Tualatin Valley Academy (TVA) is rejoicing after receiving senior academy candidacy accreditation from the North American Division (NAD). While TVA is approved to expand their PK-10 program up to 12th grade as of the 2024-25 school year, the school has opted to gradually work toward a full secondary program, adding 11th grade in fall 2024 and then 12th the following year. Keith Waters, Director for Secondary Education at the North Pacific Union Conference, explains that during this regular three-year candidacy status, the school can “operate with all the privileges of an academy.” The NAD will do another site-evaluation in three years so that TVA can continue to be able to operate with a full secondary program.
This accreditation comes after years of dreaming, praying, and carefully planning the school’s expansion. TVA constructed ample space for a senior academy over 20 years ago, but took no official steps toward accreditation at that time. With the support of the school board, constituent churches, and Conference administration, TVA submitted its official request for accreditation in the fall of 2021.
When TVA Principal Christina Orozco-Acosta received notice that the school’s accreditation request was approved, she says, “I felt a burst of confidence I had not felt in a while.” Throughout her seven years at TVA, during her involvement in the planning and the application process, Orozco-Acosta shares that she has had to “lean so much more on God than I would ever imagine I would have to do in my life.” Now that the school has the approval, Orozco-Acosta feels it gives confidence to “our families, our school, our teachers in the program, and to everyone working so hard to make this happen.”
For students that have already decided to invest in TVA for their high school education, the news was especially exciting. One 10th grade student at TVA shares that when she heard the senior academy application was approved, she was “so happy and relieved.” She has attended TVA since first grade and chose to stay for high school because of how much she loves the program. The student states, “I love the environment and all my friends. I think the teachers here are just amazing. They are so supportive.” Now she is thrilled to be part of the first high school class that will graduate from TVA in 2026.
Families with students in the lower grades also see the benefit of expanding the high school program. Julie Hadley, mother of three children at the school, reflects, “TVA high school academy status will now allow our kids to stay engaged in the local churches and community from K-12...The population is growing on this side of the city, and a full high school is a long overdue necessity for the Adventist community's kids here.” TVA is grateful for the opportunity to be a solution for students and families on the west side of Portland looking for a Christ-centered, close-knit, four-year high school experience.
The school solicits your prayers as it continues to build its high school program and seeks to fulfill its mission of impacting students for eternity.
