Providence Classical Academy (PCA) in Bossier City is entering a landmark year.
The 2015-16 school year began with a record enrollment of 450 students from Bridge through 12th Grade, construction on Phase 3 of its expanding campus, and newly awarded accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED.
“There are so many great things happening here,” said Headmaster Howard Davis. “What was once ‘the best-kept secret in Bossier’ has grown exponentially, and developed into an institution that is attracting families from all across the region who are seeking an exceptional educational experience in a Christian environment.”
PCA, which began with a handful of families eleven years ago, will graduate its first senior class this year, and is celebrating several other milestones as well. The distinction earned this summer through SACS CASI provides nationally-recognized accreditation, the purpose of which is continuous school improvement focused on increasing student performance. To earn accreditation, schools must meet SACS CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the school, and implement a continuous process of school improvement.
“Accreditation demonstrates to our students, parents and community that we are focused not only on providing high quality Christian education in the classical tradition, but on continued student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment, and maintaining an efficient and effective operation staffed by highly qualified educators,” said State Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Bossier City), who serves as president of the PCA Board of Directors and has four children at the school.
SACS CASI accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from accredited school to accredited school but also assures that the school is meeting nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice.
Dr. Mark Elgart, President/CEO of AdvancED, the parent organization of SACS CASI, stated, “SACS CASI Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school on the primary goal of creating lifelong learners. Providence Classical Academy is to be commended for engaging in this process and demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.” Parents and interested community members can learn more about accreditation at www.advanc-ed.org.
PCA, the only accredited private school in Bossier Parish, and one of only a handful in the region, has enjoyed rapid growth each year since its founding. Its beautiful 27 acre campus, located just north of I-220 on Old Brownlee Road, already includes new, state-of-the-art facilities, and is expanding yet again to accommodate the school’s popular programs. By Thanksgiving, PCA’s 9th-12th grade students will move into a newly completed high school building, equipped with ten new classrooms and a high technology science lab.
“This will be a landmark year for our school, with several new faculty members and administrators, new facilities and programs, and our largest student enrollment ever,” said Headmaster Davis. “We look forward to continued growth and achievement as we build the Christian character and intellect of all our wonderful students.”
PCA has been commended for its students’ exceptional performance on national standardized tests for the past five years, and for its school culture. According to the AdvancED Accreditation Report, PCA “is characterized by collaboration and a sense of community among all stakeholders and a desire to promote lifelong learning. . . .[Its] classical approach to teaching and learning results in the creation of a culture where educational growth is supported and promoted. Effective classical education cultivates thinking and articulates the passion of learning to students who are then able to develop facts into arguments and convey those arguments clearly and persuasively.”
For more information about Providence Classical Academy, visit www.PCABossier.org.
