Only Nevada elementary school to earn both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges credential and the National Lutheran Schools Accreditation.
LAS VEGAS – Mountain View Lutheran School recently cemented its bona fides for educational quality and Lutheran mission devotion with accreditations from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and National Lutheran Schools Accreditation.
Mountain View Lutheran is Nevada’s first and so far, only elementary school to earn both the National Lutheran Schools Accreditation and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges credential.
To earn Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation, a credential reviewed every six years, schools must demonstrate commitment, capacity and competence to support high-quality student learning and continuous school improvement.
Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation signals that the school is student-oriented and performance-focused. Credentialed schools must constantly examine student performance and overall academic delivery and accept objective evaluation from a team of outside, accrediting commission-trained peer professionals.
The National Lutheran Schools Accreditation, also a six-year credential, involves rigorous, voluntary self-evaluation of both academic quality and spiritual dimension, and a visit by trained evaluators. Nationally, 504 elementary schools and 65 high schools have the credential, the website luthed.org reports.
“There is no better training for educators who are focused on site improvement than to engage in an accreditation process – it’s tough work, and it pays huge dividends for all involved, ” said Mountain View Lutheran School Principal Kris Schneider. “The process of accreditation answers three questions critically important for all schools to honestly and regularly address: Who are you? What is it you do? What are you going to do to better serve your community?”
National Lutheran Schools Accreditation is supervised by the National Accreditation Commission, composed of representatives from its participating 36 districts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Parish Services Board has authorized and approved the credentialing process.
Also, as part of accreditation, a school must develop an action plan to ensure continuous improvement. After self-study, a National Lutheran School Accreditation team visits credential-candidate schools to interview stakeholders, visit classrooms and observe school practices. Mountain View Lutheran School’s self-study began in October 2018 and culminated in a four-day study-validation visit in February 2020.
Mountain View Lutheran School features a strong traditional mix of mind-broadening lessons and intimate, in-person instruction. To guard against coronavirus infection, the school adjusted class sizes downward for its 2020-21 academic year reopening.
In all, the school’s elementary school segment enrolls 115 students. All elementary class enrollments are limited to comply with Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s mandate to keep classroom capacity at 50% of fire code. Larger classrooms allow for physical distancing to accommodate the larger second-grade, fifth-grade and kindergarten groups.
About Mountain View Lutheran School
Mountain View Lutheran’s elementary school features co-curriculars including instruction in the visual and performing arts and computer/library for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and sign language instruction for third- to fifth grade students.
Core-subject teaching lets students learn widely and advance quickly. In math, for example, fifth-graders can enter accelerated learning in the second semester and regularly qualify for pre-algebra for the sixth grade. Social studies lessons start local and widen. Fourth-graders study Nevada history; fifth-graders focus on American history.
Mountain View Lutheran School also offers a full-time preschool for children ages 2 to 5. It has openings for children starting at age 2, as well as full-day and half-day preschool for 3-year-old and up. For enrollment information or to view a virtual tour or schedule an in-person tour, please visit mvlcs.org/school or mvlcs.org/preschool for information.