NORTON - Norton High School's accreditation is still on warning status, but the school has been commended for making significant progress over the past two years.

Warning status is still in effect for three areas: curriculum, assessment and community resources for learning.

But the New England Association of Schools and Colleges' Commission on Public Secondary Schools found that the high school has made progress in 16 other areas.

The commission voted on Jan. 13 to accept the high school's two-year progress report.

School committee Chairman Kevin O'Neil called that "good news," given Norton's financial constraints. In a Jan. 31 letter to Principal Raymond Dewar, commission Director Pamela Gray-Bennett said her agency will review Norton High's warning status based on a special progress report that is due Nov. 1.

This report must address six recommendations, including starting an advisor program, submitting the school's short-term and long-term plans, including funding and a timeline for increasing space and providing teachers with up-to- date equipment.

The school was commended for installing 21 new ventilators to improve air quality, adding new computers in many classrooms, improving collaboration with Norton Middle School, launching the school-wide reading of a novel to promote integrated learning and increasing student access to guidance counselors, including evening hours.

The commission's concerns regarding curriculum include the loss of health classes for all sophomores, limits to science instruction because of too few and otherwise inadequate science labs, and a lack of reliable funding for adequate textbooks, materials, staff, equipment, supplies and technology.

Among the teaching and learning issues are: "the misperception by some members of the community that the school has adequate resources and can operate effectively on a limited budget."

The commission also cited the high school for inadequate gym and music space.

Other concerns included inadequate space that limited some programs, especially electives, and that the high school lacked a long-term plan to address such issues.

MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.