Sustainable Growth
Thriving in every area while aligning with classical Christian principles for long-term success, helping your school serve families faithfully and foster a healthy, flourishing community.
Accreditation
Inquire NowTransforming Accreditation
SCL accreditation is a formative process designed to strengthen schools, cultivate excellence, and support sustainable growth.
Tailored Support
Personalized consultations and practical tools designed to provide clarity, address challenges, and position your school to advance the mission of classical Christian education.
Nationwide Recognition
Affirmation of your school’s excellence, earning credibility among families and communities, and instilling confidence in your ability to lead with clarity and purpose.
Our Process – The PATHway to Thriving
At SCL, our accreditation process is guided by our core values of being joyfully bound to Christ, boldly expanding the classical tradition, and faithfully extending hospitality. These values help shape a Principled, Aspirational, Thorough, and Hospitable (PATH) approach to helping schools thrive.
Principled
SCL employs a principled rather than prescriptive approach. To provide a clear guide and measure for schools, SCL’s eight standards and ten accompanying indicators capture the essence of a thriving classical Christian school. We work together with schools before, during and after the visit to evaluate these principles within the context of your school. Our goal is to put schools on the path to thriving—helping them fulfill their mission to their families and communities.
Aspirational
Much like a portrait of a graduate, the SCL standards and indicators are idealistic. While each candidate school is assessed against the SCL standards and indicators to foster improvement, our accreditation team is there to observe and offer feedback, not to shame or make schools jump through arbitrary hoops, reductionistic lists, or tedious prescribed changes. Structuring accreditation in this way allows the team to spend time focused on targeting aspirational areas for improvement.
Thorough
Shortly after the visit, you will receive a lengthy PATHway to Thriving Report with our findings regarding each of the eight standards through the lens of all 80 indicators. The report is comprehensive, including both qualitative and quantitative data that highlights areas of strength and identifies key areas for growth. Additionally, a list of recommended resources is included.
Hospitable
We work with schools, not merely to assess, but to support and resource them as they seek improvement. Our process requires high levels of active engagement from each school’s executive leadership team, both during the assessment process and in executing the improvement. At the same time, SCL is here to support the school’s leadership team before, during, and after the visit.
Your Path to School Excellence
Accreditation isn’t always linear – it’s a relational journey between the school and the accreditor. SCL brings a commitment to hospitality within every touch-point, meeting, and conversation between the school and SCL.
Express Interest
Submit an inquiry and begin your journey.
Engage with SCL
Join us at the summer conference and our regional events. We want to get to know you.
Become a Member (if not already)
Membership is required before starting the accreditation process.
Connect with a supportive network of classical Christian educators.
Prepare
Begin self-assessments and gather foundational documents.
Engage with SCL playbooks, resources, and consultation.
Apply
Submit your application and receive a customized accreditation roadmap.
Participate in the Process
Host an on-site visit with SCL’s Accreditation Team.
Collaborate through interviews, focus groups, and classroom observations.
Receive Feedback & Plan for Growth
Get a comprehensive report with commendations and actionable recommendations.
Use SCL’s resources to craft and implement a school plan for improvement.
Our Accreditation Standards
SCL’s accreditation standards are designed to align with the vision, mission, and lived experiences of classical Christian schools building God’s kingdom on earth through education.
Christian Commitment
The school aligns its educational philosophy and policies with its Christian commitments and intentionally embodies those commitments in practice.
Classical Commitment
The school manifests the liberal arts tradition through its philosophy of education and harmonized educational practices.
School Culture
The school embodies its classical and Christian identity within a community of faith and learning.
Student Experience
The daily experience of students reflects the classical and Christian commitments of the school.
Governance
The school exercises a disciplined governance model of leadership that focuses on long-term viability.
Executive Leadership
The school ensures that its executive leaders possess the character, competence, and capacity to fulfill their roles.
Finances and Facilities
The school practices fiscal responsibility and aligns all its resources to serve its mission.
Advancement
The school advances its mission through clear and compelling communication, principled admissions practices, effective fundraising, and a thoughtfully nurtured place in its community.
The Vision & Expertise Behind SCL Accreditation
In 2023, we recognized a critical need within the classical Christian education movement: schools needed a formal, independent validation of their commitment to quality, as well as a clear framework for growth. Accreditation emerged as a solution.
To create this program, we identified eight core standards that define a thriving classical Christian school and developed ten measurable indicators for each, resulting in 80 benchmarks. Collaborating with leaders across the movement, we expanded these insights into eight practical playbooks designed to guide schools in applying these standards.
Partnership with Middle States (MSA-CESS)
In Spring 2023, SCL entered into a cooperative agreement with the Middle States Association (MSA-CESS), giving schools the option of dual accreditation. SCL serves as the lead accreditor—using our standards, our process, and our visiting teams—while MSA provides state-level recognition, including that required for access to ESA funds. This streamlined pathway requires no second self-study or visit, making dual accreditation accessible without added burden.
Learn more about the streamlined dual-accreditation pathway with SCL and MSA-CESS.
Accredited Schools
Covenant Classical School
Head of SchoolTroy Schuknecht
Fort Worth, TX
Trinity Classical School of Houston
Head of SchoolNeil Anderson
Houston, TX
The Ecclesial Schools Initiative
Head of SchoolKevin Clark
Oviedo, FL
St. Stephen's Academy
Head of SchoolTravis Koch
Beaverton, OR
Classical School of Wichita
Head of SchoolTim Dernlan
Wichita, KS
The Saint Constantine School
Head of SchoolCate Gilbert
Houston, TX
Petra Academy
Head of SchoolJustice Kerr
Bozeman, MT
Geneva School of Boerne
Head of SchoolLeslie Moeller
Boerne, TX
Covenant Academy
Head of SchoolLeslie Collins
Cypress, TX
The Covenant School
Head of SchoolMelissa Hill
Dallas, TX
Veritas School
Head of SchoolKeith Nix
Richmond, VA
School of the Ozarks
Head of SchoolDr. Brad Dolloff
Point Lookout, MO
Westminster Academy
Head of SchoolDr. Preston Atwood
Memphis, TN
Veritas Academy
Head of SchoolCameron Cook
Austin, TX
The Westminster School at Oak Mountain
Head of SchoolBill McGee
Birmingham, AL
Heritage Classical Academy
Head of SchoolDavid Nees
Pepper Pike, OH
Heritage Preparatory School
Head of SchoolErin Hames
Atlanta, GA
Coventry Christian Schools
Head of SchoolJohn Niehls
Pottstown, PA
New Covenant Schools
Head of SchoolJohn Heaton
Lynchburg, VA
Sager Classical Academy
Head of SchoolKyle Rapinchuk
Siloam Springs, AR
Jonathan Edwards Classical Academy
Head of SchoolJoshua Drake
Whites Creek, TN
Redeemer Classical School
Head of SchoolRon Hoch
Keezletown, VA
Brave Academy
Head of SchoolJake Clay
Englewood, CO
The Classical Academy
Head of SchoolRachael Oren
Indianapolis, IN
The Field School
Head of SchoolJeremy Mann
Chicago, IL
Oak Hill Academy
Head of SchoolJesse Newton
Hamilton, ON
The Academy of Classical Christian Studies
Head of SchoolNathan Carr
Oklahoma City, OK
Telos Classical Academy
Head of SchoolDr. Anthony Sciubba
Park City, UT
Providence Christian School of Texas
Head of SchoolJeff Hendricks
Dallas, TX
Harbor Christian Academy
Head of SchoolJohn Bryant
Houston, TX
Kingdom Preparatory Academy
Head of SchoolJohn DePoe
Lubbock, TX
Saint Augustine School
Head of SchoolAnn Lowery Forrester
Ridgeland, MS
Providence Classical School
Head of SchoolRichard Halloran
Klein, TX
Covenant Classical School
Head of SchoolTom Stoner
Naperville, IL
Trinity School at Greenlawn
Head of SchoolDavid Salmon
South Bend, IN
Regents School of Oxford
Head of SchoolMatthew Schroeder
Oxford, MS
Trinity Academy
Head of SchoolTimothy Bridges
Raleigh, NC
Anthem Classical Academy
Head of SchoolRyan Gorman
Fayetteville, AR
Seattle Classical Christian School
Head of SchoolCristi Cooper
Seattle, WA
Covenant School
Head of SchoolCraig Hefner
Huntington, WV
The Oaks Classical Cottage School
Head of SchoolClaire Kennedy
Montgomery, AL
The Classical Christian Academy
Head of SchoolRachel Hull
Martinsburg, WV
Summit Classical Christian School
Head of SchoolGreg Forrest
Issaquah, WA
The Classical School of New Braunfels
Head of SchoolLindsey Setliff
New Braunfels, TX
The Libertas Academy
Head of SchoolHolly Kalton
Angels Camp, CA
Naperville Christian Academy
Head of SchoolRebecca Ruff
Naperville, IL
Ready to begin your journey?
Make an inquiry with us to learn more, or join us at the SCL Summer Conference to connect with leaders and prepare for accreditation.