Riverton's Orchard Friends School Re-Accredited by Middle States

—Submitted by Orchard Friends School 

Orchard Friends School (OFS) is pleased to announce that it recently received re-accreditation through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Orchard Friends School, which has been accredited since 2002, began the process with an intensive self-study by all stakeholders at the school, including staff, faculty, parents, students and school board members. The year-long process culminated with a five-day visit to the school by a volunteer validation team of educators appointed by Middle States.

"We are proud of the hard work and commitment to education here at Orchard Friends School," said John W. Keeley, OFS head of school. "Accreditation from Middle States provides a quality seal of approval that Orchard Friends School has met the rigorous standards set by our educational peers. It assures parents and the public that our students are receiving a quality education."

The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), one of the premier accrediting associations in the world, pioneered the accreditation of colleges and schools in the United States more than a century ago. Accreditation by MSA remains a prestigious validation of educational excellence and dynamic school improvement in traditional and non-traditional schools worldwide.

Accreditation and re-accreditation are impartial, third-party validations that an educational institution meets challenging but achievable standards of quality and provide a mechanism for continuous school improvement. The dynamic process requires the commitment and involvement of a wide range of stakeholders. It engages the community and ultimately assures the public of an organization's integrity.