Williamsburg Christian Academy

Williamsburg Christian Academy (WCA) is a private, non-denominational Christian school located in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. Established in 1978, the school serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. It is accredited by AdvancED[3] and by the Association of Christian Schools International.[4]

Williamsburg Christian Academy
Address
101 School House Lane

Williamsburg
,
Virginia
23188

United States
Coordinates37°23′45.8″N 76°47′24.3″W
Information
School typePrivate
Established1978
CEEB code472418
Head of schoolMr. Johnny Graham
Teaching staff27.6 (as of 2019)[1]
GradesPK-12
Enrollment195 (2019)[1]
Student to teacher ratio7.1 (2019)[1]
Classrooms50
Color(s)Royal Blue, Gold and White             
Athletics conferenceVirginia Metropolitan Athletic Conference[2]
MascotEagle
Accreditation
WebsiteWilliamsburg Christian Academy

History

Early years

In the fall of 1978 Williamsburg Christian Academy enrolled 30 students in kindergarten through third grade.[5] It met at 114-A Palace Lane in Williamsburg, in the Sunday School wing of the Greensprings Chapel.[6][7] An early ad for WCA mentioned its non-denominational Christian status, as well as use of the Abeka curriculum.[8]

By 1980 the school had 58 kindergarten through fifth-grade students, with six minority students. Tuition was $700 for kindergarten and $900 for elementary grades, and an additional $65 for books and registration.[6] In 1980 WCA also proposed to lease the Waller Mill School property, but the county refused.[9] It moved to an office building on Jamestown Road.[10] In 1981, the school had 130 students and nine teachers.[11]

By 1982 enrollment had increased to 147 students in kindergarten through seventh grade.[5] WCA's first principal Steve Lentz credited the low student-teacher ratio and WCA's curricular emphasis on Christian fundamentals for the rapidly increasing enrollment.[6]

In 1984, for the first time, upper grades gained instructional time on five new computer terminals. There were 150 students, from 4-year-old kindergarten through ninth grade.[12]

WCA Gymnasium
WCA scoreboard

In January 1985, the local newspaper reported on the upcoming addition of varsity sports:

Next fall, the Eagles will be the new kids on the sports block, casting an eye upward at Lafayette, Bruton and Walsingham Academy. The school has 180 students from the pre-school level to 10th grade. Next year, when it adds an 11th grade, varsity athletics will also be added. Right now, Williamsburg Christian competes in the Peninsula Independent Athletic League. The sixth- through eighth-grade program includes soccer and cross country in the fall, volleyball and basketball in the winter and boys' and girls' softball in the spring. Also, the school fields junior varsity high school teams in girls' basketball and soccer in the fall, and basketball in the winter.

— Alan Hirsch, Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia)[13]

By the 1985 school year, advertising for WCA mentioned it was "a Ministry of the Williamsburg New Testament Church".[14] In 1986, WCA was making plans for "a two-phase project to replace its leased facility with a larger, school-owned building" with a projected $2.2 million cost.[15] Construction began with groundbreaking in August 1986, with the new building to "provide a full gymnasium, expanded classrooms and offices, laboratory, business, home economics and computer labs, and day-care facilities."[16]

The 1986–87 school year saw the first graduating class of six seniors, with total enrollment of 190 students.[15][16][17] Principal Jim Beavers said, "Parents have a desire for things not found in other schooling, both public and private. They have a desire for education in an environment that's like home. They want the moral values and principles that they teach at home to be taught in school also. Consistency avoids conflict".[18]

WCA held an open house at the end of August 1987 to welcome students to new facilities in a refurbished warehouse on Jamestown Road, and added modular buildings.[17][10] New curriculum included "special music and art classes for the elementary grades, two choirs, a PIAL sports program for grades six through eight, and an in-school tutoring service".[17] However, by the beginning of the next school year, WCA had relocated to the Williamsburg New Testament Church building on Waller Mill Road, "a much larger and more complete facility."[10] There were approximately 200 pupils in preschool through grade 12.[10]

Since 2000
Aerial view of WCA campus
WCA facility

When WCA's enrollment of 280 students filled the Waller Mill Road buildings ("a main building of about 28,000 square feet and four trailers") to capacity, plans for a new building began in 1999. Officials said the new building would "accommodate up to 550 students pre-kindergarten through high school and will include a gymnasium, athletic fields and 28 classrooms."[19]

Opened in 2004, the campus consists of a 56-acre educational complex.[20]

In the 2010s, WCA's Eagles athletics programs have gained local prominence. WCA participates in athletics as members of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA)[21]. The school has become known for its basketball team, which since 2012 has won two VISAA Division III State Championships in 2012 and 2017, and been the state runner up in 2018.[22] The school also has experienced success with its swim program that it established in 2015, claiming the State Championship Runner up title in VISAA Division II Swimming and Diving in 2019.[23]

In 2018, WCA had an enrollment of 170, and 31 students graduated in the Class of 2018.[24]

Curriculum

Early Education (Preschool-K)

WCA offers 5-day per week, full-day K3 and K4 programsly.[25]

Lower School

The Head of Lower School (grades K-5) is Noelle Rennolds.

Music Programs

Stringed instrument classes are offered beginning in grade 2, and a general music program is available to all students.[26]

Upper school

The Principal of the Upper School is Crystal Florakis. Williamsburg Christian Academy's high school follows a college-preparatory curriculum, including honors and Advanced Placement classes, but the school announced in early 2020 that it would be transitioning to the International Baccalaureate curricular model, and expect to be certified and have the Diploma Program available to juniors in the class of 2024.[27]

gollark: We actually hit 1000 members a few days back.
gollark: We use(d) it for advertising.
gollark: The heavserver banner.
gollark: derek1, that is.
gollark: Also the various ubqorals and possibly derek.

References
  1. "School Detail for Williamsburg Christian Academy". National Center for Education Statistics.
  2. "Virginia Metro Athletic Conference". 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  3. "AdvancED - Institution Summary - Williamsburg Christian Academy". www.advanc-ed.org. 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  4. "Association of Christian Schools International - Williamsburg Christian Academy". www.acsi.org. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  5. Smith, David Gaddis (18 January 1982). "One School's Feast Is Another's Famine". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). p. 18. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Krzywicki, Fran (6 January 1980). "1970s Time of Growth for Christian Schools". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). p. 17. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "1980 advertisement, Williamsburg Christian Academy". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). 14 May 1980. p. 13. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "1979 advertisement, Williamsburg Christian Academy". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). 27 Jul 1979. p. 27. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Gibson, David (29 April 1980). "Summer School Restored". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). p. 18. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Christian Academy students to study in new facility". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). 31 August 1988. p. 7. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Private Schools Offer Varied Services, Grades". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). 14 September 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Computer time". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). 22 February 1984. p. 9. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Hirsch, Alan (16 January 1985). "Eagles spread wings for flight". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). p. 66. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "1985 Advertisement, Williamsburg Christian Academy". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). 4 August 1985. p. 41. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Griffen, Bethanne (30 December 1986). "Schools cite enrollment crunch". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). p. 2. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Williamsburg Christian: First graduates will march out of academy". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). 27 August 1986. p. 73. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Christian Academy plans open house". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). 26 August 1987. p. 15. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. Kimpson, Crystal (26 July 1986). "Morality, discipline are on the curriculum". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). p. 29. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. Whitson, Brian (16 Nov 2002). "Christian Academy students to study in new facility". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). p. 9. Retrieved 31 March 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "History". Williamsburg Christian Academy. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  21. "Athletics". VISAA. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  22. "Athletics". Vagazette. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  23. "Athletics". Vagazette. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  24. Heymann, Amelia (10 June 2018). "Academy starts graduation tradition". Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia). p. A4. Retrieved 1 April 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. "Eagle Preschool and Kindergarten: Biblically Sound, Developmentally Rich". Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  26. "Strings Program". Williamsburg Christian Academy. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  27. Doiron, Alexa (2020-01-06). "WCA changes curriculum to skills-based education. Here's why". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
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