SYRACUSE — The Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Syracuse have been reaccredited by the Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools, according to an announcement from the Syracuse Diocese.

There are 17 elementary schools and four junior/senior high schools that comprise the Diocesan Catholic schools. The list includes a trio of local schools:

• Notre Dame Elementary, 11 Barton Ave. in Utica;

• Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School, 2 Notre Dame Lane in Utica; and

• Rome Catholic School, 800 Cypress Street in Rome.

“I am personally elated with this wonderful news as it distinguishes each of schools and the system of schools, each of which, have undertaken a rigorous process and strategic planning to affirm a plan for continuous improvement through the Middle States protocols,” said William Crist, Diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools.

Middle States accreditation is a multifaceted evaluation process that schools and school systems voluntarily use to demonstrate they are meeting a defined set of research-based performance standards, the announcement said.

The accreditation process begins with self-study that is conducted by the school or school system and requires input from school leaders, teachers, parents, and students, the announcement added.

Following the self-study, a team of volunteer educators from Middle States member schools conducts a peer review.

The peer review makes its recommendations for accreditation or reaccreditation to the Middle States Association Commissions, which then votes on the recommendations at its biannual meeting, according to the Diocesan announcement. .