Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS)

Name

Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS)

Legal name

Canadian Association of Independent Schools

Website

https://cais.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Accreditation Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12/School & District Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accreditation Evaluation, Peer Review & Site-Visit Organizations (EDADACAI), Accreditation Standards, Benchmarking & Framework Organizations (EDADACAJ)

Keywords

• Independent school accreditation
• Membership association services
• Professional learning programs
• Education research surveys
• School leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Jordan

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. School Membership Fees: Annual membership fees billed per enrolled student at a rate of $24.00 per student for 2025-2026, with a minimum annual fee of $3,400.00. Schools are invoiced annually in September. Fees begin upon Candidate status and are prorated based on acceptance date. Additional mandatory fees apply for the Heads & Chairs Conference and, for boarding schools, the Canadian Boarding Collective on a tiered structure.
2. Applicant School Application Fees: Non-profit applicant schools pay $1,500; proprietary applicant schools pay $3,000 (day school) or $2,000 (with boarding program). New CAIS schools adding a boarding program pay $1,500. These are one-time fees at the application stage.
3. CAIServices Consulting Engagements: CAIS offers consulting services through retired Heads and school leaders. CAIS member schools pay a daily rate of $1,000 (under 350 enrolled students) or $1,500 (350+ enrolled students). Non-member schools pay $1,500 or $2,000 daily respectively.
4. Corporate Sponsorship Program: CAIS runs a year-round Corporate Sponsorship Program offering tiered sponsorship opportunities (Platinum, Visionary, Collaborator, Supporter) to vendors and service providers serving the independent school sector. Sponsors receive logo placement, digital and event promotions, and access to CAIS community events and conferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CAIS is a non-profit membership association that accredits independent schools in Canada and Bermuda against 12 National Standards through a peer-led review process. It also delivers professional learning programs (Leadership Institute, annual conferences), research and benchmarking services (School Innovation Grants, compensation surveys, benchmarking dashboards), and consulting via CAIServices to support continuous whole school improvement, governance, and leadership development for its 95+ member schools.

Product overview

CAIS offers a unified portfolio of accreditation, professional learning, and research services for independent schools in Canada and Bermuda. The core offerings include CAIS Accreditation (peer-led process against 12 National Standards), the Leadership Institute (comprehensive leadership development pathway with programs like Foundations, Diploma, NexGen Leaders, and LeAD), CAIS Connect (member portal), School Innovation Grants (research funding), Benchmarking Data Dashboard, and annual conferences (Heads & Chairs Conference, National Leaders Conference). Additional services include CAIServices advisory consulting, the Governance Guide, and student leadership programs. Together, these form an integrated ecosystem supporting continuous improvement, governance excellence, and leadership development for independent school communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Canadian Boarding Collective: A CAIS initiative representing 29 CAIS Boarding Schools and providing exceptional learning and living experiences for boarding students.
• Leadership Institute
• National Leaders Conference
• Heads & Chairs Conference

Products and services

• CAIS Accreditation
• Leadership Institute
• Heads & Chairs Conference
• National Leaders Conference
• CAIS Connect
• School Innovation Grants Program
• Benchmarking Data Dashboard
• Research Webinars
• Senior School Student Leadership Conference
• CAIServices
• 2021 CAIS Governance Guide
• NexGen Leaders Program
• LeAD Program (Leadership Advancement and Development)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100% of CAIS's 53,000 students are accepted at the university or college of their choice
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, visionary, collaborator, core and minor.

• InSchoolWearplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerInSchoolWear is a Platinum Partner of CAIS, providing school uniforms to CAIS member schools. As a Platinum sponsor, InSchoolWear receives prominent logo placement at CAIS conferences (both Heads & Chairs and National Leaders Conference) and across CAIS digital marketing channels, year-round.
• KinshipplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerKinship is a Platinum Partner of CAIS, providing school management and communications tools. Kinship receives prominent logo placement at CAIS conferences and across CAIS digital marketing channels year-round.
• ProdigyplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerProdigy (Prodigy Group) is a Platinum Partner of CAIS. As a Platinum sponsor, Prodigy receives logo placement at CAIS conferences and across CAIS digital marketing channels year-round.
• BlackbaudplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerBlackbaud is a Platinum Partner of the CAIS National Leaders Conference, providing fundraising and financial management software to independent schools. Receives conference logo placement and year-round digital exposure.
• ISM Inc.platinumGTM or Marketing PartnerISM Inc. is a Platinum Partner of the CAIS National Leaders Conference. ISM provides independent school management services. Receives Platinum-tier logo placement and exposure at NLC.
• UBIQ EducationplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerUBIQ Education is a Platinum Partner of the CAIS National Leaders Conference. Receives Platinum-tier conference sponsorship benefits and year-round digital marketing exposure.
• FieldTurfvisionaryGTM or Marketing PartnerFieldTurf is a Visionary Sponsor of CAIS, providing artificial turf and sports field solutions to independent schools. Receives Visionary-tier logo placement at CAIS conferences and across CAIS digital marketing.
• OurKids MediavisionaryGTM or Marketing PartnerOurKids Media is a Visionary Sponsor of CAIS, providing marketing and media services focused on private school families. Receives Visionary-tier sponsorship benefits including conference logo placement and digital exposure.
• ToddlevisionaryGTM or Marketing PartnerToddle is a Visionary Sponsor of CAIS, providing early learning and school management platforms. Receives Visionary-tier sponsorship benefits including logo placement at both Heads & Chairs and National Leaders Conferences and year-round digital exposure.
• VeracrosscollaboratorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeracross is a Collaborator Sponsor of CAIS, providing school information management systems. Receives Collaborator-tier conference logo placement and digital marketing benefits.
• VS (VS America)collaboratorGTM or Marketing PartnerVS (VS America) is a Collaborator Sponsor of CAIS, providing furniture and equipment solutions for schools. Receives Collaborator-tier conference logo placement and digital exposure.
• AramarkcollaboratorGTM or Marketing PartnerAramark is a Collaborator Sponsor of CAIS, providing food services and facilities management to schools. Receives Collaborator-tier conference logo placement and year-round digital exposure.
• Top MarkscollaboratorGTM or Marketing PartnerTop Marks is a Collaborator Sponsor of CAIS, providing educational assessment and learning resources. Receives Collaborator-tier conference logo placement and digital exposure at both CAIS conferences.
• Horn-IT Solutions Inc.collaboratorGTM or Marketing PartnerHorn-IT Solutions Inc. is a Collaborator Sponsor of CAIS, providing technology solutions to independent schools. Receives Collaborator-tier conference logo placement and digital marketing exposure.
• Architecture CounselcollaboratorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture Counsel is a Collaborator Sponsor of CAIS, providing architectural services for school facilities. Receives Collaborator-tier conference logo placement and digital exposure.
• ICAISA (International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAIS is a member in good standing with ICAISA, the international body that advances excellence, quality, and accountability in independent school accreditation by establishing criteria and formally evaluating member association accreditation programs. ICAISA membership enables CAIS to represent Canadian best practices internationally and bring global perspectives into the CAIS community.
• CIS Ontario (Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario)minorOthersCIS Ontario is a regional association of independent schools in Ontario serving over 28,000 students and offering professional development to more than 5,000 employees. CAIS promotes CIS Ontario's professional development opportunities and the two organizations share overlapping membership.
• ISABC (Independent Schools Association of British Columbia)minorOthersISABC is a regional association of independent schools in British Columbia. CAIS promotes ISABC professional development opportunities and the organizations share overlapping membership in BC.
• QAIS (Quebec Association of Independent Schools)minorOthersQAIS is a regional association promoting collaboration and educational leadership for English-language independent schools in Quebec. CAIS promotes QAIS events and shares overlapping membership. CAIS has a specific resource for families regarding English eligibility requirements for schools in Quebec.
• TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools)minorOthersTABS is referenced on the CAIS Families Quick Links page as a resource for families considering boarding schools, providing definitions, links, information for international families, and application advice. CAIS operates the Canadian Boarding Collective within its membership.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Council of International Schools (CIS): Global membership organization for schools and universities offering international accreditation and university counselling. It is a broader incumbent that competes for international accreditation mandates overlapping with CAIS.
• Cognia (formerly AdvancED): Large US-headquartered accreditation and school improvement organization serving K-12 schools globally. It is a broader incumbent offering accreditation services that compete in adjacent markets and bring scale advantages.
• International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA): International body that evaluates and accredits the accreditors. CAIS is a member in good standing, making ICAISA the apex governance body whose standards CAIS must continue to meet.

Direct peers

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS): The US national membership association for independent schools, providing accreditation, professional learning, and research services. It is the closest cross-border analogue to CAIS in mission, structure, and member services.

Emerging players

• The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS): US-based trade association for boarding schools, cross-promoted by CAIS. TABS focuses on the boarding niche that CAIS serves through the Canadian Boarding Collective and competes for boarding families' attention.

Regional players

• Independent Schools Association of British Columbia (ISABC): Provincial association of British Columbia independent schools that shares overlapping membership with CAIS and offers its own accreditation and professional development. It is the most directly comparable Canadian regional peer.
• Australian Independent Schools Association: National peak body for Australian independent schools, providing advocacy, accreditation support, and professional development. It is a direct international peer in structure and mission though operating in a different geography.
• Conference of Independent Schools (CIS) Ontario: Ontario regional association serving over 28,000 students and 5,000+ employees with professional development and advocacy. It overlaps materially with CAIS membership and competes for the same schools' PD budgets.
• Quebec Association of Independent Schools (QAIS): Quebec-based association for English-language independent schools. It collaborates with CAIS on cross-promotion and shares overlapping membership, making it a direct regional peer for the Quebec market.
• Independent Schools New Zealand (ISNZ): National association representing New Zealand independent schools with accreditation and member services. Comparable to CAIS as a national accreditor for a smaller English-speaking school market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CAIS_Schools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-accredited-independent-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/cais_schools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS)