Donahue Academy Earns State and Regional Accreditation
- Details
-
Published on Thursday, 12 May 2011 21:50
The Rhodora Donahue Academy of Ave Maria has reached two major accreditation milestones, and is working on another.
Dr. Daniel Guernsey, the headmaster of the four-year-old k-12 school, announced Thursday that the academy has been approved as a fully accredited member of the Association of Independent schools of Florida (AISF), as well as earning regional accreditation through the Middle States Association (MSA).
"While we are confident of our mission and abilities as a school," Dr. Guernsey said, "it is encouraging and gratifying to have external validation at the state, regional, and national levels by those charged with ensuring integrity and excellence."
Dr. Guernsey praised the many hours of work by the faculty and staff that went into the effort, which he said involved more than two years of internal assessment and external review. During the process, the school was visited by four different evaluation teams each made up of school administrators from throughout Florida. The teams reviewed not only the Academy's overall academic program, but also its mission, finances, administration, facilities, governance, faculty and student body.
The Donahue Academy had previously been accredited by the National Association of Private Catholic and Independents Schools (NAPCIS). It also has achieved membership in the National Honor Society and the Florida High School Athletic Association, as well as earning from the Department of Homeland Security to offer international student visas.
The school's next accreditation goal is with the Florida Catholic Conference, which Dr. Guernsey said the academy is seeking now with the encouragement of Bishop Frank Dewane and the Diocese of Venice education department.
From its initial enrollment of about 70 students in its first year, Dr. Guernsey said the academy now is anticipating record growth next year and a student body of well over 200.
