NEASC

Founded in 1885, the New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC), is the nation’s oldest regional accrediting association whose mission is establishment and maintenance of high standards for all levels of education, from pre-K to the doctoral level. NEASC Accreditation is a respected, effective, and time-tested methodology for school improvement and growth. It is not a single event, but rather an ongoing, voluntary cycle of comprehensive internal and external assessments, short- and long-term strategic planning, and periodic reporting sustained by professional partnership and support. It is intended to serve as a framework for schools to meet their own unique goals for student learning while maintaining alignment with research-based Standards for Accreditation that define the characteristics of high quality, effective learning communities. It also serves to assess the systems in place for ongoing institutional self-reflection and a school’s commitment to and capacity for continuous growth and/or transformation.

The key components of the accreditation process are:

• a Self-Reflection completed by the school
• a Collaborative Conference held with a small team of peer educators
• the development and implementation of a school growth plan
• a reflective summary report completed by the school
• a personalized Decennial Accreditation visit

In 2022-2023 Hanover High School began The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) reaccreditation process with a Self Reflection and a NEASC Collaborative Conference Visiting Team site visit. In May of 2023 Hanover High School received the Report of the Visiting Team for Hanover High School and in June 2023 received its continued accreditation. 

Using the Priority Goals from the Report of the Visiting Team in 2023-2024 Hanover High School developed and began implementing a School Growth and Improvement Plan. 

The Decennial Accreditation visit is planned for the spring of 2025. 

The purpose of the Hanover High School Growth and Improvement Plan is to outline a
vision for continuous improvement and growth with specific, measurable Priority Goals
that focus on student learning. Our school’s Priority Goals align with the NEASC
Standards, Hanover High School Mission, the SAU 70 Portrait of a Graduate, and the
SAU 70 District Strategic Plan. The school’s Growth and Improvement plan is also
informed by input from Hanover High School staff and students, parents, the community,
the school board.
The school’s current Priority Goals were identified in the NEASC accreditation visit in
2022. Each Priority Goal action step is evidence-driven, based on identified gaps,
growth opportunities, and the school’s desired direction for learning. According to
NEASC accreditation standards at least one Priority Goal must be focused on student
learning that includes curriculum, instruction, or assessment.
Moving forward the school’s Growth and Improvement plan will be regularly reviewed
and updated, to assess the school’s progress toward the identified Priority Goals and
may include identifying new goals that best support our school’s growth and
improvement.