All students entering grades K-12 are required to take an academic evaluation through Grace Evaluation Services. The admission’s process cannot move forward without it. This evaluation will help determine your child’s specific learning strengths and weaknesses.  PreK students will be required to undergo testing prior to their Kindergarten year.  A student who had diagnostic testing completed within the last 18 months may qualify for an exemption from admission’s testing.  The diagnostic testing must include an achievement test in the areas of math, reading and writing, as well as an assessment of verbal and nonverbal intelligence, and be provided to CCA’s Registrar for review and approval.

 Because we seek to partner with our families both spiritually and academically, it is important to establish a common set of Biblical beliefs. The family interview is a means for parents to share regarding their family’s relationship with Christ. We also discuss specific academic needs, learn of the interests of the student(s), and answer any questions applying families may have regarding the program. Information is also given regarding expectations on homeschooling/off-campus days. Overall, the family interview is the time for us to get to know one another and establish our partnership.

CCA offers a part-time support program, called Cornerstone Enrichment Academy (CEA), which is available to homeschool families interested in enrolling in individual courses at CCA.  Homeschool students may enroll in up to 3 classes per year.  There is no registration fee, but homeschool families must go through the Admissions process in order to enroll in classes.  CEA courses do not satisfy residency requirements for seniors graduating from CCA.

The Registration fee is a non-refundable, per student fee that covers: enrollment and registration processing, technology fees, standardized testing costs, NAUMS fees, and administrative costs.  This fee is due upon registration every school year.

Any questions regarding admissions or enrollment/registration should be directed to the Admissions Office, at dregier@ccawarriors.com.  If you have questions about your F.A.C.T.S. account or payment arrangements, please send an email to the Business Manager’s office, at adavis@ccawarriors.com.

Our standards were created in-house in order to fulfill the unique philosophy of our school. While based on the Common Core State Standards, their emphasis is on Biblical Worldview training and critical thinking. The CCA Standards are vertically aligned in all grade levels and subject areas. Their basis in literacy with a focus on reading (fiction and non), writing, and speaking/listening).

Terra Nova 3 Achievement testing occurs every spring semester for Kindergarten-8^th grade students. Students are required to take achievement testing for all core course in which they are enrolled. Any student not enrolled in a particular core class may still take the Terra Nova, however their test will not be scored with the rest of the school and they may incur additional fees. Students will also be required to take the Inview Test, which measures the student’s aptitude. 
     For our 9^th-11^th graders, the PSAT will be given in the fall. All 9^th through 11^th grade students enrolled for three or more credits in the fall are required to take the PSAT, and all others are strongly encouraged to participate.

No, our approach is more progressive in nature. What that means is we recognize God creates all students differently. They each have unique strengths and limitations; therefore, differentiation in our methodology and our ability to teach to various levels of understanding are the two major themes of our educational approach. We utilize many techniques to actively engage all types of learners. Meeting students where they are at on an individual basis allows for each child to maximize his/her potential.

Most of our curriculum is secular because through our own extensive research we have determined that it fits the best with our educational philosophy. In other words the resources we use greatly enhance our ability to differentiate and teach our students to think critically. Our students are still gaining a strong Biblical Worldview in light of the secular curriculum we use, given that all of our CCA Standards include these objectives. At the elementary level we have a Bible curriculum and our science textbooks are Christian-based.

Teachers and administrators work together in formulating classes. We strive to group kids and personalities in a way so as to have harmonious classes, with varying types/styles of learners. Parents are free to discuss particular needs of a child with an administrator. The administrator will use that information to secure the best fit for the child. All teachers hired at CCA must reflect a strong relationship with the Lord, be degreed/certified in the area they teach, and be like-minded in the school’s philosophy of education. 

Technically speaking, CCA does not use the Common Core. We say technically because our standards deviate from the CCSS more than the allotted amount, so we are not allowed to call them “Common Core.” However, the CCA Standards that we have utilized since the 2011-2012 school year are based on the CCSS. Working from this base, CCA modified several of the standards where it was appropriate. Then we added our own set of Christian Worldview Standards to ensure our students had solid training in Biblical teaching and intellectual empathy. We encourage you to read our standards; they are available to the public on this website.

CCA moved away from the TEKS for several reasons:

Although the TEKS theoretically covers all the levels of standard expectations of critical thinking (Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning Domains), it is still deficient in the high rigors or critical thinking required at Cornerstone. We feel like the CCSS is more conducive to teaching critical thinking and sets that thinking in a strong literacy context.

Since the Common Core does not prescribe any pedagogical method in particular or conceptual content mandates in general, it is less vulnerable to the insertion of liberal or non-Christian worldview perspectives.

The TEKS is overly oriented to content. One common criticism of the TEKS is that they cover such a breadth of topics that their depth is questionable. Moreover, even if an instructor spent only 15 minutes on any given objective, a lofty goal to say the least, it would take 23 years to teach these standards. The CCSS, while it focuses on content, it emphasizes depth of understanding and its application to thinking skills.

One of the strongest reasons for parting from the TEKS is that they mandate the teaching of material that is inconsistent with a Christian Worldview, and in some cases, especially in the areas of history and science, contradict a Christian Worldview.

 In 2011-2012, CCA not only adopted the CCSS, but also changed its standardized testing from SAT (Stanford Achievement Test) to the Terra Nova. That same year, CCA had a very strong showing in all academic areas. In fact, CCA outperformed not only the public school, as expected, but similarly outperformed other Christian Private schools (as compared in the Association of Christian Schools International). Since that time, CCA continues to accelerate and gain even more of a lead over the comparison groups (South Central Region of public and ACSI; National/International ACSI).

After extensive research on the CCSS, it is a bit puzzling why there is such misinformation concerning these standards. However, as we take a look at antagonists to Common Core, we have noted several tendencies:

Critics often confuse the CCSS with textbooks or exemplars that rely on CCSS. Regardless of the standards, if a textbook has a liberal author, the content will reflect a liberal point of view. This is always the case with any set of standards.

People often rely on bad sources of information instead of reading the standards themselves. We recall watching a video in which a mom supposedly “obliterates” the CCSS in a matter of minutes. This poor individual made the confusion just mentioned and now it is posted in a public forum. The Internet is replete with very slick videos and websites that purport misinformation.

People have not looked at the CCSS website (www.corestandards.org) to take a look at the commonly asked questions and myth vs. fact sections. These supply accurate and clear information on the CCSS, what it is, and what it is not.

People believe that there is malice in a national educational standard. Here people express paranoia to varying degrees concerning data collection by the government, which is a myth. In addition to the invalidity of these claims, CCA is a private institution. It is not obligated to give any personal data or information to the government regarding its students or families.

Teaching is a gift from God. Teachers are called and equipped by God, and subsequently by CCA, to minister to student in academic discipleship. Teachers are empowered by CCA administrators to do what is best for students in the classroom. The CCA Standards (as based on CCSS) establish what students need to learn, but do not dictate how teachers should teach. While some textbooks based on the CCSS have prescribed certain ways students are asked to conceptualize content, that is separate from the standards themselves. Teachers use textbooks as a tool to nurture students; they are not slaves to a textbook or its preferred method for building concepts.
For more information concerning the Cornerstone Christian Standards or the Common Core State Standards, please refer to the following links:
www.corestandards.org
CCA Standards

No. CCA offers Athletics opportunities to kids of all experience levels. Every student that joins a team has an opportunity to learn and improve.

CCA teams are a part of competitive leagues and regularly qualify for post-season playoffs. Therefore, playing time is based on putting our teams in the best position to win the contest. Playing time is earned by ability, proficiency, effort and attitude. Player safety and well-being are also taken into account when determining playing time. While we strive to get everyone in a game, we cannot guarantee playing time in games for every player.

This greatly depends on the sport and whether it is Jr. High or High School. For the most part, all practices are during “after school” hours during the week (usually 3:45 – 6:00 p.m.). We typically end all practices early on Wednesdays so the students can get ready for church or youth group activities. Games are usually in the evenings, but the night of the week can vary.  Most sports do not have weekend games, but there is the possibility that some Saturday games may be necessary due to scheduling and facility challenges.

If a student is a member of another team(s) in addition to CCA (whether recreational or competitive/club), their participation at CCA team practices and games MUST take precedence over all other athletic schedules.  Those who cannot commit to the CCA practice and game schedule are asked not to register.