News & Announcements
Tallulah Falls School earns SAIS re-accreditation
Tallulah Falls School (TFS) was recently re-accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2019 and extending through June 2024.
To earn accreditation from SAIS, a school must comply with quality standards and be evaluated by an outside group of peer professionals. The school must also
implement a school plan focused on strategic improvement and student performance in accordance with the school’s mission – ”preparing each student to thrive in life by elevating character and intellect in a challenging and diverse college preparatory environment.”
“Going through the re-accreditation process gives everyone involved the opportunity to see the school at a deeper level,” said President and Head of School Larry A. Peevy. “It also strengthens their sense of ownership as they have been involved in the self-study and helped to create the TFS ‘Blueprint for Success.’”
A team representing SAIS conducted an on-site visit in March to review the school’s self-study, standards compliance and its adherence to its mission. According to a news release from SAIS, the visiting team was comprised of diverse educational leaders from some of the finest institutions in the Southeast. One of the main responsibilities of the SAIS visiting team was to provide answers to critical questions the school asked of itself in its self-study
In today’s world of accountability in education, accreditation serves as a critical component of a school’s demonstrated effectiveness and ability to provide successful schooling for children. A school that is able to achieve accreditation demonstrates a commitment to a process that requires the school to meet a set of rigorous standards; to engage in a program of continuous school improvement and to demonstrate quality assurance to its stakeholders through self-evaluation and peer review.
SAIS accreditation provides TFS with access to an integrated network of services and technical assistance that supports the school’s ability to identify and meet its goals for improving the teaching and learning process and mission-focused outcomes for students.
SAIS accredited member schools are part of an international network of accredited schools that have demonstrated success in educating children. As such, SAIS accreditation is recognized throughout the world as a symbol of quality in education for students and teachers. The mission of SAIS is to provide leadership, accreditation services, and professional development resources that will strengthen member schools as they fulfill their missions.
Tallulah Falls School was founded in 1909 by Mary Ann Lipscomb in order to provide a quality education for the mountain children of Tallulah Falls and the northeast Georgia region. Today, the school provides a quality college preparatory education to more than 530 students in grades five through 12.
TFS is truly international in its scope with students from 17 countries represented. Special emphasis is given to the character education of each student through academics, extracurricular activities, athletics, and boarding. TFS is a national leader in providing scholarships and need-based financial aid making the school an affordable option for families of all income levels.