The Hall County school system received reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on Wednesday following an extensive review by a national 11-person committee.

The Quality Assurance Review Team granted district accreditation to the Hall County school system for the first time. In previous reviews that occur every five years, SACS accredited schools individually.

Hall Superintendent Will Schofield said nearly three years ago, system leaders and school principals decided to pursue a district-wide accreditation to move the entire system forward as a unit.

Andrew Weaver, chairman of visiting committees for SACS, identified the system’s strengths, commendations, challenges and recommendations in an oral report presented to the school board Wednesday.

He said the system has dynamic leadership and a strong focus on student achievement that is supported by its diverse academic programs and dedicated teachers. Weaver commended the system on having all its schools meet federal standards this year while offering a wide variety of instructional programs to meet the needs of its diverse student population.

Weaver recommended the system more closely align school improvement plans with SACS Council on Accreditation and School Improvement standards and develop quality assurance procedures to ensure those standards are met.

He said the system’s biggest challenge is to maintain technology and its diverse quality programs in difficult economic times. Weaver said also that recruiting and retaining highly qualified staff that reflects the community served is also a challenge.