Accredited With Merit: USPA’s Cognia Review Highlights Exceptional Performance
By Kelley Robertson
U.S. Performance Academy has been awarded the status of “Accredited With Merit” as a result of the school’s recent Accreditation Engagement Review with Cognia.
This means that our school, USPA, exceeds Cognia’s expectations for accreditation – a tremendous accolade and validation that flexible, online education, when done right can be exceptional!
Highlights from our report:
- USPA earned an Index of Education Quality (IEQ) score of 325, well above Cognia’s network average of 297
- USPA met all 16 required assurances fully and exceeded the Cognia network average in every category evaluated, including the highest possible rating on all seven institutional analyses
- USPA outperformed the Cognia network average in every standard: Culture of Learning, Leadership for Learning, Engagement of Learning, and Growth in Learning
What Does the Inspection Look Like?
The Cognia inspection is based on a comprehensive analysis of student performance, stakeholder feedback, and learning environment observation data. USPA had to produce reports and participate in a visit from Cognia assessors in April 2026.
Most importantly, the assessors asked you our community what you thought. And you spoke volumes with 100% of students reporting they felt welcomed and respected, and 100% feel staff care about them. Indeed, USPA received a formal Noteworthy Practice recognition for ingraining our mission throughout school culture and operations
As of 2025, Cognia designates performance-based accreditation scores according to the Index of Education Quality®. Cognia notes that this was a way to “recognize exceptional performance among institutions and to encourage stretch goals of continuous improvement.” Cognia is a globally recognized nonprofit educational improvement organization that serves over 40,000 public and private institutions internationally.
What this means for USPA Students and Families
USPA students and families should be proud of these results. Highlights from the report include:
- Curriculum: The curriculum meets common-core standards and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) approval.
- Culture: 100% of students feel welcomed and respected, 98% feel supported at USPA.
- Student Growth: Student achievement has improved over time because of cross-collaborative initiatives across faculty and learning coach teams.
- Student Engagement: Clubs and expanded course offerings encourage creativity, curiosity, risk-taking, teamwork, and design thinking.
What's Next for USPA
Through the Accreditation Engagement Review, USPA leaders have developed a tailored professional learning calendar for teachers and learning coaches.
The professional learning opportunities for the 2026-27 school year have been designed to guide professional staff in the continuous improvement process focused on student experiences and needs.
What's Next for You?
Accreditation is not a finish line. It reflects how we show up every day for our students and how we continue to raise the bar.
Being named “Accredited with Merit” confirms that USPA is delivering an exceptional experience today. What matters just as much is what comes next. We are building on this momentum with new investments in teaching, stronger student support, and an even more engaging learning environment.
If you are a current student or family, stay involved and keep giving feedback. Your voice is shaping what USPA becomes.
If you are considering USPA, now is the time to take a closer look. Explore our programs, connect with our team, and see firsthand how a flexible, high performance education can work for you.
