Westchester Country Day School Renews SAIS Accreditation

Westchester Country Day School has renewed its accreditation from the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) for five years. As an accredited member of SAIS, Westchester is part of an international network of schools that have demonstrated effectiveness in providing successful schooling for children.

To earn re-accreditation, Westchester met quality and compliance standards and presented long-range goals for continuous improvement. The school also hosted a team of educators from schools across the Southeast for a site visit. The team commended the school’s academics, environment for learning and teacher quality in a report recommending re-accreditation.

“Being committed to being a small school, WCDS intentionally builds a strong sense of community with students, families, faculty, and staff,” said the visiting team in its report to SAIS. “The school creates a plethora of opportunities for students that far exceed what larger schools can do. WCDS is able to accomplish this breadth of the program because of the fully engaged faculty and staff who are determined to prepare 100 percent of their students for acceptance to college by educating the whole child – body, mind, and heart.”

The school’s self-study process included planning and input from the administrative team and Board of Trustees, stakeholder feedback and research by two faculty learning teams. The school put forward two goals, one to develop a new academic support inclusion model and another for enhanced science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum and programming.

Founded in 1967, Westchester is a college preparatory school with an emphasis on moral, academic, artistic and athletic excellence. The school enrolls 425 students in grades pre-K through 12. It is located just outside the city of High Point in Davidson County. Westchester offers a small-school environment and personalized approach to support the personal growth of each student. The academic program includes active, project-based learning, arts integration, world languages at all grade levels, one-to-one Chromebook access, character development and service-learning.

Accreditation provides accountability for independent schools through a process of self-evaluation and peer review. SAIS accreditation is recognized throughout the world as a symbol of quality in education for students and teachers. Re-accreditation takes place every five years and includes periodic school reporting to SAIS with progress on the goals outlined.

SAIS began its organizational life in 1903 as the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools. Its mission is to provide leadership, accreditation services, and professional development resources that will strengthen member schools as they fulfill their missions. SAIS works at the state, regional and national levels to promote the highest quality educational standards and ethical conduct.