
Mission Mountain School is a fully accredited member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS) and the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS), and is a full member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP). In 2005, we received our re-accreditation from the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools.
This honor came to us after the successful completion of a rigorous year-long self study process culminating in a four-day on-site evaluation by PNAIS examining first hand all aspects of MMS programs.
Two independent school heads with 35 years of combined experience in both boarding and therapeutic schools led the on-site evaluation assisted by four highly qualified professionals with credentials and expertise in curriculum design, traditional and experiential education, psychology/counseling and independent school management.
The PNAIS Evaluation Team commended Mission Mountain School for:
- The extraordinary thorough planning, preparation, and production of the self-evaluation manuals;
- The commitment to excellence by the faculty and staff in serving the mission of MMS;
- Use of a metaphorical milieu that focuses on the journey and understanding of the developmental position of teenagers between concrete and abstract thinking;
- Creating an intentional, healing community that provides both care and structure for the students;
- The consistent and powerful commitment to introspection and evaluation of the program in order to best serve the needs of their student population;
- The thoughtful articulation, understanding and implementation of the school’s vision and philosophy;
- The conscious intention to fully integrate the four major program areas; and
- An exemplary risk management program, which balances student decision making and boundaries of acceptable risk.
The PNAIS evaluation team stated in their June 2005 report that:
- “Mission Mountain School is well positioned to serve as a model of excellence in supporting a young woman’s quest for self-actualization.
- MMS is a community that not only strives for excellence but exemplifies the greatest attributes of human dignity and respect for others.
- MMS has established and maintained an environment that promotes open inquiry, independent thinking, and appreciation for diversity in every aspect of the program.”
