Academic Schedule
Academic Schedule
Academic Schedule
Individualized Study
Individualized Study
Academics
Our approach to academics is inspired by “the most excellent way” described in 1 Corinthians 12:31, that is, by love. We approach each subject from a perspective of Biblical love, which provides us with the following four guiding principles:
1. Education for Life
First, we teach students to seek the opportunities that are presented in the world of education. Young people are endlessly curious about the world around them and each of them has his and her own God-given talents and interests. The paradigm of public education, however, attempts to fit these diverse individuals into the same mold. LCA seeks instead to cultivate diversity by offering a daily school schedule of unprecedented flexibility designed to offer classes and activities tailored to students’ specific interests and abilities. We encourage students to make their education pragmatic, an authentic part of the real world. To further this goal, we offer Individualized Study Programs, individualized Advanced Placement classes, and concurrent enrollment in local community colleges.
2. Teach to Reach
Second, we aim to teach our students to reach individual goals of understanding. Often classroom work and homework simply represent a means to passing tests (teach to test). This attitude leaches joy from learning, making education boring work and earning a grade. Young people naturally want to learn, discover, and grow. By varying our assessments, LCA teachers and staff cultivate natural inquisitiveness by measuring true knowledge and then developing and expanding upon that understanding.
3. Take responsibility
Third, because LCA offers an unparalleled 10:1 student to teacher ratio, students themselves are equipped to develop initiative and responsibility about their own learning. They are taught responsibility to seek God for direction and inspiration in not only their education and but also their entire live. Knowledge itself is not an end, but the appropriation of knowledge through faith so that true wisdom might be attained. This creates an education that stresses the “how” over the “what” of learning, that seeks to shape not only the particular content of what a student knows but also their fundamental discipline and character as a lifelong learner, that shows the futility of gaining the whole world but losing your soul, and that shows how knowledge can become a waste without the Godly character to implement it.
4. Love Others
Fourth, we want our students to remember that the true mark of a successful education is ultimately not their personal accomplishments but rather their impact on others. Love is not proud or self-seeking, and although it is important for students to be independent, confident learners, satisfaction comes only when those abilities are used to serve others. It is, therefore, a top priority that LCA students learn to consider others more highly than themselves and pursue the joy that comes in helping and uplifting their peers. This outward focus in education enables students to build and maintain healthy relationships and prepare to meet the needs of the larger community and world.