Six Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) schools recently celebrated milestone awards from Cognia, signaling their commitment to continuous improvement and strong educational opportunities for all learners.
The Cognia Milestone Recognition Program recognizes the number of years an institution has been accredited by Cognia, a global network of educators that helps strengthen schools through accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and customized improvement services.
The JCPS schools celebrating milestones this year are:
Central High School (75 years)
Crosby Middle School (50 years)
Laukhuf Elementary School (50 years)
Dunn Elementary School (50 years)
Lowe Elementary School (50 years)
Breckinridge-Franklin Elementary School (25 years)
The school-based milestone awards feel especially notable this year as JCPS undergoes the accreditation renewal process at the district level, said Dr. Angela Newcomb, JCPS specialist, Systems Improvement and Planning. JCPS was first accredited in 2007 shortly after system level accreditation became available.
“It’s amazing we have so many schools that committed to the continuous improvement process with their own initiative before we moved to system accreditation,” Newcomb said. “These principals and their staff work extremely hard and overcome obstacles every day for kids, and we are so excited to celebrate these milestones.”
Cognia's accreditation process is rooted in research-based standards and evidence-based criteria. It evaluates the entire institution, including its policies, learning conditions, and cultural context.
Once an institution is accredited, it must undergo a similar preparation and review process every six years to maintain its accreditation.
Cognia Senior Director Ketsy Fields delivered banners, framed certificates, and a letter from Cognia’s CEO to the six JCPS schools celebrating milestone awards last week and said she hopes her in-person visits signaled her appreciation for what they do and their commitment to high-quality education.
“Cognia accreditation represents schools that truly want to get better, that are engaged in continuous improvement, and that hold themselves up to high standards,” Fields said. “It’s a tribute to JCPS that they have opted to do the system model and that every single school in Jefferson County is accredited. It just says that Jefferson County is looking at ways to get better and hold themselves up against everyone across not just the United States, but worldwide.”