ACSI Accreditation: Strengthening Schools and Showcasing Their Lasting Impact

Hear from ACSI Exemplary Accredited Heads of School as they share how accreditation strengthens their institutions by upholding their mission, elevating academic and spiritual excellence, and showcasing their school's unique strengths.

John Khouri

Head of School at Lexington Christian Academy, MA

"During our most recent accreditation cycle in 2021, the visiting committee identified a few areas for commendation which we continue to lean into and enhance thanks in part to their encouragement. The committee noted our daily, intentional commitment to our gospel-centered mission by fostering unity over polarization. Secondly, our commitment to student social-emotional health, both in terms of services and teacher training, continues to address obstacles to learning and flourishing. Third, we continue to think about ways to leverage our building and grounds, in terms of usage, monetization, and development, as a means to propel our mission."

"Now in our 60^th year of Christian education, ECS’ school mission is unique among other independent and Christian schools in our city because we are a Christian school specifically for the Christian family. We are the only covenant-model school in the area, requiring at least one parent in every family be a professing believer and follower of Jesus Christ. We believe it is foundational that parents of our students are believers, as it creates a necessary partnership between our teachers, administration, and parents, so that together, we can effectively embark on true Christian discipleship education."

Shawna Wood

Head of School at Dalat International School, Malaysia

"Dalat International School was founded by the Christian and Missionary Alliance in 1929 in Dalat, Vietnam. Almost 100 years later, we are now an international Christian school of over 700 students on the beautiful island of Penang, Malaysia! As we grew from a small MK school to a larger school serving a more diverse community, we saw a great many areas that needed change. ACSI Accreditation helped us to focus on the most critical areas of improvement along the way– first with traditional accreditation, and later, exemplary. We were greatly encouraged when the exemplary visiting team said that our focus on academics and spiritual formation was well-balanced and that it was clear to the team that both areas were priorities at the school. These are encompassed in the equal weight we assign to each of our four flagships: scholarship, citizenship, relationship, and discipleship."

 

Dr. Steve Whitaker

Head of School at The First Academy, FL

"Our recent accreditation with ACSI served as a powerful affirmation of The First Academy's commitment to embedding our Gospel-Centered School Culture Framework throughout every facet of our educational experience. This rigorous process provided valuable, objective insights, revealing tangible and measurable evidence of how we are actively living out our mission as a Christ-centered college preparatory school. While internal assessment is vital, the accreditation process offered a unique opportunity to see our framework's impact with clarity, ensuring continuous growth and alignment with our core values."