Gridley High School recently received high marks from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges following a comprehensive accreditation review conducted in November 2025. Photo courtesy of Gridley Unified School District, Gridley High School

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Reviews from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Visiting Committee have been received by Gridley High School administrators, with the report praising the school for excellence in culture and academics.

Gridley High School Principal Rikke-Lee Burresch said Western Association of Schools and Colleges is an accrediting body that oversees high schools, colleges and other educational institutions. She emphasized the importance of maintaining accreditation so that academic credits transfer if a student moves to another high school and so students remain eligible for financial aid for higher education.

Gridley High School has been preparing in cooperation with faculty and student aid.

“Every six years we do a full self-study,” said Burresch, which is ultimately submitted to the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Principal Burresch shares that the faculty meet once a month and review prompts from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in preparation for the committee’s visit and before submitting their response to study prompts.

“We respond, not only in writing, but then we are also responsible for linking evidence to show proof of all the things that we write,” stated Burresch.

A copy of the findings in the Western Association of Schools and Colleges summary was provided to the Gridley Herald in which it stated, “Gridley High School has received and overwhelmingly positive assessment from the Accrediting Commission for Schools,” following a comprehensive review conducted in Nov. 2025.

The report described Gridley High School performance as extremely positive, with high praise extending beyond academic measures to recognize the school’s culture, leadership and community engagement.

The visiting committee identified four primary cultural strengths within the school community: a cohesive culture and vision, engaged leadership and staff, an enhanced campus environment and strong community partnerships.

The report also stated that Gridley High School is “effectively driving student achievement and outperforms many other schools of its size and demographics, as well as far outperforming state averages on the California Dashboard.”

Overall, the school received a highly favorable review.

“The WASC report positions Gridley High School as a regional leader, successfully leveraging collaboration, strategic investment, and deeply rooted sense of community to deliver a high-quality educational experience and cultivate a thriving school culture,” stated the committee summary.

After receiving the findings, Burresch said she was proud of both staff and students.

“To have a group come in that knows education, understands education and for them to say, ‘you guys are knocking it out of the ballpark’ puts positive back into the bucket of the teachers,” said Burresch. “It just helps build that positive energy – that the hard work that everybody here puts in, day in and day out, is paying off. That’s what is super exciting to me.”