Hoover Schools Awarded Advanced Accreditation

HOOVER, AL - The Hoover school district received some good news last month, as the system has earned continued accreditation status by AdvancED. The school district was recommended for accreditation, and action was taken at the AdvancED Global Commission meeting held on March 29, and the accreditation was granted in April.

The AdvancED Engagement Review Team visited Hoover City Schools in February to engage in the Performance Accreditation Process, interviewing 509 stakeholders and completing almost 60 detailed observations. Prior to the teams arrival, they poured over hundreds of data points ranging from parent, student, and teacher surveys to district-provided evidence and diagnostics.

Findings from AdvancED show Hoover City Schools operating at the coveted “Impact Level," which indicates effective practices system-wide from leadership, learning, and resource capacities.

Hoover City Schools’ AdvancED Engagement Review Index of Education Quality score (359.35) sits well above the five-year IEQ range of 278.34 - 283.33. This scoring spectrum reflects the average of AdvancED accreditation reviews of institutions worldwide.

“One of the (AdvancED Accreditation Review Team members) said to me, ‘Hoover City Schools has set the standard,'” HCS Superintendent Dr. Kathy Murphy said. “Our score is exceptional. This is a remarkable place to be.”

Dr. Debra Walker Smith, director of federal programs and testing, helped lead Hoover City Schools through the accreditation process.

AdvancED accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from one accredited school district to another but also assures parents that Hoover City Schools is meeting nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice.