What We Stand For

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is a nonprofit membership association that provides services to more than 2,000 schools and associations of schools in the United States and abroad, including more than 1,600 nonprofit, private K-12 schools in the U.S. that are self-determining in mission and program and are governed by independent boards. As the largest association of independent schools, NAIS co-creates the future of education by uniting and empowering our community. NAIS requires all member schools to be accredited by one of the accrediting organization.

Independent schools are nonprofit, private schools that are independent in philosophy: each is driven by a unique mission. They are also independent in the way they are managed and financed: each is governed by an independent board of trustees, and each is primarily supported through tuition payments and charitable contributions. They are accountable to their communities and are accredited by state-approved accrediting bodies.

The school accreditation process used by the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMS) has been developed and refined over a period of decades and provides rigorous, mission-based accreditation protocols that ensure excellence and accountability. Accrediting bodies such as AIMS engage all aspects of a school’s program and operation.

The AIMS accreditation protocol follows a rigorous, ten-year cycle in which member
schools engage in detailed research, self-study, and evaluation, lasting approximately 18
months.   It is thorough, inclusive, and comprehensive.
 
The AIMS accreditation protocol also includes compliance with 59 defined AIMS standards and 16 Local standards for schools in the District of Columbia.

Maret completed the 10-year accreditation cycle and received a favorable endorsement in 2016. Subsequently, the school conducted its 5-year review and again, received a strong endorsement for living the mission.