September 29, 2025 Washtenaw Technical Middle College
Washtenaw Technical Middle College Named 2025 Cognia School of Distinction
September, 2025— Cognia® names Washtenaw Technical Middle College (WTMC) a 2025 Cognia® School of Distinction for excellence in education. This year Cognia, the global nonprofit school improvement organization, recognized 35 schools and school systems in the United States, and four other countries across the globe as 2025 Cognia Schools or Systems of Distinction.
“I am pleased to congratulate Washtenaw Technical Middle College for their designation as a 2025 Cognia School of Distinction, a program which recognizes public and non-public institutions that exemplify excellence in education and service to learners,” said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia. Cognia selected WTMC as one of only 24 schools and 11 systems out of more than 1,110 eligible institutions that hosted a Cognia Accreditation Engagement Review during the 2024-2025 school year.
During the 2024-2025 school year, WTMC participated in Cognia’s rigorous Accreditation Engagement Review process, which is grounded in research-based performance standards. The process includes a third-party review of evidence by education experts, interviews, and classroom observations. The review evaluates institutions and seeks evidence of growth in student learning and performance, a healthy culture for learning, engaging and high-quality instructional environments, and effective leadership for learning—all characteristics Cognia expects to see in quality schools that also demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement.
“WTMC is to be commended for earning the designation as a School of Distinction,” said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia. “Cognia Accreditation is already a mark of school quality recognized around the world. Being named a School of Distinction further acknowledges the demonstrated commitment to education quality and a mindset of continuous improvement WTMC has for its learners,” Elgart added.
For Cognia Global Network member institutions, Cognia offers an opportunity to earn designation as a school or system of distinction for schools that are found to exemplify educational excellence within their Engagement Review. Schools and systems will maintain their Accredited with Distinction status until their next Engagement Review. Learn more about Cognia Accreditation at Cognia.org.
About Washtenaw Technical Middle College
WTMC is a skill-based program. We teach both “hard” (academic) and “soft” (life-management) skills to prepare students for success in college. Students transition to college by completing high school courses in English, science, mathematics, and critical thinking. All of our students fulfill their high school diploma requirements by completing one of the more than 100 certificate or associate degree programs offered by Washtenaw Community College.
Every WTMC student receives support from an academic BASE advisor who helps them build a personalized Educational Development Plan (EDP). Advisors support students in choosing a program of study, planning for life after graduation, and adapting to life on a college campus.
About Cognia
Cognia® is a forward-thinking nonprofit improvement organization committed to serving schools and other education providers. We offer accreditation and certification, assessment, improvement services, and professional learning within an evaluation and continuous improvement framework. Serving over 40,000 public and private institutions from early learning through high school in more than 100 countries and territories, Cognia brings a universally recognized perspective to advancing teaching and learning. Learn more at cognia.org.