Columbia, SC – May 21, 2025 – SC Whitmore School announced today that it has earned Cognia® Accreditation. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers.
“Accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides SC Whitmore School a nationally recognized mark of quality for our school,” shared Eboné Adams, SC Whitmore School Principal. “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our willingness to enact meaningful change based on evaluation and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.”
Kim Dunbar, SC Whitmore School Executive Director, said, “Earning this accreditation has been years in the making. SC Whitmore School strives to be the best and has continued making improvements that led to this recognition. We knew that we had a great model that benefits students all over the state. We wanted to share what we do and how we do it. We are humbled that Cognia agreed that our model promotes great success in students. I'm so thankful to our board, faculty and staff, and students for all of their hard work in sharing our message, making continued improvements, and supporting our mission. This was a group effort, and we are excited to celebrate this honor.”
Cognia recognizes schools across the globe that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation, and effective leadership. To earn Cognia accreditation, a school must submit to internal and external review. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term.
SC Whitmore School’s Board Chair Stig Rasmussen said, “I am proud that SC Whitmore School is receiving recognition for its Cognia Accreditation. SC Whitmore School will continue serving young people and families with excellent educational opportunities as a leader in the online-learning space."
Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of ensuring all students can flourish in engaging and equitable learning environments. We commend SC Whitmore School for meeting high standards and making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”
This accreditation comes with collective support from all areas of the school.
The South Carolina Public Charter School District Superintendent, Chris Neely, said, “Congratulations to SC Whitmore on their Cognia accreditation! Cognia accreditation is more than a badge of honor—it is a rigorous process that ensures a school meets high standards of educational quality, continuous improvement, and student achievement. It signals to families, educators, and communities that the school is committed to excellence and accountability for the families they serve.”
Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org
Cognia is a global, nonprofit improvement organization dedicated to helping institutions and other education providers grow learners, teachers, and leaders. Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, and improvement services within a framework of continuous improvement. Serving 40,000 public and private institutions from early learning through high school in more than 90 countries, Cognia brings a global perspective to advancing teaching and learning. Find out more at cognia.org.