October 1980 Blast from the Past

Compiled by Julia Lang- 10/10

More by Julia Lang

NEIRAD enilno edition

The school is starting to gear up for the 10-year accreditation process that is known as NEASC.  Darien High will be evaluated in 2012. But things are already starting to get into gear. English teacher Matt Pavia will head up the process this time around. For this month’s ‘Blast from the Past” we decided to take a look back at the NEASC process that took place 30 years ago.

NEASC Evaluates for School Rank

October 1980

By Chrissey Wold

A critical evaluation of Darien High School was conducted October 5-8 by the New England Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in order to render an accreditation for the school. Accreditations are given as recognition of a school’s overall quality.

Twenty-three committees comprised of DHS students and faculty members have been working for the past two years in an effort to self evaluate the different departments of the school. Each committee focused on a certain aspect of the school and submitted a report to the faculty. The faculty either accepted or rejected it; if rejected the department had to make changes.

The NEASSC sent 30 teachers, principals, and state board of education members to conduct the evaluation. The reports, compiled by the 23 DHS committees were presented to the NEASSC committee who used them as the basis for their in-depth evaluation.

According to Vice Principal Ed Higgins, the report from which the accreditation is decided is due out in mid-spring. He said the submission of the report is a two step process. The NEASC’s first report is sent to Principal Donald Robbins who makes the necessary factual corrections and then sent back to the NEASC, who issues the final report later.

“Accreditations can be good for up to 10 years. Only a small percentage of schools receives the maximum of 10 years. Darien and New Canaan High Schools were the only two schools in Fairfield County to receive 10-year accreditations in 1970. A five-year accreditation is the average and about 85 percent of high schools evaluated receives the accreditation,”  Dr. Higgins said.