Mission:
The mission of the PAIS is to support its member schools as they foster the moral, intellectual, and physical development of their students for a lifetime of learning. To this end, our Association promotes and celebrates the profession of teaching and encourages school programs dedicated to the education of the whole child.

PAIS fulfills its mission by:

• Providing a state-wide agency to support and strengthen independent schools in South Carolina.
• Advocating the freedom of independent schools to establish and practice their philosophies of education
• Communication among member schools to encourage and enhance networking.
• Working collaboratively with other private / independent / parochial school organizations within the state, the region and at the national level to promote independent education.
• Cooperating with the State Department of Education and colleagues in public and charter schools.
• Serving as a clearing house and conduit for information critical to independent school leaders.
• Providing professional development opportunities for school heads, other administrators and trustees.
• Nurturing new heads of schools.
• Offering professional resources, both oral and written, for independent school operating policies, procedures, and trends.

Membership:
PAIS members must be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) or the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) or be working toward that goal. Additionally, member schools must be non-profit tax exempt organizations as defined by the IRS.

Membership Diversity:
PAIS members may be coed or single sex schools; day and/or boarding schools; military schools; secular or parochial schools. They may offer grades pre-school through grade twelve; or they may be strictly elementary or middle schools or high schools. Most are college preparatory while some focus upon special learning needs. Enrollments range from fewer than 50 students to over 900. Some member schools were founded in the 19th century -- others within the past twenty-five years. Some campuses are in the suburbs, some in the cities, others in rural settings.

PAIS members admit students of any race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available at our schools.