Calvary Christian Academy was founded in September of 1995 as an educational ministry of Calvary Chapel Philadelphia. The primary goal was to work with Christian families to educate and disciple Godly young men and women. The school initially began as a PK through 8th-grade school and soon after added 9th through 12th grades in 1997. In 1998, CCA graduated its first class and since that time has seen students enroll in over 100 different colleges and universities including:  University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University, Calvary Chapel Bible College, Liberty University, West Point Military Academy, Johns Hopkins University, Cedarville University, Temple University, University of Pittsburgh, and Grove City College. CCA received full accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Association of Christian Teachers and Schools in 2012. Our academic programs are designed to meet the learning needs of the honors student, college prep student and the student working at a more basic level. Special education services are provided in accordance with our special education program and handbook. School electives and after-school programs provide opportunities for CCA’s students to hone the gifts the Lord has given them in areas of the fine arts, athletics, computer science, and the culinary arts. In 2015, Calvary Christian Academy celebrated 20 years of serving Christ’s kids.

CCA’s Philosophy of Education is based upon a biblical worldview that has been developed out of a literal interpretation of the Bible, as presented in the King James Version. It is impossible to disconnect our learning and development from the power and purposes of our Creator God. At the very core of CCA’s worldview and philosophy of education is God’s Word. It is the foundation of CCA’s philosophical framework. From the origin of man to ethics and morality, we believe all logic and reasoning is based upon the tenets of Scripture. It is upon this premise that Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia built and developed Calvary Christian Academy. The governing bodies of both the school and the church are in full agreement with CCA’s Philosophy of Education.

CCA’s Philosophy of Education is based upon our biblical worldview and not upon the philosophy of man. All truth is God’s truth. God’s Word is truth according to the Scripture (John 17:17, KJV) and according to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. As such CCA’s Philosophy of Education is defined by the master teacher himself, Jesus Christ. Teaching should be personal and individual. All methods, instructional practices, activities, and assessments should be geared toward allowing the learner to better understand the knowledge of God and be better prepared to serve the Lord through successfully navigating and interacting with the world around them. We are set apart for God by understanding His truth; therefore, God must be at the core of all the principles, facts and truths we teach.

CCA develops the curriculum and programs of the school based upon a biblical worldview. A Biblical world view is an assurance that the knowledge gained will be based upon God’s truth and not just the correlations made by respected men and women of science, history, mathematics, and language. While these respected individuals have made vast contributions to our understanding of the world around us, our understanding is not complete until we filter it through God’s Word. Our knowledge of God and His Word should cause us to fear no vain philosophy or body of knowledge. We have real truth in our hearts and in Scripture and with such knowledge and truth, we should be able to disprove the fake and vain philosophies of the world. The better we know the creation, the better we know the creator. With a strong biblical worldview, the disciplines of math, science, history, and language are but a mere platform for believers to express the goodness of God, the truth of His Word and to praise Him for His many blessings. Psalm 19:1 states, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (NIV).

CCA desires to align all its practices and policies with Scripture and within the philosophy of our mission statement – “to raise up disciples for Christ by promoting academic, social and spiritual excellence. Equipping students to become a transforming influence on the world for Christ.”

We desire to provide an environment where all our students can learn and grow in truth, that is, to learn and grow in God’s Truth, the truth of Scripture and the truth of the Gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Teaching is both an art and a science. While research science has provided us with proper pedagogy, the creative minds of teachers have provided us countless avenues to engage the minds of our students. At CCA, Jesus provides us the perfect example of a master teacher. Jesus told stories; He used parables, relatable earthly stories, to reveal heavenly truths for godly living. Jesus asked questions. He utilized illustrations and object lessons, describing unselfish giving after watching a widow drop two coins into the temple offering. Teachers at CCA seek to model Jesus in their teaching. Beyond all else, teaching at CCA is personal. It is the personal and spiritual nature of a CCA education that enables us to raise up disciples of Christ. Teaching at CCA is so much more than just academic.

Educational technology is a tool used to promote good teaching and to enable effective communication. Just as the Industrial Revolution transformed production, communication, and enhanced innovation, so too has the revolution of technology transformed our ability to communicate, collaborate, present object lessons and pull visual illustrations off the page into 3 and 4 dimensional examples of the intricacy of God’s order and design in creation. Technology has become a common form of communication at work and within context of home and family life as well as in education and higher learning. The implementation of educational technology at CCA is done with purpose and restraint, always keeping in mind the developmental stage of the child and appropriateness/benefit of any given piece of technology.

CCA’s website and teacher websites are used primarily as a tool to communicate policy, procedure, and upcoming events. Teacher websites take it a bit further by communicating what is being taught and the types and due dates of assignments and assessments. Google Classroom is used by teachers to provide a platform for real time submission of assignments, teacher communication & feedback, and remote collaboration amongst students. It also provides a safe place for discussion posts that offer opportunity for all students to have a voice. Calvary secures and monitors students online. This is nonnegotiable. Whenever a student logs in under a Calvary domain or Calvary Cougar GMAIL, our Go Guardian software monitors and safeguards online activity. Students are monitored here at CCA and on any other piece of technology outside school in which they log in using their CCA emails. PowerSchool is another piece of educational technology that is used to create student schedules, report cards and transcripts as well as allow parents to have a real time window into their children’s grades and progress. Beyond the scope of technology as a tool and the next level pencil and paper, teachers will utilize technology to promote study, such as Kahoot, Quizzlets or Kahn Academy. They will pull up Google Earth to engage students in the wonder of God’s creation. Teachers will not utilize technology to replace face-to-face teaching. CCA maintains that the best teaching practice, as Jesus has lived out as an example to us, is personal. Technology at CCA will always be but a mere tool to enhance and support the growth and development of its students so that we graduate disciples of Christ – disciples that are equipped spiritually and academically, able to use reason and intellect to become a transforming influence on the world for Christ.