A Message from the President on Accreditation

St. Augustine Blogs > Prep Talk Blog > A Message from the President on Accreditation

Posted March 22nd, 2013

Dear Prep Community,

I was delighted to learn that the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) has confirmed the chairs for the St. Augustine Preparatory School Decennial Accreditation Visit. They are: Dr. Patty L. Fagin, Head of School, Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Princeton, NJ, and Dr. Peter S. Lewis, Head of School, The Winston School, Short Hills, NJ. A committee of some fifteen educators will be visiting our campus from Tuesday, October 8, 2013 through Friday, October 11, 2013. Both Dr. Fagin and Dr. Lewis are impressive educators who are committed to school improvement through accreditation.

St. Augustine Prep’s faculty and staff has been deeply immersed this past year in preparing for our ten-year accreditation. The school first received accreditation in the 1970’s through the Middle States Association (MSA) and we have been reaccredited by that agency since that time. During academic year 2011-2012, the Prep’s Board of Directors decided to seek dual accreditation, continuing with MSA but adding accreditation by the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) as well. NJAIS has graciously agreed to serve as the primary accreditation agency and will work in collaboration with MSA.

Founded in 1958, NJAIS has been accrediting its member schools since 1995. St Augustine Prep was granted NJAIS membership in the spring of 2010 following a rigorous review by the NJAIS Board of Trustees. This credential places the Prep among a group of seventy-five distinguished independent schools in the State of New Jersey. Accreditation from NJAIS will enhance our mission as a Catholic, Augustinian, Independent school. Likewise, the credential will facilitate school and university admissions as well as assist us with corporate and foundation fundraising.

Over the next several months I will continue to keep the Campus Community updated about our progress on this most exciting initiative in the history of our school.

In Augustine,

Fr. Donald F. Reilly, O.S.A.