ACADEMICS
OUR STANDARDS & CURRICULUM.
At RCA, we are committed to maintaining academic excellence through rigorous curriculum and quality instruction, as well as supporting students to reach their full potential. In elementary, particularly in early childhood (Preschool-2nd grade), our teachers understand the importance of scaffolding foundational skills and content in developmentally appropriate ways to encourage a love of learning. In upper elementary (3rd-6th grades), our students are guided to grow in their knowledge through creative application of concepts and demonstration of skills rather than the routine practice of worksheets or “dittos.” A plethora of weekly enrichment classes, such as art, music, and STEM, enhances our elementary experience.
As students progress to middle school in 7th grade, they gain more independence and develop the habits and skills needed to successfully navigate their learning journey. High school at RCA provides a unique variety of course offerings that give students the opportunity to explore different interests and career pathways, as well as prepare for college through honors and dual-enrollment classes. The study of God’s Word and the practice of scripture memorization is woven into our curriculum daily from Preschool through 12th grade.
For a complete overview of our curriculum, including a listing of our course offerings and requirements for graduation, please view our Admissions Magazine.
With our low (12:1) student/teacher ratio, our faculty are able to know their students well and support them at various progress levels by differentiating instruction as needed. For students with diagnosed medical, social/emotional, and/or learning differences, we offer the FLEX Learning program, which is led by a teacher certified in Special Education. Click here for more information about how the FLEX program can support your child’s success. Additionally, if your child has a diagnosis of dyslexia or is struggling with reading, click here to learn more about our partnership with the Bodine School.
What Standards, Curriculum, & Textbooks Does RCA Use?
First, at RCA, all aspects of our curriculum are taught from a Biblical worldview. With that foundation underpinning all teaching, to ensure appropriate rigor and preparedness for college and career, our academic scope and sequence is aligned with learning objectives adapted from Tennessee state standards and the ACT Aspire and ACT College and Career Readiness standards. We use a variety of textbooks and curriculum publishers, as well as many resources outside of the textbooks to support and enrich the curriculum.
Teaching from a Biblical Worldview
As a Christian school committed to teaching from a Biblical worldview, we integrate the discussion of faith and Biblical truth into all subject areas, and Bible is taught, as its own content area, preschool through 12th grade. You can learn more about our various Bible classes in the Program of Studies. Our textbooks come from a variety of publishers, both Christian and secular. We carefully review and choose textbooks based on multiple factors, including the level of depth, breadth, and rigor of the material, as well as the quality of the accompanying teacher manuals and supplemental resources. Any time there may something in a textbook which is counter to our Christian belief, our teachers always directly address it and present the facts from a Biblical perspective. We believe this exercise is important in equipping and training our students in their faith as they encounter varying beliefs both now and post-graduation in college and the work force.
OUR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT JOURNEY.
OUR TECHNOLOGY.
At RCA, one of our goals is to ensure that students are prepared to succeed in post-secondary education and careers in the 21st century—a landscape that hinges largely on the use of technology. However, we believe that we can and should accomplish this goal without completely saturating students’ school days with screen time. Why? As research continues to be published, psychologists, pediatricians, and tech industry moguls agree that too much screen time is detrimental to kids in many ways. Areas of particular concern include attention spans; social/emotional interaction and skills, such as conversation, collaboration, and empathy; mental health (linked to anxiety and depression); physical activity, and sleep patterns. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports screen time can have even more extreme impacts on the pre-school and early childhood age group. For these reasons, at RCA, it is important to us that students are protected from the negative effects of excessive technology use, but also are trained in the appropriate use of current technology so that they can leverage it effectively post-graduation.
While many schools promote a “one-to-one” (one device per one student) learning atmosphere, which can be beneficial, we believe that a balanced approach—one we call #SmartIntegration—is more beneficial for the whole child. At RCA, students are not buried in devices hour after hour with all their learning activities filtered through a screen. Instead, we provide opportunities for the
#SmartIntegration of technology in which students have ample opportunities to learn through and with technology. Teachers incorporate it into their instruction, and students use it to demonstrate their learning through projects and presentations. Classrooms are equipped with a variety of technology, and students have access to iPads, media centers, virtual reality devices, robotics, and an online LMS (Learning Management System). We believe this balanced approach—with purposeful rather than saturating use—encourages the development of sought-after soft skills, which employers report are severely lacking in today’s job applicants. These soft skills such as interpersonal communication, problem solving, collaboration, creativity, adaptability, manners, perseverance, and work ethic cannot be simulated through a device and are best learned when students have more face-to-face rather than face-to-screen time.
In addition, current cognitive science research demonstrates that pen and paper have benefits over digital writing mediums such as typing in terms of student performance in processing, retaining, and reproducing information. In short, handwriting activates important parts of the brain that typing does not.
So at RCA, you’ll find our students engaging with technology in smart, fun, and creative ways, but you’ll also find them reading physical textbooks, writing with pen and paper, and engaging with each other more as they hone their listening and verbal communication skills, attention spans, and capacity for perseverance. Parents can be assured that when technology is being used at RCA, there is a true learning objective associated with that use. The successful connection between these two realms is vital to students’ success in 21st century life after high school graduation. #SmartIntegration
