Springs Completes Reaccreditation

The Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) has renewed Indian Springs School’s accreditation for a five-year term following a two-year self-study and an on-site visit by a group of peer professionals from across the Southeast to review the school’s latest strategic plan, compliance with quality standards, and adherence to its mission.

In its final report recommending reaccreditation by unanimous vote, the visiting team wrote, “The team has the highest regard for the unique and historical culture of the Indian Springs community, one that is anchored in shared beliefs around freedom balanced by responsibility, trust rooted in high expectations, and an unwavering commitment to providing students with extraordinary opportunities to chart their own learning journey as valued members of a healthy and vibrant community.”

The team went on to applaud the progress Indian Springs has made with its current strategic plan, “especially the move toward supporting individual learning for students through the concept of ‘varsity academics’ and the manner in which the community is making use of new learning spaces consistent with the longstanding culture of the school.”

“It’s very exciting for me to be joining the school at a moment when we are celebrating so many successes, and when those successes have just been recognized formally through this rigorous process,” says Dr. Sharon Howell, who began serving as Springs’ sixth head of school on July 1.

“I’m grateful for both the thoughtful self-study completed by the administration to prepare for the committee’s visit, and for the thoughts of the educators on the SAIS team in response to that self-study,” says Howell. “There is so much value in hearing constructive criticism and appraisal from peers in independent schools who bring their unique perspectives to bear on what we do here.”

The visiting team commended Springs for its faculty members’ constant availability to students and passion for the school community; for its culture grounded in respect for individuals and students’ opportunity to become joyful, participatory citizens; for its administrators’ commitment to financial sustainability and the school’s distinctive mission; and for the functional quality and aesthetic beauty of the new buildings—“an architectural representation of the school’s historical commitment to openness and individual inquiry.” The team also saluted the Board of Governors for its execution of the Campaign for Springs Eternal, which reached the $20 million mark in April 2016.

“Among the recommendations of the visiting committee were advancing the good work already happening in educational innovation and advanced study; a renewed focus on advising and intentional residential programming; and continued commitment to completing our inspiring facilities master plan,” says Howell.

Named in 2015 by Business Insider one of the smartest boarding schools in the nation, Indian Springs School is a national leader in coed boarding and day education for grades 8-12. Inspired by the motto “Learning through Living,” the school seeks to develop in students a love of learning, a sense of integrity and moral courage, and an ethic of participatory citizenship.