Archmere Academy Approved for Reaccreditation by the Middle States Association
The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) recently announced the list of schools that have earned accreditation or reaccreditation. Archmere Academy is pleased to announced that the school has been approved for reaccreditation following the successful November visit from the Middle States Team. Archmere voluntarily participates in the Middle States Accreditation process to help foster positive development and growth within the school.
Middle States' role is to assure students and the public of the educational quality of higher education. Accreditation is the gold standard for measuring and advancing school improvement.
In the fall of 1940, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools accredited Archmere for the first time. This January marked the 85th anniversary of Archmere’s partnership with MSA. In 7-year cycles, Archmere formally renews its commitment to this integral process of goal-setting, strategic planning, surveying our constituents, and reevaluating our approaches, facilities, finances, governance structure, etc., all within the “Excellence by Design” framework laid out by Middle States.
From November 10-13, Archmere hosted three visionary educators who served on our Middle States Visiting Team. Following that visit, the educators shared some preliminary findings in an oral report. Head of School Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. '76 shared pieces of that report with the Archmere community, stating that, “Perhaps the most moving part of the oral report was when Ms. Kelly spoke to the teacher-student relationship at Archmere. She shared, ‘Students spoke with gratitude about their teachers. More so than I have ever seen in a school. They so appreciate you, not just as teachers, but as human beings. Sometimes when you live in a place like this [Archmere], it just is what is and you actually don’t know that it's remarkable, and it IS remarkable. The mission pervades the school.’”
Additionally, in a letter to the Archmere community, Dr. Marinelli added, “Archmere voluntarily participates in the Middle States Accreditation process to help foster positive development and growth within the school. Just as we encourage students to approach their studies with a growth mindset, we, too, must function with future objectives and improvements in mind. As educators, it’s always valuable to get a fresh perspective via these “collegial evaluators” from Middle States, and we are grateful for the time, energy, and expertise that Dr. Daniel Stabile, Moira Kelly, J.D., and Dr. John Cooke generously shared with Archmere. Our community is better for it.”
This month, Archmere received the news that the school has been reaccredited by the commission.
Formal Press Release from the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS):
Formal Press Release from the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS):
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Philadelphia, PA. — The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) announced today the list of 179 schools and school systems in 21 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and 17 other countries that have earned accreditation or reaccreditation. Accreditation is the gold standard for measuring and advancing school improvement.
“I am happy to congratulate the schools that achieved Middle States accreditation or reaccreditation,” said Christian Talbot, president of MSA-CESS. “Accreditation is voluntary, professional peer review in service of school improvement. Pursuing accreditation helps the entire school community—administrators, teachers, parents, and students—to think about the future they want and how to get there. Earning accreditation shows that a school is committed to doing everything it can to support its students.”
Middle States accredits preK-12 public, private, parochial, and charter schools. In addition, MSA-CESS accredits non-degree granting career and technical post-secondary institutions and learning services providers.
Middle States accreditation is a multifaceted evaluation process. Schools and school systems voluntarily rely on it to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards.
The accreditation process begins when the school or system undertakes a comprehensive self-study, collecting input from school leaders, teachers, parents, and students. After the self-study, a team of professional peer reviewers conducts a peer review. These professional peers come from Middle States member schools.
The peer review team makes its recommendation for accreditation or reaccreditation to the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, which voted on the recommendations at its biannual meeting, held in Hershey, Pa., this April.
A full list of schools and school systems that earned accreditation or reaccreditation at this Spring 2025 meeting is HERE.
“I am happy to congratulate the schools that achieved Middle States accreditation or reaccreditation,” said Christian Talbot, president of MSA-CESS. “Accreditation is voluntary, professional peer review in service of school improvement. Pursuing accreditation helps the entire school community—administrators, teachers, parents, and students—to think about the future they want and how to get there. Earning accreditation shows that a school is committed to doing everything it can to support its students.”
Middle States accredits preK-12 public, private, parochial, and charter schools. In addition, MSA-CESS accredits non-degree granting career and technical post-secondary institutions and learning services providers.
Middle States accreditation is a multifaceted evaluation process. Schools and school systems voluntarily rely on it to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards.
The accreditation process begins when the school or system undertakes a comprehensive self-study, collecting input from school leaders, teachers, parents, and students. After the self-study, a team of professional peer reviewers conducts a peer review. These professional peers come from Middle States member schools.
The peer review team makes its recommendation for accreditation or reaccreditation to the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, which voted on the recommendations at its biannual meeting, held in Hershey, Pa., this April.
A full list of schools and school systems that earned accreditation or reaccreditation at this Spring 2025 meeting is HERE.
About Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS)
Based in Philadelphia, the Middle States Association is the worldwide leader in accreditation and school improvement. For over 135 years, Middle States has been helping school leaders establish and reach their goals, develop strategic plans, promote staff development, and advance student achievement. With over 3100 accredited members in 44 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 117 countries, MSA-CESS is proud of its continuing legacy and its ongoing innovations to meet the challenges of improving education in the 21st century. For more information visit www.msa-cess.org and msaevolutionlab.com.
Archmere Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory co-educational academy,
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
© Archmere Academy. All Rights Reserved