WHAT STARTED out as a Mother’s Day Out (MDO) program for children ages 2 and 3, in 2007, has steadily grown into a trusted and dependable school for children of all ages. After the first two years of providing exceptional care, parents began asking questions concerning additional programs. “Will you be extending the age group to include 4-year-olds? Will there be a pre-kindergarten class? “What about kindergarten?” So in 2009, Georgie Speers, the overseer of the program, rallied to start a kindergarten class. The first kindergarten class had only eight students. Today, those students are seniors in high school anticipating graduation.
Following the kindergarten addition in 2009, the governing board came together and set a goal. The goal was to add one grade per year. However, achieving this goal largely depended on student enrollment and need. There were a few years that a grade was not added due to enrollment numbers or to a lack of physical space to accommodate kids during school hours. Still, growth was consistent. To date, the Winchester Christian Academy (WCA) is the home to 266 students.
The latest and most exciting news from WCA is the initiation of the “Bridge to the Future” plans to implement an entire high school over the next four years! The school announced that it will extend again and add a ninth-grade class for the 2022-2023 school year. Enrollment for the upcoming school year is now open, and the count is already at 313 students. That is the largest enrollment count to date.
While the school will still be operating out of the Winchester Church of Christ building and facilities, with the modular-style classrooms and bathrooms on site, school officials do have more exciting news to share! Head of Schools, Caroline Simmons, confirmed that they are in the process of purchasing land to house a new campus for the high school and middle school. She said, “We are thankful for the Winchester Church of Christ for allowing us access to their building as we keep growing and growing.” However, the new space is much needed, and teachers and administrators alike, look forward to the next season at WCA.
If you are unfamiliar with WCA, it is an accredited and dependable academic pillar in the Winchester community. Simmons shares, “We are a dually accredited school by Cognia and [the] National Christian School Association (NCSA). We wanted to ensure the courses our students took were going towards their high school or college credits when applicable.” The school is very proactive about providing the best sports and extracurricular activities for students in addition to its academic accreditations. As a member of both the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) and Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association (TMSAA), the school and its students are eligible to compete in sports within the area. They offer a wide variety of unique extracurricular activities, including basketball, cross country, bowling, tennis, archery, baseball, softball, football, and soccer.
Choosing the best education and environment for your child is one of a parent’s most important decisions. Middle school and high school principal and director of student life, Josh Neal, shares, “I was a public school teacher for 10 years, and while I was still at public school, we enrolled our oldest in the preschool program. Whether I worked here or not, this is where I’d want my child to go, for sure. We purposely keep our classroom sizes small to provide an exciting and engaging learning experience.” Teacher to student ratios average from 8 to 1. Classrooms are equipped with the latest educational technology. Students third grade and up have Chromebooks, and the second-grade students have iPads. WCA is a Christ-centered, family-oriented school providing quality education. If you or someone you know is interested in enrolling, please visit winchesterchristianacademy.org. -GN
