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SCL Accreditation

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Transforming Accreditation

As the classical Christian education movement has grown, so has the need for clarity and structure to support sustainable growth. To thrive, schools must go beyond a shared vision or access to resources—they must consistently apply classical Christian principles and proven best practices to all aspects of their operations, from board governance to student discipleship.

SCL Accreditation provides a collaborative pursuit of excellence rooted in clearly defined standards and practical steps for growth. It fosters accountability, strengthens governance, refines strategic vision, and cultivates a culture of improvement, equipping schools to operate healthily and sustainably while staying true to their mission.

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.
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.
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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.

1

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.

2

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.

3

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.

4

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.

1

Express Interest

  • Submit an inquiry and begin your journey.
2

Engage with SCL

  • Join us at the summer conference and our regional events. We want to get to know you.
3

Become a Member (if not already)

  • Membership is required before starting the accreditation process.
  • Connect with a supportive network of classical Christian educators.
4

Prepare

  • Begin self-assessments and gather foundational documents.
  • Engage with SCL playbooks, resources, and consultation.
5

Apply

  • Submit your application and receive a customized accreditation roadmap.
6

Participate in the Process

  • Host an on-site visit with SCL’s Accreditation Team.
  • Collaborate through interviews, focus groups, and classroom observations.
7

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.

Ready to get started? Submit an inquiry and start your journey today!

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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.

DOWNLOAD THE SCL GUIDE TO ACCREDITATION

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.

Now, through a partnership with the Middle States Association, SCL Accreditation offers schools national recognition and a proven pathway to sustainable growth grounded in classical Christian principles.

Accredited Schools

Dr. Preston Atwood

Memphis, TN

Troy Schuknecht

Fort Worth, TX

Kevin Clark

Oviedo, FL

Leslie Moeller

Boerne, TX

Cate Gilbert

Houston, TX

Matt Skinner

Atlanta, GA

Dr. Robert Littlejohn

Dallas, TX

Dr. Brad Dolloff

Point Lookout, MO

Justice Kerr

Bozeman, MT

Travis Koch

Beaverton, OR

Neil Anderson

Houston, TX

Keith Nix

Richmond, VA

Cameron Cook

Austin, TX

Eric DeVries

Birmingham, AL

Josh Dyson

Wichita, KS

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.

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As a member, you receive access to all of the most recent summer conference content, including 80+ workshops, plenary speakers, etc., plus access to the full library of past content.

Conference Sessions

Ensure increased visibility for your school by having it listed on the Find a School Map, connecting you with potential students and families seeking a classical Christian learning environment.

Map Feature

Unlock a wealth of exclusive resources, such as research studies and articles, providing valuable insights and knowledge for your school's continuous improvement.

Resources

Enable your school to easily post job openings and attract qualified candidates with the Career Center, simplifying the hiring process.

Career Center

Enjoy exclusive discounts on all SCL events and services, empowering you to access valuable resources and opportunities for your school's growth at a more affordable cost.

Exclusive Discounts

Get access to exclusive cohorts and workshops!

Cohorts and Workshops

SCL conducts school-wide surveys to provide relevant information to the classical Christian community as well as access to in-depth research with partner organizations like the Barna Group.

Research

A connected community of classical Christian thought leaders, including heads of school, board members, marketing and admissions directors, development and fundraising directors, academic deans, grammar and upper school heads, and teachers from all grade levels are here to support and encourage one another.

Community

Member-exclusive Coaching Call sessions. 15-20 online sessions each year from key-thought leaders on topics ranging from legal and operational issues to pedagogical and philosophical discussions. Think of it as a mini-conference each month!

Coaching Calls

Gain new insight, knowledge, and skills around best practices in a short, intensive format with workshops or a year-long mentorship experience with cohorts. Designed for administrators, teachers, parents, leaders, and department heads – anyone seeking to learn and grow in their role.

Conference & Workshops

Our network of seasoned professionals is available to navigate your questions and brainstorm solutions with you. Let us know how you want to direct your time and we will pair you with the senior leader that best suits your school’s unique needs.

Consulting