Guides · Updated
When choosing an online school, one question comes up quickly: is this school recognized? In the United States, recognition comes through accreditation, and Cognia is one of the largest accrediting organizations in the world. Here is what you need to know.
What is Cognia?
Cognia is a global nonprofit organization that supports and accredits more than 40,000 schools in more than 100 countries. It grew out of long-standing American accrediting agencies (including AdvancED) and accredits public and private schools, both on-site and online.
Why does accreditation matter in the United States?
The US has no national ministry that approves schools the way France does. A school's quality is attested by independent accrediting organizations. A recognized accreditation makes it easier to transfer credits between schools, to have transcripts and diplomas recognized, and to apply to universities.
How does the accreditation process work?
- An in-depth self-assessment by the school: governance, teaching, resources, student outcomes.
- An external review by a team of Cognia experts, including observations and interviews.
- Meeting quality standards for leadership, learning and the use of resources.
- A commitment to continuous improvement, with regular follow-up and periodic renewal.
What accreditation guarantees families
- A structured educational framework reviewed by an independent organization.
- Qualified teachers and a real school organization, not just a content platform.
- Easier recognition of transcripts and diplomas by schools and universities.
- A school committed to continuous improvement.
The case of OFA Lycée
OFA Lycée has been Cognia-accredited since 2022. To our knowledge, it is the only French-American online school to hold this accreditation. It comes on top of a triple institutional affiliation: Cognia accreditation, alignment with the French National Education curriculum, and membership in ANEFE (the National Association of French Schools Abroad).
In practice, this means the OFA Lycée Bilingual High School Diploma is issued by an accredited school, and the skills students gain at OFA Lycée are recognized in international admissions: Parcoursup in France, the Common Application in the US, UCAS in the UK, and Canadian and European portals.
Cognia accreditation vs. French National Education: what is the difference?
The two forms of recognition complement each other. Alignment with the French National Education curriculum covers the content of the National Education Track, which prepares students for the Brevet and the Baccalauréat. Cognia accreditation covers the overall quality of the school against international standards, as well as its own diploma. For a French-American family, having both secures the student's path in both systems.