Governance & Accreditation

St. Andrew Catholic School is an Archdiocesan Parochial School under the leadership of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The pastor, Fr. Marcos Gonzalez, is the official head of a parochial school like a CEO. The principal of the school, Mr. Jae Kim, is akin to a COO with all delegated authority within the guidelines of a parochial school. There is a parish finance council and school board that operate as advisory bodies to the school.

 

The school is officially accredited by two governing bodies: the Western Association of School and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA). The school recently went through their accreditation in March of 2025, receiving the highest marks. 

 

Here is the executive summary of the Visiting Accreditation Committee, March 2025:

The Visiting Committee would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Father Gonzalez, Principal Kim, Vice Principal Gonzalez, the faculty, the staff, the families, and the students of St. Andrew School for their warm hospitality. Our team had the privilege of witnessing a vibrant Catholic Community dedicated to shaping young people into both saints and scholars. The student body stood out in their respect and conveying of God’s message through their actions around campus.

The Visiting Committee witnessed a sense of community that was reflected through conversations with students, parents, and staff. Parents and students shared that there is a strong sense of support provided by leadership and teachers, encouraging open and ongoing communication amongst families and school personnel.

The Catholic Identity is strongly visible when visiting the school. Not only is the school’s mission statement and/or SLE’s posted in every classroom and on the website, but student work consistently shows the academic learning and faith formation taking place. Student collaboration during lessons also confirmed the cohesiveness that exists amongst the students in daily routine at St. Andrew School.

The commitment to not just academics, but the whole student, is evident through all of the opportunities and programs offered at St. Andrew. Every student has a community in which they feel seen and heard; it truly appears to be a home away from home. This was voiced during conversations with students from all grades where they boasted about the faculty and their feeling of community.

Our time visiting with the parents and other prominent stakeholders affirmed the commitment to the school and Catholic Identity. The parents appreciate the hard work and effort that the St. Andrew staff puts into their teaching. Many of the families are commuters, thus their decision to send their students here is noted and commendable.

In meeting with the Pastor, the Visiting Committee recognized that he is supportive of Catholic education and directly involved with the school and its leadership. He plays an active role in the Catholic formation of the students and demonstrates a strong working relationship with not just the Principal, but the entire staff, and school families as well.

The Visiting Committee is confident that in the expansion of the presented goals, the school will be able to successfully exceed the expectations set forth.

Thank you, St. Andrew School for the opportunity to become a part of your learning community. This experience has been a gift of professional growth for each of us. May God continue to bless everyone at St. Andrew School.