Description of NCA CASI Accreditation

The North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) is a non-governmental, voluntary organization that accredits more than 8,500 public and private schools in 19 states, the Navajo Nation, and the Department of Defense Dependents' Schools worldwide.

To earn accreditation, schools must meet NCA CASI's quality standards, be evaluated by an outside group of professionals, and implement a school improvement plan focused on increasing student performance. Accreditation is voluntary.

Benefits to Students

Increased performance. Accreditation focuses a school on improving learning for all students. A six-year study of schools actively engaged in NCA CASI's process revealed that 79% made verifiable gains in student achievement.  Consequently, NCA CASI accreditation is a proven method for improving student performance.

Transfer of credits. In addition to raising student achievement, accreditation eases the transition of students as they move from one accredited school to another. The regional nature of accreditation allows a receiving school in the same or another state to assess the quality of a sending school and accept the incoming student's credits and academic record. This ease of transfer applies across the nation through reciprocal agreements between the regional accrediting agencies.

Access to programs and scholarships. Accreditation can also benefit students as they participate in specific sports programs, apply for federal grants or scholarships, or pursue admission to colleges, technical schools, or military programs that require students to come from regionally accredited schools.