Mahoney went on to note, “It was gratifying for the School to receive recognition from New England's preeminent school accrediting body. NEASC's Visiting Committee clearly shares my admiration for the School's teachers, staff, mentors and countless volunteers who, in the words of one of the report's

commendations, are so effectively "living the School's exemplary mission". The Board and its administration heartily endorse the committee's recommendations, which focus on continued improvement of the School's overall program and the resources to support it.”

The awarding of the accreditation follows a comprehensive self-study and a review team visit from NEASC during the fall.  Mahoney congratulated staff and board members for achieving accreditation in just a year – with no qualifications, a notable accomplishment as schools may take up to three years to complete the rigorous process. 

The celebration of the NEASC announcement took place as part of a special Community Assembly, similar in format to the daily morning assembly that begins each school day and is one of the key elements of the school culture that characterizes San Miguel.  Guests were treated to a performance by the San Miguel School Chorus – all 63 boys participate in the music program led by volunteer Paula Fontes, a Lasalle Academy teacher.  The geography activity for the day had students pointing out the locations of fifteen additional Miguel Schools modeled after San Miguel Providence that have opened in urban neighborhoods across the country. 

After announcing the selection of 8^th grader Kirby Nunez as ‘Miguel Man of the Week,’ administrators

and staff went on to announce the results of recent standardized testing.   For the second straight year TerraNova standardized testing indicated San Miguel students in the top 3 grades achieved a median test score above the national average for schools urban and suburban.  The median test scores for grades 6, 7 and 8 showed students achievement in reading at or above grade level with the oldest class testing at a grade 10.1 equivalent as a whole. 

According to Brother Lawrence Goyette, FSC, school founder and current Executive Director,  “Testing at San Miguel School is done with a very specific purpose – to measure the academic progress of our students and to provide teachers with valuable information for planning instruction that responds to individual student needs and maximizes achievement.”  Goyette added, “The test scores again this year are impressive.  But the measure of our success in meeting our mission goes beyond test scores.  We are committed to transforming the lives of urban boys into young gentlemen who are proud of their school and want to be successful, productive members of our community.  Our students, who come from some of the most economically challenged inner city neighborhoods, are beating the odds and proving that caring adults, excellent teachers, high expectations and attention to the ‘whole child’ can break the cycle of poverty and offer hope for a positive future.”  

Goyette then introduced graduate Manuel Ortiz, currently a senior at LaSalle Academy in Providence who will be attending Providence College in the fall.  Goyette noted that Manuel is just one of almost 200 alumni of the school since its founding in 1993 following his many of his ‘Miguel brothers’ on a path through high school and on to post-secondary education.  

The school’s NEASC accreditation was awarded with no qualifications.  The visiting team commended San Miguel School for “creating an environment where the mission is lived on a daily basis.  It is apparent that dedicated adults have worked hard to create a safe space where learning happens in a spirited educational community.”  The team also commended the school for “creative use of limited facilities and resources in delivering the program” and “innovative use of programs such as Morning Assembly, Scholars’ Club, Mentoring Programs, Camp Miguel and Readiness Camps that recognize and encourage student development.”

Recommendations from the NEASC team focused on resources, sustainability and facility.  Mahoney noted that the recommendations came as no surprise to the board and administration, as securing the future of the school is a key focus of the boards planning.  “We went into this process to not only confirm the strength of our educational model, but with the full intention to improve and grow as a result of the process.  Securing the future of San Miguel School is of primary importance to the board and administration,” said Mahoney.  

San Miguel School, a non-sectarian school operated by the Christian Brothers, was founded by Brother Lawrence Goyette, FSC fourteen years ago to provide a high quality educational experience to boys from families in need in the urban neighborhoods of Providence and surrounding cities.  Unlike most private schools, San Miguel is not tuition-driven and depends on private donations from individuals, foundations and businesses to operate. 

San Miguel School is one of 64 NEASC accredited independent schools in Rhode Island.  The New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC), founded in 1885, is the nation’s oldest regional accrediting association whose mission is the establishment and maintenance of high standards for all levels of education, from pre-K to the doctoral level. The Commission on Independent Schools, one of five Commissions of NEASC, accredits a wide range of private schools in the six states of New England.  Each of these schools is accredited using the same protocols and materials assuring that a school is faithful to its mission, conducts it programs appropriately to meet its goals and fulfills the Standards established by the Commission on Independent Schools. NEASC serves more than 2,000 public and independent schools, colleges and universities in the six states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont and American/international schools in more than sixty nations worldwide.