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NAAS Grants Provisional Accreditation to Olympus High School

Olympus High School has received provisional accreditation from the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS), an organization which accredits distance education, elementary, foreign nation, high, K-12, middle level, post secondary non-degree granting, residential, special purpose, supplementary education and travel education schools.

Provisional accreditation grants the full rights and responsibilities of accreditation to Olympus High School. To receive provisional accreditation, Olympus High School met or exceeded NAAS requirements in the following eight areas: mission and expectation for student learning, curriculum, instruction, assessments, leadership and organization, school services, facility and finance, and culture of improvement.

According to NAAS, "Accreditation is recognition of a high-quality and well-balanced educational program." Additionally, the organization notes that accreditation:

• helps ensure that students receive "a quality education that will be recognized across state lines and by colleges and universities across the world."
• engages staff members at the school "in meeting rigorous standards and in continuous improvement."
• contributes to "an environment of quality and a commitment to helping all students achieve."

Olympus High School is academically affiliated with University of Phoenix through its parent company, Apollo Group. A private institution of higher learning founded in 1976, University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.

Through Olympus High School you may be able to receive dual credit by taking high school courses that also let you earn college credit at University of Phoenix.*

* College credit granted by University of Phoenix. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student's responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another higher education institution of the student's choice.

Olympus High School Now Registering Students

Olympus High School, a new completely online high school, is now registering students. Academically affiliated with University of Phoenix through its founder, Apollo Group, the high school is designed to meet the needs of a variety of students.

"We are here to serve students with a variety of needs, from home-schooled students, elite athletes and performers to those who prefer to work at their own pace or want to catch up, get ahead or complete their graduation requirements," said Bill Finkbeiner, executive director of Olympus High School. The school will grant diplomas to those who meet its graduation requirements and have completed at least five credits with Olympus High School.

He also noted that the new online high school offers students an opportunity to get a head start on their college education through dual-credit courses.* The courses, which are provided by University of Phoenix, allow students to receive both high school credit and college credit for the same course. "You can earn up to 12 college credits," Finkbeiner said. "It's a great way to save money on your college education."

* College credit granted by University of Phoenix. Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student's responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another higher education institution of the student's choice.

Courses Created Based on National Academic Content Standards and Benchmarks

Olympus High School, a new online high school, is now registering students in a variety of courses designed specifically to provide quality learning.

Courses at the school, which cover areas including language arts, health, math, science, social science and technology, were created by an experienced team of curriculum developers, working with certified instructors who are subject matter experts. Incorporating the latest research in online learning, the courses are designed to appeal to multiple learning styles.

Importantly, the development of Olympus High School courses was informed by and aligned to McREL's academic content standards and benchmarks for grades 9-12. McREL standards detail the content and benchmarks that should be incorporated into curriculum—in other words, what students should learn by certain points in their education. The standards are created by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), a nonprofit organization established to bridge the gap between research and practice. McREL works with educators to review, revise, or develop new standards; prioritize standards to ensure balanced and realistic curricula; design classroom activities and assessments aligned with standards; and integrate performance standards into classroom instruction.

"We want to be sure that our students can take courses that help them gain the knowledge and information they need," said Bill Finkbeiner, executive director of Olympus High School.

He noted that all courses are taught by teachers who are "highly qualified." They also are endorsed and hold certification in the subject area they teach. "Each of our teachers completes a thorough training program to ensure they are prepared to facilitate a rewarding online learning experience," added Finkbeiner.