Mission

ACIS accredits, supports, and advances the interests of Colorado independent schools.

History

The Association of Colorado Independent Schools was established in 1957 and joined the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in 1963. Member schools were first accredited by the State of Colorado from 1963 to 1978. From 1978 to 1991 ACIS accredited schools in partnership with the Colorado Department of Education when it began phasing out its private school accreditation program. In 1991 Colorado gave full recognition and authority to ACIS as a separate accrediting agency. ACIS is a formally recognized accrediting agency by the International Council for Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA). From its founding ACIS has provided collegial support and professional development to help sustain effective leadership in member schools. Since 1989 that program has included the Annual Leadership Conference offered each fall. ACIS celebrated its 60th anniversary in fall 2017.

Membership Profile

                                                              ACIS includes forty schools with a total of over 12,064 students. Members reflect a wide variety of school missions: boarding and day schools, progressive and traditional programs, Montessori and Waldorf schools. They are also geographically diverse, with half the schools (20) located in Denver or the immediate vicinity, eight in mountain communities or on the Western Slope, and eleven members in the Front Range cities of Boulder, Colorado Springs, Ft Collins, and Pueblo.

Staff

Alan Smiley serves as the ACIS Executive Director, with primary responsibility for coordinating ACIS work on accreditations, professional development, and advocacy. Prior to his leadership of ACIS, he spent thirteen years as an independent school head and has over two decades’ additional experience in other capacities (division head, department chair, assistant division head, middle and high school English teacher, coach and advisor) at multiple independent schools in Colorado and around the country. 

Christine Zandstra is the Executive Assistant for ACIS. Her primary responsibilities include accounting, finance, conference planning/registration, website management, and general office assistance. Christine has over 25 years’ experience in operations/office management, public relations and crisis management.

Oakes Hunnewell is the Director of Professional Development and Corporate Sponsorship for ACIS. His primary responsibilities include coordinating professional development activities and events and sponsor relations. Oakes has over 20 years of experience as an educator, coach, and educational consultant.

ACIS QUICK FACTS (2023-2024)

Membership
Number of Member Schools 40
Accredited Members    38
Candidacy Members (working toward accreditation)       2
Day Schools     35
Boarding Schools       2
Boarding/Day Schools    3

Enrollment
Total Student Enrollment 12,064
Percentage Students of Color   25.9%
Financial Aid/Scholarships
Median % of Students on Financial Aid 22.7%
Median Financial Aid Grant per student $15,928

ACIS School Directory

ACIS School Directory

ACIS School Directory 2023-2024