Clackamas Middle College Named 2025 Cognia School of Distinction
September, 2, 2025— Cognia® names Clackamas Middle College a 2025 Cognia® School of Distinction for excellence in education. This year Cognia, the global nonprofit school improvement organization, recognized 35 schools and school systems in the United States, and four other countries across the globe as 2025 Cognia Schools or Systems of Distinction.
“I am pleased to congratulate Clackamas Middle College for their designation as a 2025 Cognia School of Distinction, a program which recognizes public and non-public institutions that exemplify excellence in education and service to learners,” said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia. Cognia selected Clackamas Middle College as one of the 24 schools and 11 systems out of more than 1,110 eligible institutions that hosted a Cognia Accreditation Engagement Review during the 2024-2025 School Year. Only two schools in the state of Oregon were awarded the School of Distinction Award for 2025.
“This is great to get this honor as our school community has worked diligently in its 22 years of existence to prepare students for life after high school,” said Brian Sien, Principal, Clackamas Middle College.
Clackamas Middle College first earned Cognia Accreditation in 2008 and reaccreditation in 2014, 2019, and 2024. During the 2024-2025 school year, Clackamas Middle College participated in Cognia’s rigorous Accreditation Engagement Review process, which is grounded in research-based performance standards. The process includes a third-party review of evidence by education experts, interviews, and classroom observations. The review evaluates institutions and seeks evidence of growth in student learning and performance, a healthy culture for learning, engaging and high-quality instructional environments, and effective leadership for learning—all characteristics Cognia expects to see in quality schools that also demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement.
“Clackamas Middle College is to be commended for earning the designation as a School of Distinction,” said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia. “Cognia Accreditation is already a mark of school quality recognized around the world. Being named a School or System of Distinction further acknowledges the demonstrated commitment to education quality and a mindset of continuous improvement Clackamas Middle College has for its learners,” Elgart added.
For Cognia Global Network member institutions, Cognia offers an opportunity to earn designation as a school of distinction for schools that are found to exemplify educational excellence within their Engagement Review. Schools and systems will maintain their Accredited with Distinction status until their next Engagement Review. Learn more about Cognia Accreditation at Cognia.org.
About Clackamas Middle College
Clackamas Middle College (CMC) is a four-year high school college transition program enrolling 300 students in grades 9-12. It is accredited by Cognia. While CMC is sponsored by the North Clackamas School District, some of our students live in neighboring districts. Between 150-175 students are enrolled in our unique College Prep Program which prepares students for college classes. Between 50-75 students begin their transition to college classes in our Pathways to College Program. During the year 50-80 students participate in our College Extended Options (CEO) program by enrolling in community college courses.
CMC is designed to give students the opportunity to earn both high school and college credits simultaneously with the goal of earning a high school diploma, a transfer degree, or certificate of completion. Students begin their courses in our College Prep Program on our campus and transition to college classes through our Pathways to College (PTC), and College Extended Options (CEO) Programs at Clackamas Community College. Clackamas Middle College Staff collaborate extensively with each other and our community college partners to maximize student success. Visiting instructors from Clackamas Community College come to the CMC campus daily and teach classes throughout the year. Other students take their courses exclusively at community college through our Pathways to College (PTC) and College Extended Options (CEO) Programs.