A word about the organizations and the process we have gone through is in order. CAIS is an organization of independent schools from throughout California and is affiliated with the National Association of Independent Schools. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is part of the national network that oversees the standards and operations, primarily of high schools, colleges, and universities.
Private schools can affiliate with one or the other, both, or neither for that matter.
That being said, active participation and undergoing the accreditation processes of these two organizations is the mark of a high quality school that takes the time and energy necessary to review and evaluate itself. This is our third full accreditation over the last 18 years. Accreditation involves an extensive self-study that has been ongoing, and involves all of the various operations of the school. The self-study is linked to the guidelines established by the accrediting organizations. The visiting delegation receives the self-study information well in advance of their visit.