Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) Self Study Underway

At The Bush School, our mission is at the heart of everything we do. It guides our decisions, shapes our classrooms, and inspires our community. But how do we know we are truly living that mission each day? One important way is through the accreditation process with the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS), a rigorous and collaborative review that ensures we are meeting the highest standards of educational quality and alignment with our mission. NWAIS is an association of independent schools across the Northwest, including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. It is dedicated to promoting excellence through comprehensive accreditation standards. 

Achieving NWAIS accreditation means that The Bush School has demonstrated that its programs and operations are fully aligned with its mission and that the school meets or exceeds NWAIS standards for quality and integrity. Schools participate in the reaccreditation process every eight years. The process includes a detailed self study followed by a visit from a team of peer educators who spend several days on campus, engaging with our community and validating our findings.

For our community, accreditation provides reassurance that Bush is delivering on its promise to students: to provide an exceptional, mission-driven education. It confirms that our programs are strong, our operations are sound, and our learning environment is designed to help each student thrive. Most importantly, it ensures that Bush continues to live its mission: to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities.

Accreditation also drives growth. It challenges us to look carefully at our practices, celebrate our strengths, and address areas for improvement, all with the goal of offering the best possible educational experience for our students.

This year, The Bush School is working on the self study step of our accreditation renewal. During this process, the faculty, staff, and Trustees will reflect deeply on every area of school life, from academics and student experience to operations and community engagement. This process will result in a comprehensive report that we will submit to NWAIS in Fall of 2026. In the Spring of 2027, an NWAIS accreditation team made up of educators from other NWAIS schools will visit Bush. 

Ultimately, the reaccreditation process is a collective reflection of who we are and where we are headed together. By engaging in this important work, we ensure that The Bush School continues to embody its mission and values, inviting perspectives, blazing trails, nurturing open minds, and building community for generations of Bush students to come.

If you have any questions about the self study process or NWAIS accreditation, please contact Matt Lai, Assistant Head of School for K-12 Programs, at matt.lai@bush.edu.