3 western NC high schools could lose accreditation

MORGANTON, N.C. — Three western North Carolina high schools are at risk of losing their accreditation, which could impact student applications to some colleges and universities.

The News Herald of Morganton reported on its Web site Thursday that Burke County school officials were notified by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement of the schools’ status.

Similar letters sent to School Superintendent David Burleson and Burke County Board of Education chairwoman Tracy Norman were dated April 24. The letter lists several specific board of education-related actions and incidents that the organization considers “disturbing.”

SACS CASI spokeswoman Jennifer Oliver said that in the past 40 years, only the Clayton County Public Schools in Georgia lost accreditation.

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