Richmond County school system secures Cognia accreditation

HAMLET — Richmond County Schools is starting the new school year by celebrating the district’s Cognia Systems Accreditation. Cognia is a global nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance and recognizes schools that deliver high-quality education and ensure continuous improvement.

“Being accredited by Cognia reflects our commitment to providing the best possible education,” said Dr. Joe Ferrell, superintendent. “It highlights our dedication to ongoing evaluation and meaningful change to better serve our students.”

Cognia is a global organization that recognizes schools and districts that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation, and effective leadership. Richmond County Schools underwent a comprehensive review process that included both internal assessments and an external evaluation. The district’s Index of Education Quality (IEQ) score was reported as a strong 338, which Cognia considers to be in the excellent range. The accreditation process also emphasized the district’s strengths in fostering a culture of learning and leadership, which were highlighted in the feedback from the evaluation.

“Accreditations like this typically focus on high schools, but we elected for a district-wide accreditation to ensure that every school in our district was carefully evaluated and continues to meet high standards,” shared Dr. Kate Smith, assistant superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, who oversaw the system-wide review. “Our team worked diligently throughout the year, analyzing survey data and performance metrics as well as feedback from all stake holders including board members, students, staff and parents from each school to confirm that Richmond County Schools meets the rigorous criteria necessary to best support our students.”

This accreditation will guide Richmond County Schools’ efforts over the next six years, ensuring continued compliance with rigorous educational standards.