Academic Overview
A Christ-Centered Atmosphere For The College-Minded Student
Heritage Christian Academy considers it a high honor with tremendous responsibility to educate its K3-12th grade students. The staff of fully-degreed and certified teachers in partnership with a community of families seek to equip HCA’s students spiritually, academically, socially and emotionally to be successful in college and life. Instilling Christian values while offering a challenging curriculum along with numerous extracurricular and missions opportunities are key to providing a well-rounded education. For an entire break down of accreditation, affiliations, grading scale, graduation requirements and much more, please take a look at the School Profile on the About Us page, or download the PDF version here.
Biblically-Based & Christ-Centered
HCA maintains a solid foundation of high academic standards cohesively joined with biblical truths and teachings. The school believes that there are three defining characteristics of a biblically-based, Christ-centered education:
1. Biblical Integration
This is the blending of biblical principles and scripture with traditional subject areas. Within all disciplines and activities of the school, at all levels, there are elements that can point students in the direction of their Savior and Creator. The task of the Christian school teacher is to help students discover those elements by integrating applicable scriptures and scriptural principles with what they are learning in math, science, literature, athletics, fine arts, and indeed all subjects and activities of the school. In order for students to develop a Christian worldview (and in order for an education to be considered Christian) all subjects must be taught, not only by Christians, but from an integrated Christian frame of reference. In addition, all students attend daily Bible classes and weekly chapel meetings throughout the year.
2. Role Model Impact
This refers to the morality, integrity, character and spiritual condition of the people involved in the school and particularly of the administration and faculty. For HCA to describe itself as "Christian," it must be staffed with people who themselves are distinctively "Christian." Meaning, people who are beyond question born-again Believers and know that their personal lives and the daily quality of their relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ will affect students for generations to come. They study and use the scriptures as their guide for life, their source for wisdom and strength, and the standard by which all things must be judged. In short, these must be people who have internalized the Word of God and have allowed the grace of God to produce a living curriculum within them that is evident to all.
3. Discipleship
This is the process whereby the values and beliefs of one generation are continually placed before, and directly taught to, the next generation. An education that purports to name the name of Christ must disciple students by directly involving them with the Word of God and placing before them who the Word of God calls them to "be" and what that Word calls them to "do" in their daily lives. Through discipleship we endeavor to create a foundation of a thorough knowledge of the Bible in order to bring about development of character and lifestyle consistent with that knowledge. The school’s endeavor takes the form of opportunities: Bible class, chapel, community service, mission trips, staff relationships, and positive peer influences. All of these venues provide students with the opportunity to acquire a thorough knowledge of the Bible and make decisions that shape who they are in Christ today and for the rest of their lives.
- Through Biblical integration we want students to discover the hand, heart, and mind of Christ throughout the universe of creation and thought.
- Through role model impact we provide students with the developmental influence that can only come from mature, born again Christian adults.
- Through discipleship we endeavor to create a foundational knowledge of the Bible and a lifestyle consistent with God's Word.
College Preparatory Environment
The phrase “college prep” is often used as a descriptor for the academic standard for many private and Christian school environments. Unless “college prep” is defined in the context of a particular school’s mission it will often be misunderstood. For HCA, the guiding assumption is that every student who walks through the door is college bound. Whether that is elementary, middle school or high school, it is the job of this school to provide each student with the opportunities necessary to be well-prepared for college entrance as well as leading them to make informed decisions to find the best college fit. Students who choose to go to highly competitive universities find the education they receive at HCA is an empowering factor towards obtaining that goal. An education that bears the name of Christ must equip, not hinder.
HCA will provide all students at all grade levels with developmentally appropriate opportunities to acquire the knowledge and values necessary for success throughout their school years up to and including college. There is no other school in this community that can provide a greater overall experience for students than Heritage Christian Academy. A diploma from HCA is evidence of an excellent educational achievement, but as our students move on and succeed in many areas, they begin to realize that the process of earning it prepared them for the challenges of life.
Heritage Christian Academy has created a unique environment that provides its students with the best education possible. As you search through the HCA website, you will be able to learn more about what this school has to offer. However, some of the areas offered that are college-preparatory specific at HCA are:
- An established and excellent phonics curriculum beginning in K3.
- A full and comprehensive K3-K5 program.
- Elementary competitions including: Young Authors, Spelling Bee, Math Olympics, Speech Meet & Art Competitions.
- Multiple foreign languages offered at both the secondary and elementary level.
- On-campus dual-credit, Princeton Review SAT Prep and honors courses.
- Secondary competitions at the district, regional and state level in academics, fine arts and athletics.
Extracurricular Opportunities
HCA offers a varied and challenging academic curriculum with several extracurricular programs to ensure its students have a strong educational foundation and reach their full potential. Students at HCA will have more opportunities because they are not limited to just one or two activities. In the Athletic Department, students can participate in football, volleyball, cheerleading, basketball, baseball, softball, track, tennis, swimming and golf; and the Fine Arts Department offers band, art, drama, choir, praise team, yearbook, debate, digital editing, graphic design and photography. Both of these departments are well-recognized and have been awarded several high honors. There are also various clubs, honor societies, missions and volunteer opportunities for the students as well.
An Education That Gets Results
Heritage Christian Academy boasts several awards from National Merit Scholars to above average SAT and ACT test scores, but none are more important than the spiritual and educational foundation that is necessary for college and later life. Not only are 100 percent of HCA graduates eligible to attend college, but they also receive numerous scholarship offers for academics, athletics, fine arts, leadership, community service and much more. In fact, the last three graduating classes (2016, 2017 & 2018) amassed just shy of $9 million in scholarships offered, which equates to an average of $88,000 per graduate. This success comes from the experiences, opportunities, education and support the students get from HCA. In addition, the college counseling provided during this time in the student's academic career is invaluable.
While this is not an exhaustive list, HCA graduates have been accepted to, are currently attending, or have graduated from the following colleges and universities throughout the United States:
- Abilene Christian University
- Asbury College
- Austin College
- Arizona State University
- Azusa Pacific University
- Baylor University (Honors College)
- Belhaven College
- Belmont University
- Biola University
- Blinn College
- Butler University
- California Polytechnic State University
- Clemson University
- Coastal Carolina University
- Collin College
- Colorado Christian University
- Colorado School of Mines
- Columbia College-Chicago
- Concordia University
- Covenant College
- Creighton University
- Dallas Baptist University
- Dallas Christian College
- Drexel University
- Eastfield College
- East Texas Baptist University
- Evangel University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Houston Baptist University
- Hardin-Simmons University (Honors College)
- Hardin-Simmons University
- Howard Payne University
- Iowa State University
-
John Brown University
- King's College
- LeTourneau University
- Louisiana Tech University
- Louisiana State University
- Loyola University of New Orleans
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Menlo College
- Midwestern State University
- Milliken University
- Mississippi State University
- Murray State University
- Nicholls State University
- Northland International University
- Northwood University
- Northwestern Oklahoma State University
- Ohio State University
- Oklahoma Baptist University
- Oklahoma City University
- Oklahoma State University
- Oklahoma State University (Honors College)
- Oklahoma Wesleyan University
- Oral Roberts University
- Otterbein University
- Ouachita Baptist University
- Pepperdine University
- Radford University
- Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School
- Sam Houston State University
- Savannah College of Art & Design
- Southern Illinois University
- Southern Methodist University
- Southwestern University
- Southwestern Assemblies of God University
- St. Edwards University
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Tarleton State University
- Taylor University
- Texas A&M - College Station
- Texas A&M - Commerce
- Texas Christian University
- Texas State University
- Texas Tech University
- Texas Women’s University
- Texas Wesleyan University
- Trinity University
- University of Alabama
- University of Arkansas
- University of Colorado-Boulder
- University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
- University of Dallas
- University of Denver
- University of Indiana
- University of Kansas
- University of Mary-Hardin Baylor
- University of Mississippi
- University of Nebraska (Honors College)
- University of New Orleans
- University of North Texas
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Southern California
- University of Tennessee-Knoxville
- University of Texas-Arlington
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Texas at Dallas
- Westmont College
- West Texas A&M University