Accreditation
Lutheran schools exist to share the good news of Jesus Christ through a warm, caring environment and an excellent
academic program.
Accreditation
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Guides the school through a process of self-study in order to identify what the school already does well and what it can do to become even better.
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Identifies a school as one committed toward fostering excellence in education.
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Encourages school improvement through a process of continual self study.
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Assures a school and its community that the school has clearly defined goals and a plan to accomplish these goals.
Remember, it isn't a compliance exercise, but rather a mindset of continuous and
on-going school improvement!
More and more schools in our district are becoming involved in the accreditation process. At the present time our district NLSA* accredited schools include:
88% of our high schools
74% of our elementary schools
31% of our early childhood centers.
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*many schools are also co-accredited with WASC or Cognia
All PSD elementary and high schools are eligible to be a WASC/NLSA school.
Accredited schools have a School Portal for information. New applicants please follow the process instructions under Getting Started.
PSD K-8 School wishing to have NLSA only accreditation
Please open the EBA box for information. Schools who are new to NLSA should use Protocol G.
Early Childhood Centers complete their own NLSA document
Please open the Early Childhood box for all self-study resources. A new tool will be available for schools in 2025.
Schools pursing NLSA/Cognia accreditation
Please click on Cognia in the co-accrediting agencies box and follow the instructions given.
Accreditation Processes
Annual Reporting
Annual Report forms and applicable evidence are due each year by April 15th in addition to the $100 annual fee. Please upload your Annual Reports into your shared Google files.
Annual Fees
Annual Fees for each accrediting body your are affiliated with are due from all accredited schools every year. Application fees only apply to schools who are entering the accreditation process for the first time.
Process | Application Fee | Annual Fee | District Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
WASC/NLSA | $160 for continuing school $850 Initial Visit fee Payable directly to WASC | $830 for Elementary Schools $1,130 for High Schools Payable to WASC | $100 annual fee each year for existing schools due by April 15 $100 application fee for new schools only Payable to Pacific Southwest District |
NLSA Only & Early Childhood | $750 for schools new to NLSA Payable to NLSA | $750 due each year by October 1 Payable to NLSA | $100 due each year by April 15 Payable to Pacific Southwest District |
Cognia | To apply for the NLSA/Cognia Process please contact the LCMS School Ministry office <School.Ministry@lcms.org> Do not contact Cognia directly. | $1,200 each year Payable to Cognia NLSA Fees also due | $100 due each year by April 15 Payable to Pacific Southwest District |
For questions and accreditation information including how to become an accredited school,
contact
Kim Violette, PSD Accreditation Commissioner kim.violette@psd-lcms.org
