St. Benedict's Episcopal School Receives National Accreditation

First Lady Sandra Deal visits the St. Benedict’s student government. Credit: St. Benedict’s Episcopal School

From St. Benedict’s Episcopal School

On Friday, May 22, officials from St. Benedict’s Episcopal School in Smyrna learned that their school has successfully obtained dual accreditation from the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The school was previously accredited by the Georgia Accreditation Commission (GAC), which reviews independent schools only in the State of Georgia.

According to school Headmaster Rick Betts, “This accreditation provides independent confirmation of what our students’ families have known all along, that the education students receive at St. Benedict’s has validity and integrity. We are pleased to be recognized among the other top independent schools in the area who hold this nationally-recognized accreditation.”

According to the SAIS website, “A school that is able to achieve accreditation demonstrates a commitment to a process that requires the school to meet a set of rigorous, research-based standards; to engage in a program of continuous school improvement; and to demonstrate quality assurance to its stakeholders through self-evaluation and peer review. A SAIS-SACS accredited school is part of an international network of accredited schools which have demonstrated success in educating children. As such, SAIS-SACS accreditation is recognized throughout the world as a symbol of quality in education for students and teachers. To earn accreditation, schools must meet quality standards, be evaluated by an outside group of peer professionals, and implement a school plan focused on strategic improvement and student performance.”