Williamsburg Christian Academy
Williamsburg Christian Academy (WCA) is a private, non-denominational boarding and day International Baccalaureate Christian school located in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. Established in 1978, the school serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is accredited by AdvancED and by the Association of Christian Schools International. History Early years In the fall of 1978, Williamsburg Christian Academy enrolled 30 students in kindergarten through third grade. It met at 114-A Palace Lane in Williamsburg, in the Sunday School wing of the Greensprings Chapel. An early ad for WCA mentioned its non-denominational Christian status, as well as the use of the Abeka curriculum. 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. In 1980 WCA also proposed to lease the Waller Mill School property, but the county refused. It moved to an office building on Jamestown Road. In 1981, the school had 130 students and nine teachers. By 1982 enrollment had increased to 147 students in kindergarten through seventh grade. 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. 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. In January 1985, the local newspaper reported on the upcoming addition of varsity sports: By the 1985 school year, advertising for WCA mentioned it was "a Ministry of the Williamsburg New Testament Church". 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. 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". The 1986–87 school year saw the first graduating class of six seniors, with total enrollment of 190 students. 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." 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. 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". 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". There were approximately 200 pupils in preschool through grade 12. Since 2000 When WCA's enrollment of 280 students filled the Waller Mill Road buildings ("a main building