Frequently Asked Questions
In order to get to know Haw River Christian Academy more, we have provided answers to some of the common questions received through enquiries and during tours. Our website contains a great deal of information as well. However, we encourage families to reach out and allow us to help with what we consider to be one of the most crucial parenting decisions.
In May 2019, the HRCA Board developed the following 5-year vision statement. They are actively planning and working to meet these stated goals.
“HRCA’s vision over the next five years is to graduate classes, expand to two classes in several grades, increase facility capacity, provide exceptional extracurricular opportunities, and mature into a school ready to tackle the next 15 years while maintaining the integrity and mission of our school.”
Our primary goal for hiring teachers is to seek those who love the Lord, love children, and love learning. We aim to hire and retain the highest caliber of teachers for our classrooms based on their passion for teaching, professional experience, education, and evident desire to continue learning in their professional and personal lives. First and foremost is that we expect that each teacher will clearly exhibit godly character, demonstrate an active and growing faith in Jesus Christ, and express a love of God’s Holy Word. As Christian role models for students, our teachers should live their lives coram deo (“in the presence of God”) at all times. This will be reflected in all aspects of their lives as they consistently exhibit love, joy, peace, and spiritual maturity at school and at home.
Since 2008, HRCA has been a long standing member of the Association of Classical Christian Schools, which is a network of hundreds of schools across the nation and globe. Our school fulfills the requirements and standards to maintain its membership. When HRCA becomes K-12, it is eligible to pursue accrediation and that is the school’s vision and goal.
We believe that the classical methodology is best achieved through a structured, well managed but engaging classroom. Our plan is to maintain a class size of approximately 16 students to maximize the socratic teaching methods that focus on dialogue and debate. With the goal to reach two classes per grade level, there may be circumstances in which this number is exceeded in one class before making two. In those situations, we would strive to maintain an equal student to teacher ratio.
HRCA conducts the Classic Learning Test in grades 3rd-12th. The PSAT is administered to grades 9th-11th. SAT and ACT testing takes place in 11th and 12th grades.
In accordance with the North Carolina Department of Non-Public Education (NCDNPE), HRCA is required to conduct national standardized achievement testing in grades 3, 6, 9 and 11. Every spring, HRCA chooses, as part of the tuition package, to provide standardized testing to additional grade levels. Our curriculum and lesson plans do not focus on this test.
Why is our goal to provide standardized testing every year?
Measurement and comparison: “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12b)
Standardized test results provide ancillary information that help teachers and parents understand how well children are learning. To obtain an accurate picture of a student, standardized test results are evaluated along with report cards, teacher’s observations and comments, and parental observations. Test results are only one piece of a broad picture.
HRCA is an interdenominational school that uses the classical teaching methodology within the context of a biblical worldview. The greatest opportunity for this combination to fully work is within the partnership of a Christian home, church, and school collaborating together to help shape the minds and souls of children who become future adults.
Our school is represented by over 40 churches spanning across a few counties.
HRCA relocated to the facilities of Emmaus Baptist Church in August 2013. Every day, we are humbled to operate our school in this beautiful, leased space that offers more than we could ever have desired for an interim location. Our staff and students enjoy having larger classrooms and amenities such as a full-size gymnasium with a second level walking track, a large playground, a school library, an art and science room, a music room, a soccer field, a lunchroom, and more!
Our school is located northwest of downtown Pittsboro, off Highway 87 North (or exit 381 off Highway 64 West). It is a short, scenic drive into the rural, rolling hills of western Chatham County and within reasonable distances of Pittsboro, Apex, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Siler City, Sanford, Saxapahaw, and Graham, NC.
The school year begins in early August and ends in late May with a week break between each quarter. We enjoy weeklong holidays for Thanksgiving and Easter, plus a two week break over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
