Why Oak Ridge Christian Academy?

Oak Ridge Christian Academy...

Provides an affordable, quality Christian education for students in Pre-kindergarten through High School.
Partners with Christian parents and their churches in “training up their children in the way they should go.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Prepares students for their future by providing an excellent and balanced education.
Provides for the development of young leaders.
Proclaims that all knowledge and wisdom come from God, and that the universe around them is in harmony and agreement with its Creator.

Oak Ridge Christian Academy accomplishes this through the following:

Proven Christian curricula: more>
1. Oak Ridge Christian Academy primarily uses curriculum from A Beka Publications, Bob Jones University Press, Saxon Math, Veritas Press, and Logos Press, along with other supplemental materials.
2. Fundamentals of reading, writing, math, history and science are stressed in every grade.
3. Enrichment classes are determined by the resources of the school, and may include computer, physical education, music, art, speech, Spanish, and Latin.
4. We seek to teach the student:
  To apply himself to his work and to fulfill his various responsibilities.
  
  To think for himself and to stand up for his personal convictions.
  
  To develop his creative skills.
  
  To develop effective communication skills.
  
  To develop desire and discretion in wholesome physical and mental recreation.
  
  To work independently and cooperatively.
  
  To learn to be orderly and well-disciplined.
  
  To learn the knowledge and skills required for future study or occupational competence.
  
  To build strong Christian character.
  
  To develop good citizenship.
  
  To get along with unbelievers and other Christians who hold different views.
  
  To learn the social graces.
5. Bible is taught as an integral part of the curriculum and is taught daily at all grade levels. We seek to present the great redemptive themes and principles of Christianity as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, such as:
  The Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to die for our sin.
  
  The joy of being born again by the Spirit of God, which comes upon understanding and receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
  
  Growth in the Christian life, which depends upon fellowship with Jesus through Bible study, prayer, service, and fellowship with other believers.
  
  God is the creator and sustainer of the universe and man.
6. Prayer is a vital ingredient in our program of Christian training. Students are trained in the importance of establishing a consistent daily prayer life. Teachers lead the students to understand how God is central to all of life and that continual communication with Him is essential to consistent Christian living. Students are trained in the habit of prayer throughout the school day, during Bible, before eating lunch, for special needs, and to give God praise for all things. Students are encouraged to make their requests known before God and are given opportunities to pray and share needs with others.
7. A traditional teaching methodology is used in the classroom including lectures and demonstrations by the teacher. Other classroom methods used to enhance learning at various age levels include the following:
  Questions and answers, board work, oral reading, class discussions, speed drills, written assignments, cooperative learning, peer tutoring, peer teaching, audiovisual presentations, science labs, and debates.
  
  Oral presentations include book reports, chapel skits, speeches, and memory work.
  
  Appropriate team and individual projects expand the research and organizational skills of the students.
  
  Teachers may use review games or review sheets in class.
  
  Classes have regular homework for review and for reinforcement of learning. Quizzes and tests assure mastery by the students.
  
  Nine weeks’ report cards include the overall average in each subject.
Qualified teachers committed to the ministry of Christian education: more>
1. Oak Ridge Christian Academy teachers are carefully selected on the basis of their education, experience, and integrity.
2. Where requried, full-time teachers are degreed and certified in the area in which they teach.
3. The most important requirements for the instructional staff are an unselfish spirit of dedication to children, a belief that the Christian school ministry is their service to God, and a complete and personal acceptance of the Lord, Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Individual attention through small student/teacher ratio: more>
1. Oak Ridge Christian Academy strives to maintain low teacher to student ratios in order to facilitate an environment where the individual needs of the child may be met.
2. All instruction is differentiated based on the ability and interest of the student in order to best equip them with the tools of learning.
3. As a general rule teacher to student ratios are as follows:
  Mother’s Day Out:
  
  Beginners (1’s): 2:8
  
  Discovery (2’s): 2:10
  
  Readiness (3’s): 2:12
  
  Pre-K & Kindergarten – 1:12
  
  1st – 6th Grade – 1:18
  
  Upper School (7th+) – 1:22
Parental Involvement: more>
1. Oak Ridge Christian Academy was founded to educate the children of Christian parents. ORCA regards the training of children primarily as the parental responsibility shared by the church and school. In view of this, it is of paramount importance that the Christian home and the Christian church support the philosophy of the Christian school. All three should be in biblical agreement for a truly well rounded Christian education of the child.
2. Oak Ridge Christian Academy’s role is to work in conjunction with the home to mold students to be Christ-like. On occasion, the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home may be contradictory to the Biblical lifestyle the school teaches. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, sexual immorality, homosexual orientation, illegal drugs and alcohol, or inability to support the moral principles of the school. In such cases, the school reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student.
Annual Standardized Testing: more>
1. Oak Ridge Christian Academy uses two types of testing to assess academic achievement:
  Curriculum Testing - The test that a teacher uses in conjunction with the curriculum used during the school year.
  
  Every student must take every test, exam, or quiz relevant to the subject.
  
  If a student is absent on a test day, the student must reschedule with the teacher to take the test, within a reasonable time period.
  
  No more than three tests or exams may be scheduled on any day. While it is not our practice to schedule tests on Thursdays to allow students to attend Wednesday church services, it may be necessary in the upper school to schedule an occasional test on Thursday in order to achieve curricular goals.
  
  Weekly quizzes or short quizzes over limited material may be scheduled on the same day as tests.
  
  Stanford Achievement Testing (SAT) - A four day testing session which helps to assess a student's academic achievement compared to other students in that grade on a national level. Although the scores are not reflected on the student's report card, the scores may be used in determining a student’s promotion or retention, in addition to grades and the teacher’s recommendation.
2. A complete evaluation of a student’s performance must consider his achievement in comparison to his classmates as well as how he performed compared to grade level standards and relative to his own abilities and potential. With this in mind, standardized testing is administered every year, and results are shared with parents.