Information taken directly from Connecting the Dots of Accreditation by Dr. Barry Groves and Dr. Marilyn George

Reasons schools seek accreditation and why accreditation matters:

1. Accreditation is recognized worldwide. Schools’ accreditation is accepted by universities and other primary and secondary schools worldwide, allowing students to transfer between schools and matriculate to post secondary institutions.

2. The results of accreditations are typically made public after approval, building public confidence and community assurance in the school.

3. Universities require secondary schools to be accredited to qualify their courses to meet universities’ entrance exams. If college students do not matriculate from a fully accredited high school, they do not qualify for financial aid in many states. In CA, specifically, this is the CalGrant. 

4. Most employers require a diploma from an accredited secondary school as a minimum entrance standard for their job application. Employers often look up the school on the WASC website to ensure accreditation. 

5. Charter schools must prove their trustworthiness to qualify for various types of funding, and they can do that through accreditation. 

6. Only accredited schools can have student teachers, ensuring the ability to hire highly qualified staff. 

7. The CDE and WASC meet regularly to ensure publicly accredited state schools align with state academic requirements. This allows students to transfer to other accredited schools without losing credits within the state.

8. The U.S. military application requires that applicants graduate from an accredited secondary school. 

9. Most grants, resources, or finances that support school programs, instructional improvement, or capital outlay require the school to be accredited, including after-school programs. 

10. International students who apply for a student visa for public and private school admission must have the approval from an accredited school in the United States. 

Lastly, accreditation is considered a necessity for high schools. 

90% of high schools are accredited.