A Legacy of Learning, a Vision for the Future

Celebrating 130 years of service

Education priorities have shifted over time, but our mission has endured—to advance learning for all students. From our beginnings as a school accreditor to becoming a nonprofit global leader in education improvement, Cognia is committed to creating a lasting impact in education.

Together, let’s shape a brighter future.

CELEBRATE WITH US

What is Cognia

Cognia is a forward-thinking nonprofit organization.  We are a global network of enthusiastic educators here to help you strengthen your schools. Our holistic approach to continuous improvement encompasses accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and customized improvement services. Like you, we want all students to have the opportunities that knowledge brings. Are you ready to lead your education community to new levels?

OUR MISSION

To serve as a trusted partner in advancing learning.

OUR VISION

To impact and inspire education providers to advance and enable pathways of success for all learners.

OUR VALUES

Be Inclusive • Engage with Honesty • Pursue with Courage

Top News and Events at Cognia

2024 Impact Report: A Legacy of Improvement
Cognia Impact Report
Our Impact Report celebrates our shared achievements from the 2023-2024 academic year. Thank you for trusting us as a partner in your continuous improvement journey ...
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A new approach to professional learning
A new approach to professional learning
Watch our video and see how Cognia Professional Learning builds capacity and leads to real change in practice (view time: 75 seconds) ...
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The Source: A digital magazine focused on education thought leadership
The Source: A digital magazine focused on education thought leadership
Spring 2025: A Legacy of Improvement — In this edition of the Source, we share insights from our 2024 Impact Report, including the ways we’ve ...
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We know schools because we’re in schools

Our global network of educators guides you to diagnose challenges and implement change.

40,000
INSTITUTIONS
90+
COUNTRIES
17,000,000
STUDENTS

Your success is our mission

Cognia has a singular focus on improving educational opportunities for all learners. When you work with us, you can expect:

  • Unmatched expertise to help you achieve visionary goals
  • Fresh perspectives to help you link student and school performance
  • Insights from a global network of educators
  • Services and solutions backed by research
Who We Are

Who we serve

We serve education providers of all types, including public, private, early learning, digital, and charter schools as well as State Education Agencies (SEAs). The impact of our accreditation, assessment, and improvement services reaches around the globe.

Your partner in education

Our expertise spans a wide range of educational issues. But when it comes to what’s most important in your school or region, you’re the authority. That’s why we partner with you to help reach your goals.

State leaders assess and improve schools with confidence.

States across the nation have worked with us on accountability, improvement, and assessment goals.

District decision makers generate momentum for improvement.

As a decision maker or a seasoned educator in an actively improving district, you need to know where your schools stand to accomplish real change. Work with Cognia experts to make a sustainable and measurable impact.

School leaders gain clarity and build on recognized strengths.

Get a streamlined, efficient, and expert perspective on what really works in education—and a clear view into what’s working in your schools. Engage in a process that allows your institution to earn a mark of quality recognized worldwide.

Be inspired

Districts and schools across the U.S. and around the world use Cognia solutions to help all learners realize their potential. Read their stories.

Sumter School District Sees Gains in Student Engagement
Stories that Matter

Sumter School District Sees Gains in Student Engagement

Classroom observations and professional development drive improvement in Sumter School District in South Carolina.
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Measuring What Matters: School Excellence in 2024
Stories that Matter

Measuring What Matters: School Excellence in 2024

Analysis of over 1,000 global K-12 accreditation reviews reveals schools excel at building positive cultures but need stronger systems for professional development and continuous improvement.
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Fresno Unified School District: Custom Assessments Drive Instructional Change
Stories that Matter

Fresno Unified School District: Custom Assessments Drive Instructional Change

Conversations about standards and rigor abound in Fresno Unified School District.
Read Story
 
A Journey of Holistic Improvement and Cultural Resilience
Stories that Matter

A Journey of Holistic Improvement and Cultural Resilience

Mandaree School District, ND
Ranked in the bottom 5% of performance in North Dakota, Mandaree School District partnered with Cognia in developing a strategic improvement plan to address the needs of this culturally-resilient, economically disadvantaged community.
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Carmen Schools of Science and Technology: Catalyzing Data-Driven Decision-Making
Stories that Matter

Carmen Schools of Science and Technology: Catalyzing Data-Driven Decision-Making

Milwaukee, WI
Carmen Schools in Milwaukee, WI, adopted Cognia Interim Assessments leading to improved rigor, better data-driven planning, and increased student performance.
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Data-Driven Improvement
Stories that Matter

Data-Driven Improvement

Jefferson County, Alabama
To address the root causes of performance discrepancies and improve student outcomes, Jefferson County Schools expanded their long-standing partnership with Cognia through a Diagnostic Review model.
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Design for Improvement: The Case for a New Accountability System
Stories that Matter

Design for Improvement: The Case for a New Accountability System

For next-generation accountability, states need to introduce curriculum-based interim assessments, external review of schools, and focus on continuous improvement to end the time-wasting and guesswork of a flawed school accountability system and shift SEAs from test administrators to improvement coaches.
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Memphis-Shelby County Schools: Empowering Education in Tennessee
Stories that Matter

Memphis-Shelby County Schools: Empowering Education in Tennessee

Memphis-Shelby County, TN
Relentless and trusted partnerships helped two schools located on the northside of Memphis exit school improvement status for the first time in 15 years.
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Shaping Tomorrow’s Achievers
Stories that Matter

Shaping Tomorrow’s Achievers

LLE Education Group and Cognia partner to elevate early childhood education.
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Loyola Academy’s Century-plus Partnership with Cognia
Stories that Matter

Loyola Academy’s Century-plus Partnership with Cognia

Loyola Academy, a Catholic, Jesuit college preparatory high school on the North Shore of Chicago, formed an accreditation partnership with Cognia that has lasted for more than a century.
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How Data and Inclusive Leadership Improve School Outcomes
Stories that Matter

How Data and Inclusive Leadership Improve School Outcomes

When real-time data and collaboration drive decision making, schools see the benefit.
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Westminster Public Schools: A Competency-based Success Story
Stories that Matter

Westminster Public Schools: A Competency-based Success Story

Westminster, CO
Strong partnerships transform Westminster Public Schools.
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Forest Heights STEM Academy: Charting a New Course
Stories that Matter

Forest Heights STEM Academy: Charting a New Course

Little Rock, AR
Forest Heights STEM Academy in Arkansas underwent Cognia’s STEM Certification Review and implemented a research-based framework for success.
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Fairmont Schools: Creating a Cohesive Culture of Improvement
Stories that Matter

Fairmont Schools: Creating a Cohesive Culture of Improvement

Orange County, CA
Cognia’s expertise and flexibility help unify a private school with multiple campuses and international programs.
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North Dakota Department of Public Instruction: Building Partnerships
Stories that Matter

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction: Building Partnerships

Bismarck, ND
NDDPI turns a system of silos into a collaborative whole through trusting relationships that spur progress over time.
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The Role of Accountability Systems and Regional Accreditation in Improving K–12 Education
Stories that Matter

The Role of Accountability Systems and Regional Accreditation in Improving K–12 Education

In the United States, nearly 55 million students are enrolled each year in K–12 schools. How can we be sure that every student receives the best education possible?
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Alabama’s Holistic Approach to School Improvement
Stories that Matter

Alabama’s Holistic Approach to School Improvement

How data and observation tools built for education help inform decision-making.
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The Future of Educational Assessment
Stories that Matter

The Future of Educational Assessment

Schools, districts, states, and their assessment partners are increasingly focused on classroom assessment practices embedded in instructional activities.
Read Story
 
Liberty Public Schools: Data-Guided Progress
Stories that Matter

Liberty Public Schools: Data-Guided Progress

Liberty, MO
A northeast suburb of Kansas City, MO, Liberty Public Schools (LPS) used the Cognia accreditation process to improve its data gathering and analysis process. The collected data helped to inform the district’s strategic plan and its guiding documents: LPS’ Vivid Vision and graduate profile.
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Mayar International Schools: Nurturing Excellence
Stories that Matter

Mayar International Schools: Nurturing Excellence

Amman, Jordan
Mayar International Schools (MIS), located in Amman, Jordan, pursued Cognia’s accreditation process to continue and enhance its record of excellence. As a result, MIS increased educator capacity, boosted its credibility, provided a common understanding of standards, and improved classroom environment.
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It Matters: 347,248 Student Voices About Engagement in School
Stories that Matter

It Matters: 347,248 Student Voices About Engagement in School

Volume 1
How are students feeling about their learning and school? Data from Cognia’s Student Engagement Survey reveal actionable insights.
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Montgomery Public Schools: Steady Improvements
Stories that Matter

Montgomery Public Schools: Steady Improvements

Montgomery, AL
Montgomery Public Schools in Montgomery, Alabama, used Cognia’s analysis of its underlying issues and continuing guidance to overcome a range of challenges, restoring the faith of both the state board of education and the local community.
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Moscow School District: Building on Strength
Stories that Matter

Moscow School District: Building on Strength

Moscow, ID
By addressing areas for improvement through Cognia’s rigorous accreditation process, the Moscow School District in Moscow, Idaho, boosted academic performance and even helped students withstand the disengaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Allendale County Schools: Rising Out of the Bottom 5%
Stories that Matter

Allendale County Schools: Rising Out of the Bottom 5%

Fairfax, SC
With critical support and focused improvement priorities identified after a diagnostic review by Cognia, Allendale County Schools in Fairfax, South Carolina, went from being a low-performing district to making unparalleled progress in its improvement initiatives.
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Redefining the Measurement of Early Childhood Program Quality and Child Outcomes
Stories that Matter

Redefining the Measurement of Early Childhood Program Quality and Child Outcomes

What factors consistently indicate the quality of an early learning program? Our research points to a new approach that starts by identifying valuable outcomes.
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Farmington Schools: Continuous Improvement Practices Drive a Common Sense of Purpose
Stories that Matter

Farmington Schools: Continuous Improvement Practices Drive a Common Sense of Purpose

Farmington, NM
A New Mexico district uses continuous improvement practices and insights from Cognia Accreditation Engagement Reviews and Assessment Services to hone its focus on instructional leadership development and student engagement.
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Fleming County Schools: A District in Rural Kentucky Moves from Turnaround to Transformation
Stories that Matter

Fleming County Schools: A District in Rural Kentucky Moves from Turnaround to Transformation

Fleming County, KY
How do underperforming schools turn around and improve? With deliberate analysis and action. Using Cognia's Diagnostic Review process, Fleming County (KY) Public Schools went from being one of the state’s lowest-performing districts to one of its most successful—a Distinguished District—in just three years.
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Meeting the Promise of Continuous Improvement
Stories that Matter

Meeting the Promise of Continuous Improvement

Insights from the AdvancED Continuous Improvement System and Observations of Effective Schools.
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