SMITHFIELD — It’s been a long time coming, but by Friday, the final phase of Smithfield High School’s accreditation evaluation will be over.

A 15-member committee from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges was on hand at the school from Monday through Wednesday interviewing students, faculty, parents and teachers to determine whether the the school’s accreditation will be renewed.

According to the organization’s Web site, NEASC provides accreditation for more than 2,000 public and private schools and universities in New England.

The last NEASC visit at the high school was in 1999, when it received accreditation.

The process provides the school with commendations for the things it does well, and recommendations on areas it can improve, said Supt. Robert O’Brien.

This visit has been two years in the making for teachers and faculty at the high school, said Principal Daniel P. Kelley. Surveys and self-reflections detailing the high school’s strengths and weaknesses were prepared by the faculty in preparation for the visit.

“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished to get to this point,” Kelley said. “The dedication and hard work of the teachers and staff is what we’re celebrating with this visit.”

This fall, students began participating in the New Hope Diner Project, a restoration program sponsored by the American Diner Museum where youths are given dilapidated diners to restore to their original luster. The 1930s-era Apple Tree Diner will serve as a classroom for students in the architecture, furniture making and construction classes at the school.

Last month, the high school also opened a Confucius Classroom, a subsidiary of the Confucius Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes understanding by teaching about Chinese language and culture. Visiting teachers from China will teach students at the classroom at the high school and at similar facilities at William Winsor Elementary School. The partnership with the Smithfield School Department (in conjunction with Bryant University) is the first time the resources of the Confucius Institute will be extended to a permanent satellite classroom in the public school system.

But there are places the school needs to improve as well, Kelley said, namely in the area of professional development. Also, more time needs to be set aside for teacher training and for conversations that would allow instructors to share best practices from their classrooms, he said.

“If there are issues we need to address,” O’Brien said, “I’m going to make sure we put the resources into what we need to in order to be better.”

tbuford@projo.com