St. Mark’s Day School is an SAES Accredited Preschool.

Southwestern Association of Episcopalian Schools is a leader in independent school accreditation. Inspiring transformation and upholding excellence, the member associations of SAES ensure quality and accountability through accreditation of independent schools across the globe. Becoming an SAES recognized association serves a vital role in driving excellence in education.

Two young children painting with blue, pink, and yellow paint on a table outdoors. The girl in a pink shirt is holding a large paintbrush, while the boy in a navy shirt is also involved in the activity.
A young boy with short brown hair and a bright smile, wearing a gray hoodie, playing on a playground with red equipment, holding onto a red circular wheel or steering mechanism.

Focus on the Future

Accreditation that serves two functions:

  • Assesses compliance with association standards

  • Encourages school improvement through discovery, dialogue, and commitment to preparing students for the challenges of the future

Two young children playing with a variety of toy cars and trucks on a wooden outdoor table.
Young boy with blond hair and blue eyes resting his head on a blue and yellow playground structure, gazing into the camera with a thoughtful expression, outdoors with trees in the background.

Independent School Centered

The SAES Accreditation process is designed to adapt to the distinctive mission, purpose, and setting of every school, ensuring a tailored approach that upholds the essence of each institution. It provides a unified system to improve and elevate standards in all participating schools..

Four children outdoors on a playground. The girl in the center holds a red basketball and makes a fist with her other hand. The children wear casual clothes and stand near trees and a bench.
A wooden playground in a wooded area with trees, a tire steps, and a dragon boat-shaped structure for climbing. There are yellow flags hanging across the trees and a banner with a cartoon character.

Robust Process

The accreditation process requires the school to prepare a comprehensive self-study and host an on-site visit by impartial, highly-trained volunteer evaluators.

This peer-review process is unmatched in its depth, breadth, quality, content, and relevance.

Four children wearing rain jackets are walking on a playground path surrounded by trees. One child is in a yellow rain jacket and green boots, and the others are in pink, blue, and gray jackets. To the right is a line of tires used as stepping stones, and to the left, there is a red and metal playground structure.
Two young children, a boy and a girl, hanging from a red playground structure outdoors.

Community Strength

The accrediting associations that make up the global ICAISA network share ideas, perspectives, and approaches to leverage our collective knowledge for the benefit of each member association.

Group of young children sitting at wooden picnic tables outside, some engaging in activities and others raising their hands, with backpacks and lunchboxes visible.
Two young boys playing with toy shovels and buckets in a sandbox.