Willows Prep Earns Dual Accreditation: A Commitment to Excellence

Willows Preparatory School is thrilled to announce the recent accreditation by both Cognia and the National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA). These prestigious accreditations mark significant milestones in our commitment to providing a world-class education and continuous improvement in all aspects of our school.

Accreditation is a rigorous process that evaluates the quality and effectiveness of a school’s educational programs, policies, and practices. It involves a comprehensive self-study and an external review by educational experts. For Willows Prep, this journey began over a year ago and involved the entire school community, including teachers, parents, students, and administrators.

Head of School Rich Stearns elaborates on the process: “Accreditation starts with a self-study in which all the different stakeholders in a school reflect on all the specific aspects of what the school is doing and why. This reflective experience is helpful to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges in the school. It can be simultaneously daunting and reassuring.”

Cognia, a global nonprofit organization, offers accreditation and certification services to educational institutions worldwide. Serving 40,000 institutions in over 90 countries, Cognia provides a framework for continuous improvement based on rigorous research-based standards.

Cognia’s accreditation process examines the entire institution—from policies to learning conditions and cultural context—to determine how well the parts work together to meet the needs of every learner. This thorough evaluation ensures that accredited institutions are committed to providing high-quality education and fostering continuous improvement.

The National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA) addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of private schools. Founded in 1983, NIPSA focuses on recognizing, encouraging, and improving the quality of private school education.

NIPSA’s accreditation process evaluates schools based on their ability to accomplish their stated goals and objectives, ensuring that they provide high-quality education and are committed to continuous growth and excellence. Accreditation by NIPSA signifies that a school meets or exceeds rigorous standards of educational quality and effectiveness.

The journey to dual accreditation began with a comprehensive self-study that involved a deep reflection on all aspects of our educational practices. Following this year-long self-assessment, teams of educators from both Cognia and NIPSA visited our campus to verify our findings and engage in meaningful discussions with our community.

In May 2024, Willows Prep earned accreditation from NIPSA, followed by Cognia accreditation in June 2024. These accreditations validate our commitment to excellence in education and provide valuable feedback for ongoing improvement.

With dual accreditation from Cognia and NIPSA, Willows Prep joins a distinguished network of schools dedicated to educational excellence. These achievements are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community. We look forward to maintaining these accreditations for many years to come and continuing to provide an environment where students thrive academically and personally.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Willows Prep and our commitment to educational excellence, please contact our admissions team.