CLAY COUNTY – The school district successfully concluded the rigorous accreditation process with Cognia, a globally recognized education accrediting organization, and finished with a final score 102 points higher than the national average.

The Clay County District Schools earned an accreditation score of 355, far exceeding the national average score of 253. A perfect score is 400.

“Achieving accreditation with Cognia is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, educators, staff and administrators,” Superintendent David Broskie said. “It reflects our unwavering commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement.”

Cognia performed an external audit of school district systems and procedures that directly influence student achievement. The Cognia accreditation process, through highly skilled and trained evaluators, used rigorous research-based standards to comprehensively evaluate various aspects of the district’s operations, including teaching and learning, leadership, resources and support systems, and served as a validation of Clay County District Schools’ dedication to providing quality education to its students.

The prestigious achievement underscores the district’s commitment to maintaining high educational excellence and continuous improvement standards.

The process consisted of three phases: self-assessment, engagement and continuous improvement. The school district presented its final presentation to Cognia in January. The global committee met on March 29 to confirm the accreditation with a final score of 355. The district’s successful accreditation and above-average score reaffirm its position as a leader in education within the region and other global education institutions.

In the Accreditation Engagement Review final report, Cognia shared in their report that “The team believes the leaders demonstrate skill in data analysis and consistently follow a process that begins with a needs assessment, which allows them to identify gaps, prioritize needs and target their resources within the system and community.”

Cognia also focuses on leadership, learning and resource capacities. These standards ensure students have high learning opportunities and mechanisms to maintain continuous improvement.

As the district celebrated the achievement, it remains steadfast in its mission to provide a supportive and challenging learning environment that prepares students for success in college, careers and life.

The conclusion of the Cognia accreditation process marks a significant milestone for Clay County District Schools and reinforces its commitment to excellence in education. Clay County District Schools’ accreditation status will remain through 2030, with a midpoint review in 2027.