Consider Accreditations of Private Schools As Part of your School Search

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Private School Accreditations

There is a lot of discussion in this online community about private schools, comparing firsthand experiences and general opinions. Those impressions are helpful but I want to suggest that parents consider the accreditations earned by the schools they are investigating.

Independent accreditations are bestowed by recognized agencies and professional organizations who study and compare area private schools with each other and with best practices. Before deciding on a private school consider the school's qualifications and determine which accreditation organizations align with your goals (academic, child welfare, safety, etc). All this information is online and each independent accrediting entity's website details the requirements for awarding their seal. Additionally schools that have received accreditation by their state's Department of Education meet the robust requirements of the DOE in addition to comparative reviews among private schools.

Note that not all schools include all their accreditations but the most important organizations will be listed. Also, there are membership organizations like NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) that do not evaluate and accredit schools. Ask if you have questions and before you enroll your child and invest money into what you hope is a healthy and enriching school environment, take a moment and click on the website link to learn about your considered schools from professional independent sources whose business is to inform the parent community about the area's private schools.

Accrediting organizations common in our area:

AIMS - Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools
MSA-CESS - Middle State Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools
SACS - Southern Association of Colleges and schools
VAIS - Virginia Association of Independent Schools (authorized by the Virginia State Board of Education)


Here's a small sampling of schools in the DMV and their accreditations as listed on their websites:

Bullis - Maryland DOE, MSA-CESS, AIMS
Episcopal High School - VAIS, SACS
Flint Hill - VAIS
Georgetown Prep - Maryland DOE, MSA-CESS
Georgetown Visitation - Maryland DOE, MSA-CESS
Holton-Arms School - MSA-CESS, AIMS
Landon - AIMS
National Cathedral School - MSA-CESS, AIMS
St. Albans - MSA, AIMS
St Andrew's - AIMS
St. Stephen's - St. Agness - VAIS
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart - MSA-CESS, AIMS
The Madeira School - VAIS
The Potomac School - VAIS

I hope this is helpful to parents and please note this is not a complete list of schools and some school information may not have been available through search.