Accredited High School Diploma
Excel High School Accreditation Status
Click here to view our Accreditation Certificate from Cognia. Our 5-year renewal of accreditation is valid through June 30, 2025, and renews every 5-years. The renewal process happens in 2024.
Click here to view our accreditation profile on Cognia.
Learn more about Cognia What is Accreditation?
Excel High School is Regionally Accredited by Cognia, (formally AdvancED), the parent organization of the North Central Association CASI, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools CASI, and the Northwest Accrediting Commission. Click Here to view our accreditation profile.
Cognia is a nationally recognized accrediting agency dedicated to advancing excellence in education worldwide. Cognia provides accreditation, research, and professional services to 34,000 schools and school systems—employing more than four million educators and enrolling more than 20 million students—across the United States and 70 other nations.
You can learn more about the Cognia Accreditation Process at www.cognia.org.
Excel High School completed the full accreditation process with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in the summer of 2022. Excel's MSA accreditation is valid for seven-year cycles and renews in 2029. See MSA-CESS for more details.
Excel High School is a State recognized accredited high school that serves students in all 50-States and in many other nations around the world. Excel High School is an accredited, Minnesota, non-public school. You can find Excel High School's institution profile listed in the Minnesota Department of Education's database by clicking here. View Excel's accreditation profile at the Virginia Council for Private Education by clicking here.
Excel High School is a part of the Excel Education Systems Independent School System. Excel Education Systems schools are regionally accredited by Cognia.
Based on our national scope of operation, Excel High School also seeks registration and State approvals for States that have a process for further recognition of non-public schools. Excel’s accreditation is recognized by all 50-states’ Departments of Education.
Excel High School is recognized by the Virginia Department of Education as an accredited non-public school. EHS has been continuously recognized by the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) as an accredited private school since 2013.
VCPE reviews and monitors the accrediting processes of approved accrediting agencies for the Commonwealth. The Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) is the only organization that has recognition from the Virginia Board of Education to oversee the accreditation of private schools in Virginia. For more details, Click Here.
Excel High School Texas is accredited by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission for grades 6-12. The Texas Education Agency, through the Commissioner of Education, has recognized the accreditation responsibilities of TEPSAC and its affiliated non-public schools and associations.
The relationship of TEPSAC with the State Commissioner of Education allows for the following activities related to accredited non-public schools:
- Transferability of student credits earned in accredited non-public schools to Texas public schools
- Recognition of teacher service in accredited non-public schools for salary increment purposes in Texas public schools
- TEPSAC meetings held biannually with Agency liaisons to ensure the ongoing integrity and quality of the process
- The listing of all accredited elementary and secondary non-public schools in the Texas School Directory
Excel High School is an authorized course provider under an articulation agreement with the University of California a-g course program. Excel High School offers 70 a-g approved courses. Please click here for a complete list of our California a-g approved courses. California a-g courses are approved for credit transfer to California schools and recognized by CA colleges.
Excel Education Systems’ school district is an approved course provider for the State of Washington and has met the minimum qualification and assurances to meet Washington state learning requirements WAC 392-502.
Excel High School is registered with the College Board and the ACT. Our National School Code for SAT, ACT, and FAFSA is 240707.
EXCEL EDUCATION SYSTEMS is approved for ACE CREDIT. For 40 years, Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and labor unions have relied on the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT®) to connect workplace learning and corporate training programs with college credit. Click Here to learn more about ACE CREDIT® and Click Here to review online ACE courses offered by Excel.
Answers to Most Concerns about Accreditation
Accreditation is one of the biggest concerns for people who wish to earn a high school diploma online. A school accredited by the appropriate accrediting body can grant diplomas that lead to greater income opportunities and the chance to attend an accredited college or university. A diploma that is given by an unaccredited or “fake” school can turn out to be a huge waste of time, energy, and money. Do yourself a favor and make sure you know the facts about accreditation before you register for any online program claiming it is accredited.
Excel High School is a Regionally accredited high school. Some colleges and universities will only accept a regionally accredited high school diploma. It is our experience that all colleges and universities in the US recognize a Regionally accredited high school diploma.
FINANCIAL AID FOR POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS
Accreditation in the United States
REGIONAL AND NATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCIES FOR THE UNITED STATES.
North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, Board of Trustees
1974/2007/F2011
Scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidacy status") of schools offering non-degree, postsecondary education in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and in the Navajo Nation.
Title IV Note: Only those vocational/technical schools accredited by this agency that offer non-degree, postsecondary education may use that accreditation to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs.
If you have any questions concerning your college and financial aid, please contact the Excel High School Director’s off at (952) 465-3700.
Accreditation Overview.
Accreditation is a third-party peer review process for a school’s programs and policies to see if it meets certain criteria, generally set by an outside agency. When a school is found to meet the minimum criteria, it is granted accreditation. This process is usually very comprehensive and includes validating the school’s claims in-depth for accuracy and to protect the consumer. The agency granting accreditation should be recognized by the State and US Department of Education to ensure acceptance.
Why is accreditation important?
Accreditation is meant to protect students, schools, and employers and ensure academic quality. It ensures that a school is teaching its students at a State and nationally acceptable level and provides programs that are found to have value and substance. Accreditation also guarantees the schools employ highly qualified instructors that are qualified to teach the appropriate subject matter.
When a student receives a diploma from a school accredited by the right agency, he/she can be assured that it will be accepted by all employers, colleges, universities and schools, government agencies and the military. Likewise, when an employer is considering a new hire, they can be assured that a graduate from an accredited online high school has received the training necessary and didn’t just pay for a diploma from a “diploma mill” school.
What if my school isn’t accredited?
If you choose a school that isn’t accredited, you will find that many businesses and schools won’t accept your online high school diploma. It may be difficult to convince employers and colleges to take your diploma seriously, particularly if it is in a traditional subject (math, English, history, etc.) If your diploma is in a less traditional subject, one which most schools do not offer, it may be easier for employers to accept your degree.
It also helps to make sure your school is registered with the appropriate State agency; for example, the State Department of Education and membership to the Better Business Bureau is also helpful to ensure quality and legitimacy for an online high school diploma program.
Why should I take Excel’s word on what a valuable accreditation is?
You shouldn't. You should always do your own research to ensure that you will receive an education that will help you reach your future goals. For more information about accreditation, in general, and Excel High School’s in particular, please visit the following sites:
- Cognia/NCA CASI, SACS CASI, and NWAC
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- U.S. Department of Education
- Better Business Bureau
- Virginia Council for Private Education
Excel's accreditation can be confirmed by calling Cognia at Toll-free 1.888.413.3669 or 1.678.392.2285
Excel High School guarantees 100% acceptance of our diploma with a full money-back guarantee. As a regionally accredited high school, we have never had a college not recognize our accredited high school diploma. Graduates of Excel High School find success in college, the Military, and employment.
*Disclaimer: No form of accreditation guarantees that any learning institution will accept credits from any school as transfer credits.