Admissions Overview

God made each one of us unique, with special gifts and abilities.  When we started Lighthouse Christian Academy, we felt His hand guiding us toward developing specific qualities in students. We encourage creative and independent thinking, active decision making, responsible questioning, group cooperation, and internal motivation to accept challenges.

Entrance Exam
Children who have the desire to learn and are excited about discovery are ideal applicants to Lighthouse Christian Academy. In addition, an applicant’s mastery of basic skills needs to be solidly at grade level or above. Therefore, to protect individual children from possible disappointment or failure, we assess each applicant in the basic skills of reading, writing, and math before acceptance to Lighthouse. A completed Application Packet is required prior to testing (see below). The $50 non-refundable fee for this exam is discounted from the Registration Fee if a student is accepted to the school.

Application Packet
Each student is issued a packet containing all forms to be filled out, signed and returned to school prior to testing.  We require two recommendations, one from the previous year’s language arts teacher and one from the previous year’s math teacher. A non-refundable testing fee is due prior to testing. This fee is applied toward the non-refundable registration fee if the student is accepted to Lighthouse.

Please note: If a family chooses to go through the admissions process and pay the non-refundable registration fee in order to "hold" a spot for enrollment, and then chooses to move their child to another school, all fees paid (including tuition) will be non-refundable.

Following a prospective student’s positive assessment, parents will be scheduled for an informal meeting with a member of the school board.  Upon board approval, the student will be accepted to Lighthouse Christian Academy.

Waiting List
Lighthouse maintains a “waiting list” designed to assist in the registration process.  Families may contact us and place their child on this list to be considered for enrollment.      

Special Needs Students
Not all children learn best in the environment we strive to offer. Some, such as children with ADD or learning disabilities, need more structured activities. They feel lost and confused by the open-ended methods used at Lighthouse. These children do better utilizing a more traditional approach. Though we empathize with special needs families, the Lord has given us a very specific vision for our school and we are unable to provide programs for children who are reluctant or slow to learn, have learning disabilities or exhibit problematic behavior. It is our prayer that those adults whom the Lord has called to minister to children with emotional and academic problems will hear and act upon His call.

Student Commitment and Responsibility
It is our desire to teach students who are ready and eager to learn.  Therefore, it is our expectation that students enrolled at Lighthouse will commit to daily punctual attendance, active class participation, respectful behavior toward peers and instructors, and prompt completion of homework.

Parent Commitment and Responsibility
For a child to be successful at Lighthouse, parents must recognize that school is only one factor in a child’s education. Our students also need active and consistent parental involvement at home to establish effective study skills. We try to create an atmosphere of success at the school, but the lack of parental support and follow-through will undermine this effort. Parents must be aware of homework assignments and help to ensure that tasks are completed on time. Parents must also be willing to enforce a consistent study schedule, and seek outside tutoring if additional help is needed.

Academic Intervention
When a student is struggling academically, our staff will make every effort to assist families using clear communication and evaluation skills.  Parents of students who struggle with specific classes are expected to arrange tutoring for their child to enable them to keep up with the classroom pace.  Parents can check with the administration for resources.
If a child is struggling in most subject matter for a given grade despite additional tutoring, the teacher and administrators will evaluate the student’s progress to determine future placement. Payment and scheduling of any testing required is the parents’ responsibility to accomplish using the public school system or other outside resource.

Student Withdrawal
It is our expectation that any student accepted to Lighthouse has made a commitment to stay for the year. When a student is struggling academically, our staff will make every effort to assist families by using clear communication and evaluative skills.  Before withdrawal is considered, parents may be asked to pursue tutoring for their child to keep up with the classroom pace.  If a student is withdrawn from Lighthouse prior to the end of the school year, parents are expected to give the school at least 30 days notice and pay an early withdrawal penalty.