Beacon Christian Academy: FAQs

What is the goal of a Beacon education?
Beacon’s goal is to provide a high quality education based on a foundation of Christian values in a Christ centered environment through partnerships with parents and teachers. BCA is committed to developing students spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically by applying Biblical principles to every aspect of life.

How does a Beacon education differ from other schooling options on the North Shore?
Beacon differs from other schools in these six distinct ways:

1) CHRISTIAN VALUES & APPLICATION OF BIBLICAL TRUTH
A Christ-centered education at Beacon is a teacher-directed learning experience in a structured, nurturing environment. This is in contrast to a child-directed learning process or a child-centered philosophy of education. At Beacon, truth is not taught as a relative concept (Public school Secularism), but that all truth is God’s truth and that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. All subjects are taught from a Christian world-view. From Pre-K on, student’s application of Biblical truth to their lives is stressed.

2) STRONG ACADEMICS WITH INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION
Most parents have higher academic expectations of a Beacon education. Beacon delivers with students consistently scoring well above public schools on Stanford Achievement Tests. (Please see Academic Performance page for more details). Small class sizes ensure individualized attention. Our vision is that every student will reach their fullest God given potential through the nurturing of our teachers and through parent participation. However, the school does not subscribe to the belief that a high-pressured, competitive, achievement-oriented environment is the most effective means to bringing out the best in each child. This is in contrast, perhaps, to a private, college-preparatory school.

3) EXCELLENT TEACHERS & OPTIMAL TEACHING TO DIVERSE LEARNING STYLES
Our teachers are our greatest asset at Beacon. Each have a vision for Christian education and a heart to disciple children. They are adept at (and our curriculum is selected to) teaching to all learning styles--auditory, visual and kinesthetic or spatial. This in contrast to a Classical education at the Primary school level which is predominantly an auditory learning experience and fact memorization methodology. Our teachers’ experience is that any one curriculum is not adequate to optimally teach to diverse learning styles and needs. They have found it essential to supplement any core curriculum with alternate curriculum which addresses both visual and hands-on learning. For example, our Kindergarten teacher supplements A Beka math with ACSI; A Beka phonics is supplemented with EPS readers; and Harcourt Brace is used to provide learning experiences for oral and written language deemed missing from the A Beka curriculum. Visits to the computer lab, journal writing, and hands-on science and history projects all serve to optimize the learning process.

4) TRADITIONAL, INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE AQUISITION
Our lower school (Pre-K through 3 rd grade) focuses on establishing solid academic skills. For instance, phonics, spelling and grammar are taught as building block skill sets to reading and composition. This is in contrast, for instance, to whole language reading development (taught in many public schools). In addition to acquiring a core set of academic skills, emphasis is placed on connecting students' learning between disciplines and with the world around them. For example, in Kindergarten thematic units incorporate science, social studies, math, language arts, music, art and field trips.

5) EMPHASIS ON CRITICAL THINKING
At Beacon writing and composition is emphasized as a means to develop critical thinking and analytic skills. Teachers help students to integrate, synthesize and apply their knowledge early on in the educational process. Effective study and research skills are a focus. This is in contrast to the Classical education concept which emphasizes fact acquisition as the goal of the primary education, and application and assessment of that acquired knowledge emphasized beginning at the middle school level.

6) TRUE PARENT/TEACHER PARTNERSHIP
BCA is governed by its parent Membership. The Board of Trustees is selected by and beholden to this Membership. The vision, direction and operating policies of the school are voted on by the Membership. This is in contrast to other school governing structures where Board members select Board members; curriculum and policy are top down directed; and the parents and/or teachers have little input or impact on school governance.

For some families, especially those with multiple siblings, cost differences may play a role in the decision. A central part of BCA’s mission is it’s commitment to families to remain an affordable Christian alternative. This commitment to remaining affordable was one catalyst for the founding of BCA.

The schools may differ in the degree and ways in which parents participate in their children’s educational experience. If one end of the spectrum is direct parental participation in school governance with direct parent-teacher partnership in the classroom experience, and the other end of the spectrum is top-down, board directed governance and educational design, BCA is very heavily tilted toward the direct parent-teacher partnership. BCA was founded and constituted so that the membership (families) lead the school in partnership with teachers and school administrators.

APPROACH: SIMILAR…BUT DIFFERENT
We believe that all of the North Shore Christian schools seek to nurture students in a Christian spirit where Biblical values, character, and behaviors are taught and expected - and that all of the schools are doing a wonderful job!

Maybe one way to distinguish the BCA approach is to understand that we do not aim to be
(or be like) a traditional, secular prep school with a “Christian worldview” overlay.

Be assured that we do seek to provide superior academic preparation – we wouldn’t settle for less. But we do not embrace the Christian “and” Traditional prep school model.

Rather, our passionate aim is to encourage and role model an authentic Christian walk as we teach and lead, including role modeling the subjection of academic preparation and life purpose to the Lord. While academic excellence and college preparation is for us a must, we do not approach it as an equal endeavor to preparing a truly Christian heart and mind. And we do not wish there to be any hint or temptation of conflict between the two.

As a result, our Curriculum originates and is founded with qualified, gifted, and creative teachers who love the Lord and who strive to emulate Christ to their students in all areas of instruction. The particular curriculum materials that are selected for use reflect the philosophy of Beacon Christian Academy. However, the effective implementation of the materials rests in the hands of the qualified, gifted, and creative teacher.

What is the student to teacher ratio at Beacon?
Small class size is very important to our mission at BCA. Kindergarten class size is capped at 15 students without a teacher's aid and 18 with a teacher's aid. All other grades are capped at 18 students per class.

How many grades are there?
BCA currently offers instruction in Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade.

What subjects make up the BCA curriculum?
Subjects currently include math, science, history, geography, Bible, English grammar, reading, composition, spelling, phonics, vocabulary, critical thinking, technology, art, music, and physical education, plus Spanish for grades 6-8. The curriculum has been developed by a curriculum oversight committee comprised of teacher, parent and administration representatives with final approval from the Board of Trustees. The curriculum is examined and updated annually. Additional curriculum support comes from guest speakers, special projects, and field trips throughout the year.

Are extra-curricular activities available to students?
BCA fields competitive teams in soccer and basketball for students in grades 5-8. Private musical instruction is encouraged and is available for piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion and more. BCA also hosts periodic after-school "clubs" in the arts and sciences.

Do BCA students take standardized tests?
Yes, BCA students participate in the week-long Stanford Achievement Test program. BCA students consistently score in the top percentiles in all subjects on the Stanford 10 tests. Please see the Academic Performance page for more details.

Is BCA affiliated with a local church?
BCA is not affiliated with any church. It is an independent school that was established by a united group of Christian parents on the North Shore of Massachusetts. The school was founded in March of 2002 with the intent of providing an affordable Christian education with high academic standards in a safe, loving environment to all Christian families in the surrounding communities. BCA does invite local church leaders to speak to students for weekly chapel.

Do we have to be Christian to have a child attend Beacon Christian Academy?
BCA teaches Christian philosophy and applicants or their families must agree to our statement of faith in order to obtain admission.

Is BCA accredited?
Beacon Christian Academy began in September, 2002 and strives to provide an excellent traditional, Christian education. BCA has been a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), an accrediting organization, since its inception. The accreditation process takes three years to complete. BCA is in the preliminary stage of accreditation.

Is there an age requirement for Kindergarten?
Prospective students must be five years old by August 31st of the year of Kindergarten entrance. Parents of students who will turn five between the dates of September 1st and December 31st may request that their child be further evaluated to see if they meet early entrance requirements.

There is also a non-refundable registration fee of $500 . Families with more than three students receive a 10% discount for the 3rd child and 20% discount for the 4th child. Please see the application. See our Admissions page for more detailed information.

Does BCA offer financial aid?
Beacon Christian Academy endeavors to make school affordable to all children. Thus, we have lowered our tuition levels to the lowest we believe is viable. Tuition assistance is available to families with qualified need on an availability basis. An application is available with the enrollment package upon request. Qualified need is determined by an independent third party organization. In addition to the sibling discount, there are several discounts available for those who are eligible. Please contact our business office for information.

Do BCA students wear uniforms?
BCA does have a school dress code which includes a degree of choice by the student. Research has shown that uniforms improve student discipline and performance and minimize distractions in the classroom

What are the hours of operation?
The school building is open on school weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Students begin classes at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. Three day Kindergarten meets Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Five day Kindergarten meets Monday through Friday. Pre-Kindergarten meets Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.