Richmond Friends School Named 2024 Cognia School of Distinction, in Top 3% of Cognia Schools

September 10, 2024 — Cognia® names Richmond Friends School a 2024 Cognia® School of Distinction for excellence in education. This year Cognia, the global nonprofit school improvement organization, recognized 60 schools and school systems in the United States and Puerto Rico, and five other countries across the globe as 2024 Cognia Schools or Systems of Distinction.
 
“Richmond Friends School is committed to doing what is best for each student. We have phenomenal teachers who recognize the importance of educating the whole child and a curriculum that results in students who love to learn. We are thrilled that Cognia has recognized the excellent work we do,” said Becky Dimick Eastman, Head of School, Richmond Friends School. “Being in the top 60 of Cognia’s 1,952 eligible schools and school systems is a huge honor.”
 
About the Richmond Friends School
Richmond Friends School is a Preschool-8th grade independent Quaker school founded in 1971. The school features multi-aged classrooms purposefully designed to have low student to teacher ratios allowing for customized instruction, expectations and assessments tailored to the academic and social needs of each individual child. Students are challenged to solve problems critically and collaboratively in a rich and nurturing community. RFS graduates are life-long learners who are academically advanced and committed to making the world a better place.
 
“Richmond Friends School is to be commended for earning the designation as a School of Distinction,” said Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia. “Cognia Accreditation is already a mark of school quality recognized around the world. Being named a School or System of Distinction further acknowledges the demonstrated commitment to education quality and a mindset of continuous improvement Richmond Friends School has for its learners,” Elgart added.
 
During the 2023-2024 school year, Richmond Friends School participated in Cognia’s rigorous Accreditation Engagement Review process, which is grounded in research-based performance standards. The process includes a third-party review of evidence by education experts, interviews, and classroom observations. The review evaluates institutions and seeks evidence of growth in learning, a healthy culture for learning, engaging and high-quality instructional environments, and effective leadership for learning—all characteristics Cognia expects to see in quality schools that also demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement.

For Cognia Global Network member institutions, Cognia offers an opportunity to earn designation as a school or system of distinction in the year in which an accreditation engagement review is held. Unlike the typical six-year accreditation cycle, this program recognizes institutions that host a Cognia Accreditation Engagement Review within the recognition year and winners carry the designation for one year. Learn more about Cognia Accreditation at Cognia.org.
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About Cognia
Cognia is a global, nonprofit improvement organization dedicated to helping institutions and other education
providers grow learners, teachers, and leaders. Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, and
improvement services within a framework of continuous improvement. Serving 40,000 public and private
institutions from early learning through high school in more than 90 countries, Cognia brings a global perspective
to advancing teaching and learning. Find out more at cognia.org.