Elementary (K-8) Accreditation

Elementary and Secondary Accreditation

All Archdiocese of Washington Catholic elementary and secondary schools are accredited through Cognia, a globally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing excellence in education through accreditation, assessment, professional learning, and continuous improvement. 

Accredited with Merit

The Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools has earned Cognia Accreditation with the status of Accredited with Merit, one of Cognia’s highest accreditation statuses. This distinction is conferred upon institutions in excellent standing that demonstrate results above expectations across Cognia’s Performance Standards. It recognizes our Catholic school system’s commitment to high-quality education, student learning, effective leadership, and continuous improvement. 

As part of the accreditation process, Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools participated in Cognia’s rigorous Accreditation Engagement Review. Grounded in research-based performance standards, the review included an independent evaluation of evidence by education experts, stakeholder interviews, surveys, and classroom observations across our Catholic school communities. 

The review examined the effectiveness of our system in supporting growth in learning, a healthy culture for learning, engaging and high-quality learning environments, and effective leadership for learning. These areas reflect Cognia’s expectations for high-quality educational institutions committed to ongoing growth and improvement. 

Accreditation is not simply a designation but an ongoing process of reflection and continuous improvement. Each year, our Catholic schools collect and analyze data, identify areas of strength and growth, establish goals, and evaluate their school improvement efforts. At the system level, the Catholic Schools Office uses accreditation findings and other evidence to guide strategic priorities and strengthen support for schools. 

Achieving Accredited with Merit status affirms the collective work of our school leaders, educators, students, families, pastors, and communities and reflects our shared commitment to providing an excellent Catholic education rooted in faith, service, and academic excellence.