Project Based Learning,” and “Standards Based Learning” at Vanguard Academy. Additionally, there should be further promotion of learning opportunities to district students, parents, and the local community. In response, Vanguard Academy engaged the community by hosting events such as the Fall Festival and three exhibition nights where students present their passion projects to parents and community members. Students have also presented their work on the redesign of Yonezawa Park to the Grant County Conservation District and City of Moses Lake officials. They shared their project on the impacts of food waste with various food service organizations and participated in community service projects and tours for all 8th-grade students in the Moses Lake School District.
Looking ahead, Vanguard Academy plans to continue partnering with community organizations to display and receive feedback about student projects, form a parent advisory council, and increase the publication of activities and collaborations with the community and other schools. “The feedback we received from the site team and the review panel was supportive and encouraging for the kind of learning and the valuable educational experience it provides to students. We know that incorporating the use of projects as the core of the instructional model demonstrates student achievement, and we know Vanguard provides a strong feeling of belonging and acceptance for all students,” continues Principal Stevens.
The final phase of the accreditation process involved formal presentations to the AESD State Panel at Capital Region ESD 113 (Tumwater, WA). These presentations underscored the rationale for seeking accreditation, involvement of the staff, and the extensive use of data to set and achieve goals. While accreditation is granted for a six-year period, a third-year review is conducted to monitor ongoing progress towards school goals, celebrate successes, and make necessary adjustments.
“The process is worthwhile and provides for collaboration and reflection by the MLHS community, for external review and validation of the school improvement plan, and the process that led to its development,” added MLHS Principal Sheila Kries. “It also serves our community as a statement of accountability to the public and our students. We’re proud of the work our staff has achieved.”
The Washington State AESD Accreditation process is designed to assist schools in developing practices that best suit their unique needs for continuous improvement. Aligned with School Improvement Planning (SIP), it offers a personalized approach to meet each school's specific requirements. This process promotes collaboration, deep reflection, external review, and validation of school improvement plans, ensuring accountability to the public. To date, over 300 schools across the state, ranging from middle schools, private schools, and comprehensive high schools, have achieved AESD Accreditation following confirmation by a panel of volunteer ESD Board members. Accreditation is granted for a period of six years, conditioned on a third-year review to check on continued progress towards the school’s goals, celebrate successes, and recalibrate as needed.
