When choosing a school, parents often ask a simple and important question of the potential school: “Are you accredited?”  We have come to believe that the approval of an accrediting agency makes a school “safe” for our children; however, many parents don’t know that there is a variety of accrediting agencies with widely varying philosophies. Thus, the agency which accredits a school does matter.  

Each of the accrediting agencies typically pursued by Christian schools (ACCS, ACSI, SACS, or FCIS) has philosophical assumptions that underpin the certification process.  Some operate from a modernistic worldview which believes that everything can be quantified.  A good education, according to these organizations, is reflected in how many books are on the shelves in the library, the number of degrees and certificates the teachers hold, and student scores.  While none of these criteria are inherently bad attributes, they do not accurately represent how effectively a school truly educates: nourishing students’ souls and passing on culture.  One cannot quantify the unquantifiable.  

Geneva recognizes that the assumptions of an agency matters, and we have chosen the Association of Classical Christian Schools from which to seek our official recognition.  While our authority to teach children comes from their parents according to Scripture, ACCS’ requirements for the self study will help us to look closely at how well we are accomplishing our stated mission.  This association supports our classical and Christian distinctives rather than undermining them.  

The second question after “Are you accredited?” should be “By whom?” We look forward to the growth Geneva will experience as the accreditation process moves forward. Check in and ask us how it’s going!