Why Accreditation Is Important for an Online High School

by:

David Engle

April 23, 2025

Accreditation may be the most important feature an online high school can offer. We’ll explain what accreditation is, how it works, and why it’s so important for a student’s online education.

When searching for the right online high school, there are quite a few things to consider. Curriculum, course offerings, flexibility, and school reputation are just a few. But there’s one component of a high-quality online school that’s often forgotten…or completely unknown. That is accreditation. And it may be the most important feature an online high school can have. We’ll explain what accreditation is, how it works, and why it’s so important for a student’s online education.

What Is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a process that ensures that schools meet high-quality educational and operational standards. It also demonstrates to schools, colleges, and universities worldwide that credits were earned through rigorous, standards-based curriculum. A school that is accredited has had their internal processes and systems reviewed by an external party to ensure they meet a high standard of education.

In other words, accreditation is a method of separating schools that uphold consistent academic standards from those who don’t. 

This accreditation process is ongoing as well, meaning that accredited schools must consistently show how their policies, programs, and practices work together to meet the needs of every learner. Since being granted accreditation status is not a one-time event, schools are held accountable to proving their continuous improvement and student achievements.

Perhaps just as importantly, students who attend accredited schools can be confident knowing that the credits they earn from their courses will be recognized by other high schools, colleges, and universities. Holston Academy has received accreditations from both WASC and Cognia.

Your next question may be, who are WASC and Cognia?

  • WASC is one of six regional accrediting agencies in the U.S. whose accreditation validates the integrity of a school’s program and transcripts, and assures that the school’s goals are appropriate and being accomplished. This accreditation is a certification that the school is committed to continuous improvement and high-quality learning.
  • Cognia is an international accrediting body that reviews schools based on the following Performance Standards: healthy culture for learning, leadership for learning, engagement for learning, and growth in learning. Students attending education institutions with Cognia accreditation know they are benefiting from a high-quality education recognized around the globe.

Why Accreditation Is Important

As we briefly covered earlier in this article, accreditation is important for a variety of reasons.

It’s recognized by higher ed institutions

Nearly every college or university will admit online high school graduates based on the same set of standards as traditional high school graduates…with one important qualification. Most of these colleges want to know that the student’s online high school education was accredited. Holston Academy, for example, is an accredited California registered private school. That means our graduates receive a California private high school diploma. And students who take single courses with us receive an official transcript upon completion.

Accreditation signifies high-quality education

Enrolling in an accredited online high school ensures that students receive a top-notch education that is nationally and internationally accepted. The accreditation process motivates schools to meet demanding educational and operational standards. It also demonstrates to schools, colleges, and universities across the world that a student earned credits through a rigorous, standards-based curriculum.

The process goes like this:

  • The school conducts a self-review of processes, programs, courses, staff, and academic requirements, followed by review from the accrediting body.
  • Once the self-review has been accepted by the accrediting body, the institution will continue reviewing their processes and programs for compliance and work to improve any areas of opportunity.
  • The accrediting body then performs a site review, which includes in-depth analysis of all documentation, interviews, class visits, and business processes.
  • Finally, the institution will either receive accreditation or be denied; if denied, a report is provided on what needs to be addressed before another application can be reviewed.

One could make the case that online schools must go through even more exhaustive protocols than traditional schools in order to receive accreditation. Within the process of accreditation covered above, online schools generally must:

  • Demonstrate how educational standards are met.
  • Illustrate how programs are customized to meet children’s needs.
  • Show how success is determined.
  • Demonstrate how measurements are taken to ensure that students are continuously gaining ground in academic learning and growth.

Accreditation is a rigorous process, but it’s one that allows families to feel confident about the education their student is receiving.

It helps facilitate the credit transfer process

If your student is learning online temporarily and planning on re-entering a public or private school, an accredited online education also helps facilitate an easy transition back to traditional schooling. Accreditation at an online school like Holston Academy ensures that your students won’t have to repeat any courses to transfer.

Additionally, accreditation helps ensure that any college credits earned in high school–through Advanced PlacementⓇ courses or dual enrollment–transfer smoothly to the student’s college or university. Accreditation can also open doors to possible NCAA funding and scholarships for students attending an accredited school.

Accreditation holds schools accountable

You just read about the accreditation process and how rigorous it is for schools. What keeps schools accountable for their education quality is that this process is not simply a one-time thing–it’s constant. The accreditation process usually takes place every few years. That means online high schools must continually prove that they’re meeting the high standards of the accrediting bodies.

The accreditation process organically cultivates a culture of continuous improvement and accountability. Simply put, if online schools want to maintain their accreditation–they certainly do–they must keep meeting high standards and raising the bar. And that’s great news for families, because they know their student is reaping the rewards with an excellent education.

Holston Academy is an accredited online high school and middle school

As we alluded to, Holston Academy is a registered California private school accredited by WASC and Cognia. And that means our students benefit from a stellar education. To learn more about Holston Academy and our accreditation, click here or call us at (833) 782-6922.

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