Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) Reaccreditation
During the 2026/2027 School year, faculty and staff are busily engaged in the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) Reaccreditation Self-Study process, having conversations and asking questions to reflect on what we are doing and how we are meeting our School's Mission. We plan to survey the broader Community this year to gather input and feedback on various aspects of our school’s operations and program.
In the fall of 2027, we will host an accreditation visit, which will result in commendations and recommendations as part of The Adelson School’s re-accreditation.
If you have questions about the accreditation process, please reach out to Scott Muller at Scott.Muller@theadelsonschool.org.
What NWAIS Accreditation Means for Schools
NWAIS Accreditation....
• Provides value due to the thoroughness of the process.
• Offers assurance of quality education and accountability for families.
• Assesses a school’s effectiveness in delivering on the promise of its mission,
advances mission-driven initiatives, and helps to ensure the school’s future capacity.
• Is recognized by other agencies, regionally and nationally.
Overview of Reaccreditation Process
Fast Facts:
• Tool for ongoing improvement – continually advancing
• Inclusive process engaging whole school community
• Reflective, mission driven process
The NWAIS accreditation process is based on the principle that schools are in a continual process of development. At each step of the process, there is possibility for improvement. Through accreditation’s structured reflection, schools can identify areas for growth and benefit from the experience and perspective of their peer schools. For schools to flourish, movement needs to be mission-driven. Every school has a unique mission, so every school has its own way to address opportunities for growth.
NWAIS Accreditation Standards and Demonstrations of Success describe the elements the Association has determined are necessary for quality institutions to possess based on decades of experience in independent schools. They span the range of operations, cultures, systems, structures, and facilities at a school. The Self Study questions are designed to enable schools to conduct a comprehensive self-assessment. When schools engage in the reflective and collaborative process of accreditation, they can better articulate who they are, where they want to go and how they can get there.
There are a number of steps in the eight-year cycle of NWAIS accreditation. Once a school has determined that it is ready to pursue accreditation, the school’s staff and community write a Self Study. This document articulates how the school fulfills its mission and meets the NWAIS Standards and Demonstrations of Success. A team comprised of educators from other independent schools visits the school to see how well the Self Study document reflects what is actually happening at the school. This visiting team writes a report that is then presented to the NWAIS Accreditation Committee, which makes a recommendation to the NWAIS Board of Governors about the school’s accreditation status.
Even after the accreditation decision has been reached, the school still has work ahead of it, as the NWAIS Annual Report requires that schools report on their progress in addressing the major recommendations from the report. Additionally, three years after the visit a school must submit a Response Report addressing all recommendations.
Reaccreditation Process
Fast Facts:
• Value of inclusive, reflective process
• Assess the congruence between mission and day-to-day experience
• Assess compliance with NWAIS Standards and Demonstrations of Success
• Enables all school personnel to learn more about their own school
• Develops plan for future action
The NWAIS Self Study process is designed as a vehicle for each school to reflect upon the effectiveness of all aspects of its operations. The majority of the school’s staff and representative members of the larger school community (trustees, parents, and students) will be involved in writing the Self Study. The intention is to have the Self Study provide the visiting team with an accurate portrait of how the school currently fulfills its mission, provides students with quality programs, and is both viable and sustainable.
The document itself can serve both as a chronicle of the story of our school as well as a roadmap for school improvement in the years to come. Those who have completed the Self Study repeatedly comment on the opportunity to step back and look at their school with more discernment and objectivity. Greater clarity and direction for schools at all developmental stages often result from this work.
The Adelson School admits qualified students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The Adelson School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.