Naples Christian Academy Association Inc

Programs: Naples christian academy is a coeducational interdenominational independent pk-8 school founded in 1973. The academy was recognized in 2007 by the u. S. Department of education as a national blue ribbon school. Naples christian academy is the only private school in collier county to have received this distinction. The academy is focused on guiding hearts, inspiring minds, and shaping lives as outlined in the mission. The academy is committed to educational excellence and spiritual truth and its educational program is designed to encourage students to know god, to enable students to identify and use their own abilities, to enable students to engage in rigorous academic inquiry, to expect students to achieve a high level of academic excellence, and to equip students to be leaders who transform culture. The academy currently enrolls 153 students on an eleven-acre campus in naples, florida. The academy is fully accredited by the association of christian schools international (acsi) and the southern association of colleges and schools (sacs). The academy's preschool is also recognized as a gold seal approved school. The academy is unique among religious schools in southwest florida in that it is independent and is not affiliated with any church, parish, or denomination. The academy has an independent board of trustees, consisting of community and business leaders and has a broad representation of families and staff from a variety of backgrounds. Unlike most christian schools which receive a large percentage of their funding from a church or larger religious body, naples christian academy is self-funding and depends upon tuition revenue and particularly the generosity of friends, foundations, and other donors for annual support. The academy's philosophy of education is that successful education involves a close partnership between the parent and the school. Parents are the primary educators of their children and the school's role is to assist parents in this important process. The academy's curriculum is based around integrated thematic units with components of biblical integration. Curricular units are based upon florida sunshine state standards and student outcomes are expected to meet and exceed these standards. Though the grade level expectations clearly set high standards of academic performance, the academy places a strong emphasis on the development of the whole child. Programs such as the mission/service component at each grade level, the related arts program, extracurricular activities, the athletic program, and leadership development are examples of aspects of the curriculum that provide additional tools for the faculty to develop the emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of each child in addition to the intellect. Naples christian academy has a great history of producing graduates who succeed academically, socially, and spiritually in high school and beyond. The academy has alumni who are leaders and thinkers who are making an impact on their communities and the culture. The academy has been successful in its effort to guide hearts, inspire minds, and shape lives of preschool, elementary, and middle school children for thirty-nine years and plans to continue to be devoted to ongoing school improvement for the purpose of student learning.