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Three Reasons Why Accreditation Is Important

May 24, 2023

Accreditation is both a status of excellence and a process of accountability.


In the case of an independent high school, especially a private online high school like Dwight Global Online School, accreditation is particularly important. 
Schools that are accredited are confirmed to have met the standards and requirements defined by an accrediting organization such as Cognia, a top accrediting non-profit that assesses each school against data collected from school systems in the United States and 85 other nations. 

the importance of accreditation

High Quality Education
When researching online schools, parents look for accreditation to ensure educational quality. Reputable accreditations ensure a private online school is meeting the needs of students while providing rigorous, qualified online instruction. Accreditation also affirms the school’s commitment to continuous improvement, and is a marker of trustworthiness and integrity.  

“Accreditation teams look at every aspect of a school, from academics, to resources, to budgeting, to governance, to teacher qualifications, to community-building and mission,” said Dwight Global Online School’s Head of School Louisa Childs. 

“An accredited program like Dwight Global Online School’s has shown that it meets top standards in every area. When a school commits to accreditation, it’s signing on to a multi-year process of continuous improvement and review for all of its stakeholders,” continued Ms. Childs.  

Recognized At Top Colleges and Universities
Not all online high schools are accredited, and a school’s accreditation status is a key element colleges and universities use to determine if a student is prepared for higher education.  Additionally, accreditation assures parents that the school is meeting state and national standards in all areas, and allows students to transfer credits to another school. 

Accreditation is crucial for college admissions, since accreditations are included in the school profile, a major component of the college application,” said Megan Miller, Senior Director of College Counseling.  “Accreditations also underscore the rigor and college-preparatory experience provided by Dwight Global to all our students.” 

Dwight Global is approved by Cognia and accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, the Northwest Accreditation Commission, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.  

Dwight Global is also one of two online schools in the world to be selected by the International Baccalaureate to pilot the prestigious IB Online Diploma Programme.  In addition, in 2021, Dwight Global was acknowledged for its excellence as a private, accredited online school, ranking No. 2 on Newsweek’s listing of the 50 best online high schools in the United States. 

Accreditation Instills Confidence and Trust
Dwight’s accreditation with Cognia, along with the school’s rich history as an educational leader and innovator, assure families of Dwight Global’s drive toward excellence and mission-driven success. 

Accreditation validates commitment to continuous improvement, and is a vote of confidence in Dwight Global’s ongoing quest to “ignite the spark of genius” in every student.  

Because Dwight Global is an accredited online school, families can be certain that their children’s course credits and grade-level placements will be recognized at schools and universities around the world, and that a diploma from Dwight Global is valid and recognized. 

Dwight Global Online School is a premier private, online school and meets the highest standards of excellence. 

“With accreditation, parents can gain comfort in knowing that a school excels in a particular moment in time, and is committed to evolving and growing as an institution in comparison to research- and evidence-based standards,” Ms. Childs said.

Learn more about Dwight Global Online School here.