Florence 2 Celebrates 50 Years of Accreditation with Recent Renewal

Florence County School District 2 recently achieved a significant milestone with the renewal of its Cognia® Accreditation in February 2024. This renewal marks an impressive 50 years since the initial accreditation of Hannah-Pamplico Elementary/Middle School in 1974. The District’s accreditation is granted by Cognia, a nonprofit improvement organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers.

Dr. Neal Vincent, Superintendent, expressed the district's pride in renewing system accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission. He stated, “This global recognition highlights our unwavering commitment to providing a quality education.” Vincent also highlighted the district's 50-year commitment to accreditation as a clear demonstration of its dedication to excellence and continuous improvement for the benefit of every Florence 2 student.

Throughout its more than 125 years of service, Cognia, formerly AdvancED, has globally recognized schools that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation for the needs of learners, and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission is a recognition that the system meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. To earn Cognia accreditation, a system including schools must also implement a continuous process of improvement and submit to external review. Systems in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term.

Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish. Florence County School District 2 has demonstrated that it has continually met high standards and made progress on key indicators that impact student learning. Maintaining their accredited status for half of a century can only be achieved with a steadfast commitment to the quality and improvement of the education provided.”

Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about the Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org

About Cognia

Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and improvement services to institutions and other education providers. The result of the merger of AdvancED and Measured Progress, Cognia was formed to bridge the gap between school evaluation and student assessment. As a global nonprofit working in 90 countries, our 40,000 institutions serve and support nearly 17 million students and 800 thousand educators every day. Cognia serves as a trusted partner in advancing learning for all. Find out more at cognia.org.