In 2017, Highlands Intermediate School was reviewed by a visiting committee from the Accrediting Commission for Schools of the Western Association and Colleges (WASC), and was granted a term of accreditation of six years.
All secondary schools are expected to participate in the accreditation process and Highlands Intermediate's current term of accreditation is reserved for a school that is able to demonstrate that it is meeting nearly all WASC criteria at a level judges to be good or outstanding by the visiting committee.
Foster excellence in elementary and secondary education; encourage school improvement through a process of continuous self-study and evaluation;
assure a school and its public that the school has clearly defined and appropriate education goals and objectives;
has established conditions under which their achievement can be reasonably be expected;
appear to be accomplishing them substantially, and can be expected to continue to do so.