About ISAS
About ISAS

By promoting the highest standards of educational excellence and a spirit of continuous growth, ISAS challenges and inspires our member schools as they prepare students for purposeful and constructive lives.
Accreditation Services
Accreditation Services
The accreditation teams bring together experts from throughout the region to challenge and support the school and provide new perspectives. These visits benefit not only the school but the members of the accreditation team—it’s a tremendous opportunity for professional development.
Ruth Burke, Assistant Head,
Episcopal School of Dallas
Professional Learning
Professional Learning
We offer a range of in-person, intensely collaborative professional learning opportunities. As our members discuss, evaluate, and disseminate cutting-edge teaching and learning programs, they spark innovation and improvement throughout ISAS schools.
Become A Member
Become a Member

Because ISAS has such high standards and such a rigorous accreditation process, I feel I can pick up the phone and call anybody in the association with any question. ISAS has done the vetting for me, so I trust everyone in the organization.
Mark Carleton, Head of School,
Presbyterian School, Houston, TX
Careers
Careers
Independent schools seek intelligent, educated, idealistic, and highly motivated faculty, staff, and administrators. Interested candidates can expect to enjoy a strong professional teaching experience, engaged students, small manageable classes, competitive salaries, and attractive benefits packages. Enjoy exploring the opportunities currently available in the Southwest.
School Directory
Directory Listing
For over sixty years, parents seeking the best in education for their children have turned to the independent schools in the Southwest region for high standards, individual attention, and well-rounded programs.
Sponsorship
- Our Sponsors

School Name

Independent Schools Association of the Southwest

About ISAS
About ISAS

By promoting the highest standards of educational excellence and a spirit of continuous growth, ISAS challenges and inspires our member schools as they prepare students for purposeful and constructive lives.
Accreditation Services
Accreditation Services
The accreditation teams bring together experts from throughout the region to challenge and support the school and provide new perspectives. These visits benefit not only the school but the members of the accreditation team—it’s a tremendous opportunity for professional development.
Ruth Burke, Assistant Head,
Episcopal School of Dallas
Professional Learning
Professional Learning
We offer a range of in-person, intensely collaborative professional learning opportunities. As our members discuss, evaluate, and disseminate cutting-edge teaching and learning programs, they spark innovation and improvement throughout ISAS schools.
Become A Member
Become a Member

Because ISAS has such high standards and such a rigorous accreditation process, I feel I can pick up the phone and call anybody in the association with any question. ISAS has done the vetting for me, so I trust everyone in the organization.
Mark Carleton, Head of School,
Presbyterian School, Houston, TX
Careers
Careers
Independent schools seek intelligent, educated, idealistic, and highly motivated faculty, staff, and administrators. Interested candidates can expect to enjoy a strong professional teaching experience, engaged students, small manageable classes, competitive salaries, and attractive benefits packages. Enjoy exploring the opportunities currently available in the Southwest.
School Directory
Directory Listing
For over sixty years, parents seeking the best in education for their children have turned to the independent schools in the Southwest region for high standards, individual attention, and well-rounded programs.
Sponsorship
- Our Sponsors

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The Dark Side of Rigor

Allison Rose

Jun 14 2021 9:30 AM

By Olaf Jorgenson & Percy L. Abram, Independent School Magazine (Summer 2021)
The word "rigor" is like catnip for so many independent school parents. It's all over school websites, viewbooks, glossy marketing materials, social media campaigns, and parking lot conversations. Parents ascribe value and credibility to any course, program, or school labeled "rigorous." Rigor is seen as fundamental to effective academic preparation for young people and is associated with favorable outcomes ranging from high standardized test scores and weighted grades to the grand prize, admission to elite colleges and universities. But what exactly do we mean by rigor? How is it delivered in classrooms? How is it measured? And is rigor—however we define it—good for children?
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