Accreditation renewed at Santa Barbara Unified’s high schools

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently granted accreditation to San Marcos, Dos Pueblos, and Santa Barbara high schools.

To earn accreditation, the school’s staff provided a report and hosted a visit from WASC.

The process requires a yearlong “focus on learning” where subcommittees of staff, students, and family members concentrate on leadership, curriculum, instruction, assessment and culture. Each subcommittee reviews data and seeks input from various stakeholders.

In addition, a WASC committee reviews the report and spends three days on each campus, meeting with staff, district officials, parents and students.

“The accreditation decision validates that San Marcos and SB Unified’s other comprehensive high schools are doing a good job of preparing students for