Accreditation

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) accredit BHDS. Our memberships include Educational Records Bureau (ERB) and Secondary Schools Admission Test (SSAT).

We are affiliated with the Bureau of Jewish Education, RAVSAK (the Jewish Community Day School Network), Northern California Jewish Community Day School Network, National Association of Independent Schools, and JESNA (Jewish Educational Service of North America).

In February 2006, the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges revisited BHDS as part of their joint accreditation review process. In granting BHDS the maximum accreditation, the visiting committee issued a report containing an unusual number of commendations of BHDS and its students, faculty, and administration. These are just a few of the commendations stated in the report:

The committee commends

  • The Administration and Faculty for the creation and implementation of a fine educational experience and the students for their commitment to their studies, so that vast majority of the school's graduates gain admission to and find success in their first or second choice secondary school;
  • The Students for their leadership and participation in class-specific and community-wide traditions and activities that build class unity, teach responsibility, and foster school spirit;
  • The Administration and Faculty for their emphasis on instilling in the students good character, ethical development, a sense of wonder, resourcefulness, creativity, and good citizenship;
  • The Faculty for their passionate commitment to teaching, the care of their students, and their embracing of the school's mission, and engendering a love for learning and enthusiasm for the school among the students;
  • The Faculty for creating a program that attracts a parent body that is diverse economically, culturally, and religiously, and for meeting the needs of a student body that represents a range of academic ability, achievement, parental background, and ethnic diversity;
  • The Administration, Faculty, and Staff for the ongoing work of fostering positive relationships; for its promoting mutual respect, trust, support, and honest communication; for recognizing the increasing complexities of society as well as the unique nature of the Jewish day school community; and for offering many services and guidance on an ever-expanding scale;
  • The Administration, Faculty, and Staff for providing students with appropriate role models who are diverse in gender, ethnic background, religious affiliations, age, and interests, as well as for regularly inviting guest speakers from a variety of backgrounds to address the students;
  • The Support Staff for their enthusiastic commitment to the school and willingness to dedicate themselves to their work "behind the scenes" and for the excellence of their work that contributes to the overall strength of the school.