Galena schools will receive accreditation for the next five years following a review of teachers and the school system at both campuses by a team of five educational professionals from AdvancED, a nonprofit company that assesses school districts nationwide.

District officials were told by the accreditation group during the exit meeting Nov. 19 that Galena schools would receive accreditation, according to an email from Supt. Chris Reitan. An official report is expected in the next 30 days.

Accreditation means that the district maintains the standards and quality required to operate schools.

Hawk Highlights staff writers talked with AdvancED representative Douglas Waclawski, a former teacher from Homer. He was impressed with what he saw on the two high school campuses in Galena.

“This is a very solid school,” he said.

Mr. Waclawski and his four colleagues talked with teachers, watched many classes, and had many discussions with school administrators while they were here Nov. 17-18. The accreditation also includes Galena’s homeschool IDEA program.

AdvancED is the largest community of education professionals in the world. They are a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts rigorous, on-site external reviews of preK-12 schools and school systems to ensure that all learners realize their full potential, according to its website.