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Harbor City International School is affiliated with several organizations that are dedicated to educational excellence and continuous improvement.

Volunteers of America Minnesota
Harbor City International School is sponsored by the Volunteers of American Minnesota Charter School Sponsorship Program (VOA MN). Our charter was most recently renewed in 2005.

HCIS maintains a very positive relationship with VOA MN and our continuous improvement plan is based on accountability that is transparent, growth oriented and humane. We have deliberately infused these principles into accountability systems in each relationship layer of our school: Sponsor to Board of Directors, Board of Directors to Executive Director, Executive Director to Teachers, Teachers to Students and Parents, Students to Parents. This accountability builds a strong foundation for our continued growth and improvement.


North Central Association
Harbor City International School is the only public high school in the area to be acceredited by the North Central Association School Commision on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the gold standard in school accreditation. Harbor City International School has maintained its accreditation status since 2003.

To earn accreditation, schools must meet NCA CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the school, and implement a continuous school improvement plan focused on increasing student performance. The accreditation process is voluntary and requires annual review.

NCA accreditation demonstrates to our students, parents, and community that we are focused on raising student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment, and maintaining an efficient and effective operation staffed by highly qualified educators. In addition, NCA CASI accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from accredited school to accredited school but also assures parents that the school is meeting regionally and nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice.

Accreditation provides an external mark of quality and a focus on continuous school improvement. The accreditation process focuses the school staff on analyzing student performance data, identifying areas of weakness, and developing clear goals and plans for improvement. We regularly assess and measure our progress in all goal areas, and NCA CASI holds us accountable for demonstrating growth. The process keeps everyone focused on raising student achievement.