As an independent school, Powhatan develops its own curriculum and learning standards. Powhatan’s instructional standards are created, reviewed, and refined regularly by the administration and the staff to meet our mission and the needs of individual students. All staff members are required to participate annually in professional development to further enhance teaching strategies and to expand content knowledge.

Powhatan receives its accreditation through the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS). The accreditation is voluntary, ongoing, and comprehensive in scope assuring a viable educational program with academic and institutional integrity.

Accreditation is important because it validates and certifies the integrity of the school’s program and student transcripts. Accreditation, which has a multi-year validation process, involves a periodic self-study and an evaluation visit to the school by a committee of peers. Some secondary schools, colleges, and universities consider only applicants who have graduated from an accredited school.

Therefore, accreditation assures a community that an accredited school is a trustworthy institution of learning. Additionally, it fosters improvement of the school’s programs and operations to support student learning.

In addition to being accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, Powhatan holds memberships with the National Association of Independent Schools, the Virginia Math League, the Educational Records Bureau, and the National Science Teachers Association.