Cognia Awards First American School Certifications to Mexico and Haiti

The certification process requires international providers to meet a stringent set of benchmarks, including English-language proficiency for both staff and students, the implementation of U.S.-style assessments, and a demonstrated focus on college and career readiness. Beyond academics, schools must maintain graduate-level leadership credentials and participate in global educational networks to remain eligible.

John F. Kennedy, The American School of Querétaro, which has held Cognia accreditation since 1981, pursued this additional certification to formally validate its alignment with American standards. Adrian Leece, the school’s General Director, noted that the process served as a valuable exercise in quality assurance. Similarly, Haiti’s Union School, founded in 1919, successfully underwent the review to affirm its century-long commitment to American pedagogical practices. Andrew Sherman, Vice President of International Services at Cognia, praised both institutions for embedding the core essence of the American educational model into their daily operations.