Is Cognia a Legit accreditation for a School?

October 3, 2024 9:25 AM

I am considering a private school for my child that is accredited through "Cognia". Is this a legit accreditation that universities will recognize? Is the equivalent of a degree mill for private schools (pay your money get accredited)? Is it rigorous and trustworthy?
posted by anonymous to Education (4 answers total)

Looking at the list of schools in my area that are accredited by them, I see some reasonably reputable institutions. It seems like it's just a merged organization of a few older regional accreditation bodies. I don't think it's a degree mill. There are two accreditation bodies active in my region and Cognia is one of them since they acquired NWAC a few years ago.

I totally understand why you're skeptical, though; Cognia is a terrible name. I imagine its reputation varies a bit by region, since it was formed through mergers of regional organizations; if you're concerned about the accreditation, maybe look at who the "best" schools in your area are accredited by and see if it shows up.
posted by potrzebie at 10:11 AM on October 3 [1 favorite]

Cognia is a non-profit, so likely not a "accreditation mill". They are listed as an accreditor in the "Global Education Accrediting Commission" (surely, a "commission" and "global" must mean they are legit!).
I'd check with your state's Department of Education (assuming you're in the US). They should have a list of schools they "recognize" .
posted by Dotty at 10:17 AM on October 3

Accreditation is not as much of a thing for K-12 as it is for colleges.

If this is a school that goes through 12th grade you are FAR better off looking at its college admission track record, which is where the rubber hits the road.

A good private school will be getting lots of kids into selective private schools (leaning towards schools of its denomination if religious), flagship state schools, and whatever is the leading local 4-year public college. ABSOLUTELY it should be beat the outcomes from the local public high school - when the private school can't do that what with the smaller class sizes, parental wealth and involvement filter, and (typical) absence of competition for attention with behavior problem, special education and ESL kids, there is usually a BIG problem somewhere in the mix (including, possibly, reputation with colleges).
posted by MattD at 11:53 AM on October 3 [6 favorites]

Cognia is unfortunately the absolutely terrible name chosen when the PK-12 accreditation divisions of the Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools merged. NCA and SACS are the regional accreditors for all reputable higher ed institutions (in other words, within those regions, don't attend an university accredited by anyone else because it's a scam) and their PK-12 divisions are similarly the authoritative accreditors for the regions. They just chose a terrible fucking name that makes them sound like a fucking scam.

Being accredited by Cognia does not mean that the school you are looking at is actually a good place to send your child (I'm for public school all the way), but it does mean that it's probably not a scam.
posted by hydropsyche at 4:43 PM on October 3 [2 favorites]