South Tahoe High gets good news - Fully accredited until 2022

South Tahoe High School received great news from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Commission with confirmation that the school is fully accredited through June 2022. When the accreditation team left the campus in March they had nothing but glowing reports for the staff and school, but the final decision was mailed to the school May 3.

This was the highest number of years possible to have the accreditation. In 2016, the WASC recommendation put the school on a two-year probationary accreditation instead of a six year accreditation as they hoped for. For two years, staff and Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) leadership worked on getting things back on track.

"As we near the end of my first year in South Lake Tahoe, I want to express my deep appreciation for the dedication of our High School and District staff," said STHS Principal Carline Sinkler, "Our community’s commitment to our students and families is inspiring."

Success for the change at the school came from community and parent involvement, something the 2016 WASC team found lacking.

"The Commission looks forward to South Tahoe High School’s anticipated success and
continuing improvement in keeping with ACS WASC’s pursuit of excellence in elementary, secondary, and adult education," said WASC Commission Chairperson Stephen Cathers in a letter to the school.

"STHS is on a clear path toward being a school as extraordinary as the place we live,: said Sinkler. "We want to continue our momentum toward Viking Vision and invite you to participate in our next meeting at the Middle School on June 4th where we will welcome the class of 2022."

There will be no time to rest on the laurels as the WASC team returns for a two-day mid-cycle review as in Spring 2019. South Tahoe High School is required to prepare an in-depth Progress Report for that visit. The report and visit need to demonstrate that the school has: Addressed the critical areas for follow-up through the schoolwide action plan; Made appropriate progress on the implementation of the schoolwide action plan; and Improved student achievement relative to the schoolwide learner outcomes and the academic standards.

In Photo of the local WASC accreditation team: Left to Right: Debbie Fabino, Math Department Co-Chair, Bob Grant, LTUSD Career Technical Education and Visual & Performing Arts Coordinator, Ivonne Larson, retired Assistant Superintendent and former principal STHS and WASC team coordinator, Principal Carline Sinkler, Frank Kovac, STHS AVID teacher, Maria Luquin LTUSD EL/AVID/TWBI Coordinator, Timothy Wright, Foreign Language Department Chair, English Department Chair Bridey Heidel, and Nancy Dalton, Co-Chair of the Math Department.