Why Independent Schools?
What:
Independent schools are “independent” because they each have a unique educational mission and are governed by an independent board of trustees. Independent schools are free to serve their individual missions without state mandates regarding curriculum and testing. Independent schools are private pre-primary, elementary and/or secondary institutions.
Accreditation:
Independent schools are publicly accountable to parents, communities and the agencies that accredit them. Most AIMS member schools are accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, ISACS. ISACS develops and provides the highest standards of educational quality and operation while preserving the freedom of each school to practice its own theory and philosophy of education.
Community:
Member schools vary in size and include day and boarding schools, coeducational and single-sex, religiously affiliated programs and other special focus institutions. Independent schools have the freedom to shape their learning communities in a way that best serves their mission. The diversity of the independent school community allows families to chose the program that best meets the unique needs of their child.
While the mission of each school differs, independent schools share a commitment to providing strong learning communities, high academic standards and an emphasis on social responsibility.
Advantages to choosing an independent school include:
- Small class sizes
- Diverse communities with commitment to oppose inequality
- Personal, customized education
- Challenging course work and high academic standards
- Close-knit communities with shared values and expectations of success
- Commitment to emotional and physically safe environments
- Emphasis on strong home and school partnerships
Source: Association of Independent Michigan Schools
