Standards of Excellence
Accreditation is based on the NAPCIS Standards of Excellence which have been deeply influenced by guidance from multiple documents issued from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education, and as articulated in the Cardinal Newman Society’s summary of this guidance in The Principles of Catholic Identity in Education.
PART I: Catholic Identity
Standard 1: The program is inspired by and rooted in the divine, salvific mission of the Catholic Church.
1.1 The program has an explicit Catholic mission statement that gives it direction.
1.2 The program has articulated a philosophy of education which includes an integrated formation of the student in mind, body, and soul from within a Catholic worldview.
1.3 The program has general goals appropriate to a quality Catholic educational program and uses those goals toward growth.
1.4 The program prioritizes the sanctification and salvation of its students.
1.5 The program is committed to evangelizing its students and preparing them to evangelize the culture.
1.6 The program is unabashedly and publicly Catholic, through and through, and leads with this commitment to a strong Catholic identity in is public presentation.
Standard 2: The program models Christian communion and Catholic identity.
2.1 The program’s teachings and activities are in complete fidelity to the magisterium of the Catholic Church, including the Code of Canon Law, Catechism of the Catholic Church, and other magisterial teachings.
2.2 The program avoids scandal in all respects. It responds with clarity and public faithfulness to the moral teaching of the Church in response to any scandal that might be thrust upon it. The program does not partner with or support groups or movements at odds or partially at odds with Catholic teaching either directly or indirectly.
2.3 The program provides a loving, engaging, and compelling ecclesial experience to all members of the community.
2.4 The program partners with parents and recognizes them as the primary educators of their children.
2.5 The program builds and models community with its students, through sincere and loving engagement with them and strong faithful personal witness of the Christian faith.
2.6 The program intentionally builds community among the faculty and staff, as friends and colleagues working in the Lord’s vineyard.
2.7 The head of program is a practicing Catholic.
2.8 Eighty percent (80%) or more of the teaching faculty are practicing Catholic and all those teaching theology are Catholic.
2.9 The governing authority is 100% Catholic (an advisory board, if any, is minimum 80% Catholic) and all members support the distinctive Catholic mission of the program.
2.10 The program describes its governance, administration, and organizational structure and verifies its implementation.
2.11 All members of the organization understand and implement the responsibilities and requirements regarding the position they fill.
Standard 3: The program teaches students to encounter Christ in prayer, scripture, and sacrament.
3.1 All students attend reverent Mass following liturgical norms at least once a week (preferably more.)
3.2 The program provides the sacrament of Reconciliation at least twice a year (preferably more.)
3.3 The program provides rich experiences of Catholic prayer, including daily prayer, the Rosary, and Eucharistic adoration at least twice a year, preferably more (unless precluded by outside circumstances). Processions, retreats, devotions, and other communal expressions of the faith are practiced as appropriate.
3.4 The program is richly adorned with Catholic sacred art and images (including crucifixes, icons, images of saints, prayers, etc.) that encourage prayer and teach the Catholic faith and provides clear visual evidence that it is a place where the Catholic faith is first and foremost and greatly prized.
Standard 4: The program integrally forms students as physical, intellectual, and spiritual beings called to perfect humanity in the fullness of Christ.
4.1 The program emphasizes, cultivates, and integrates faith and reason throughout the curriculum.
4.2 The program requires all students to participate in daily Catholic theology classes.
4.3 The program teaches love and mercy, respect for human dignity, the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death, constancy between biological sex and gender expression, and chastity according to one’s vocation.
4.4 If the school offers any human sexuality programs, courses, or lessons (these are not required by NAPCIS) they must be delivered in complete conformity with Catholic doctrine, with the express permission and knowledge of parents, and with an opt out provision.
4.5 The program adequately supervises students. Its formation/discipline program cultivates virtue and helps eliminate vice. Expectations for student dress, language, and behavior, and its policies regarding literature, music, audio-visual, dance, performing arts, and other forms of expression and communication cultivate modesty and Christian virtue in students by practice and example.
4.6 There is an emphasis on the development of virtue in athletic programs.
Standard 5: The program imparts a Christian vision of the world, of life, of culture, and of history, ordering the whole of human culture to the news of salvation.
5.1 The program integrates the various academic disciplines and infuses Christian insight into the various academic disciplines. (Assistance toward this end is available in The Cardinal Newman Society’s Catholic Curriculum Standards.)
5.2 Literature is chosen to help form the moral imagination of students, to transmit culture and to make known the proper nature of humanity.
5.3 The program ensures the use of secular programs and materials are aligned with its Catholic mission.
Standard 6: The program ensures its policies and procedures protect its Catholic identity and its religious freedom.
6.1 The program implements and publishes a statement of nondiscrimination of students and personnel which is in accordance with, but does not exceed, minimal state and federal law & regulations for private religious organizations.
6.2 The program’s admissions policies and procedures are clear, ethical, and ensure that applicant capabilities and goals are aligned with the program’s resources and Catholic evangelical mission.
PART II: Academics
Standard 7: The program has strong and structured curriculum and instruction.
7.1 All instructional programs are clearly described.
7.2 The program maintains a legally compliant academic calendar and attendance policy that supports a robust instructional program.
7.3 The program provides sufficient instructional resources, including technology where appropriate, and media materials, to support its educational programs.
7.4 The program demonstrates ongoing, systematic review of instructional programs to ensure they are effective and continually improving.
Standard 8: The program assesses, documents, and supports students on the path to excellence.
8.1 The program collects and applies assessment data to evaluate student progress in alignment with its goals and objectives.
8.2 The program keeps secure and accurate student records, ensuring confidentiality where appropriate.
8.3 The program lists mission-oriented support services available on-site and identifies any off-site services for students needing additional help.
Standard 9: The program is run by mission-driven personnel.
9.1 The program has sufficient, competent, and appropriately qualified personnel.
9.2 The program has a sufficient number of faculty necessary for the operation of a quality Catholic educational program attested to by college degree, teacher licensing, or experience.
9.3 The program’s employment policies are just, clearly articulated, and assist in the retention of qualified and competent personnel in accordance with established educational practices and legal requirements.
9.4 There is a behavioral expectation in employment documents for all personnel that requires giving witness in and out of school to the moral guidance of the Catholic Church.
9.5 There is a guiding moral authority designated (i.e., the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Code of Canon Law, the local bishop.)
9.6 The program keeps accurate and complete personnel records.
PART III: Operations
Standard 10: The program had sound administrative operations.
10.1 The program ensures compliance with all applicable health, safety, and legal requirements for private faith-based programs at the federal, state, and local levels.
10.2 A clearly published schedule of tuition and fees along with a fair refund policy is available.
10.3 The program develops and implements an annual budget and financial planning process that supports continued operation.
10.4 The program’s financial practices ensure accurate reporting, record-keeping, and adherence to professional, legal, and ethical standards.
10.5 The program engages in realistic and strategic planning to support ongoing improvement and enhance student outcomes.
10.7 All fundraising and development efforts are documented and aligned with the program’s Catholic mission and values.
10.8 All program facilities meet safety codes and are maintained regularly to ensure they remain in proper working condition.
10.9 The program has measures in place to ensure student safety, including protocols for illness, emergencies, child protection, reporting abuse, access control, and crisis response planning.
10.10 The program maintains adequate insurance or other resources to protect against potential legal claims.
10.11 The program adheres to all legal and ethical considerations regarding the release of information. The program accurately and ethically communicates with all stakeholders at all times, and reports its accreditation status within the NAPCIS framework, and discloses this information upon request.
10.12 The program has been in operation for four years.
