What does Accreditation mean?

Accreditation means Oak Meadow School has been inspected by an outside, independent agency that has determined that Oak Meadow meets accepted standards for schools. These standards include standards regarding seriousness of their course of studies, handling of academic records, accounting practices, and business practices.

Why is Accreditation important?

Accreditation is important for several reasons: First, you know that an accredited school has submitted to a detailed inspection by an outside objective agency. Besides this inspection, the school is required to follow accepted educational practices established by the accrediting agency. Assurance is given that the school has met the standards and will continue to meet them to maintain its accreditation.

Second, it is much easier to transfer credits from an accredited school than from a non-accredited school. A student who receives high school credits from Oak Meadow knows that these credits are backed by the prestige of the accrediting agency. Oak meadow cannot guarantee that other schools will accept our credits; however, accredited schools do routinely accept all credits as provided by other accredited high schools. Schools are much less likely to accept credits from non-accredited schools.

Third, accreditation is especially important when applying to college. Credits from an accredited school will likely be viewed as much more important than credits from a non-accredited school. The reason is simple: colleges know that accredited schools maintain accepted standards. Colleges know nothing about credits from a non-accredited school.

Oak Meadow is accredited by the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation CITA. In addition, Oak Meadow is fully accredited in grades K - 8 by the Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools (a commission of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools) and in grades 9 - 12 by the Commission on Secondary and Middle Schools (a commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools).