Academics
Curriculum
Our Preschool program uses the Abeka Christian Curriculum. Ages 3-5 including prekindergarten.
Our Kindergarten thru Second grade program is exclusively Abeka. Phonics has a heavy emphasis in these grades.
Our Third thru Fifth grade program is exclusively Abeka.
Our Sixth thru Twelfth grade program uses a mixture of Abeka, Bob Jones and Glencoe Math.
Each and every classroom also has a Bible lesson time every day. Each grade group goes to a Chapel Service once a week.
We also offer Library time for K-5 th, PE for K-12th, Music for K-5 th and each teacher takes care of their own ART time.
i-Ready
i-Ready is an online program for reading and/or mathematics that will help your student’s teacher(s) determine your student’s needs, personalize their learning, and monitor progress throughout the school year. i-Ready consists of two parts: Diagnostic and Personalized Instruction.
Testing
PCA offers testing in many different forms: State testing is for 3rd – 12th graders and includes the 3rd grade reading guarantee test as well as the high school End of Course Exams. For grades K-5 we also offer Renaissance testing as an alternative when it is needed. Each year, we are blessed to be able to give the ACT free to all Juniors. Also, each new student, grades 1-12, that applies to enroll at PCA is given an entrance exam. Potential new kindergarten students are given a kindergarten assessment.
Tutoring
PCA offers limited tutoring during the school day through our Intervention Specialist and on staff tutors. Students wishing to enroll that have a current IEP must go through the normal entrance process, as well as be approved by our Board of Directors. Current parents that would like to have their child tutored outside of school hours for a fee may contact the school office.
ACSI Member
PCA participates in several academic competitions through the Association of Christian Schools International.
- Math by Mail – in February, sign up in December.
- Speech Meet – in March at PCA, sign up in January.
- Spelling Bee – in January hosted here at PCA. Sign up in November.
Check back here for documents on each event at various times throughout the year.
High School Course Catalogue
English 9
The English 9 Abeka curriculum combines both literature and grammar. Themes in Literature reflects twelve themes: truth and wisdom, courage, power of words, humility, beauty, love, justice, temperance, joy and peace, perseverance, faith and hope, and time and eternity. As the student learns to appreciate a well-written presentation of a theme. This appreciation not only aids in increased enjoyment of literature but also provides the foundation needed to critically analyze it. This then can serve as a stimulus for corresponding creative essays. With Grammar & Composition, the student learns to express one’s ideas creatively as well as correctly. The text provides foundational practice of proper grammar and develops the basic composition skills utilized in outlining, researching, and composing a variety of rhetorical expositions and creative writing.
English 10
In previous years, students read mostly for enjoyment, but now they will learn about the makeup of literature by studying a variety of literary terms and devices such as imagery and figurative language. While the first part of World Literature offers a background to the study of world literature, the second part introduces works chronologically from the time of the ancient East to the Modern Age (twentieth century). Students will read classics which reflect the thinking of each time period, such as Divine Comedy, Moby Dick, Paradise Lost, Aesop’s Fables, and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Art appreciation is also an important part of the literature study in English 10. As the author uses words to paint visual images in our minds, the artist uses his brush to paint a story. World Literature includes paintings, sculptures, and architecture that reflect the themes of each unit.
English 11
The English 11 Abeka curriculum combines both literature and grammar. American Literature presents a variety of selections that reflect the faith, doubts, longings, accomplishments, and emotions of the American people. Students will further develop their skills in analyzing literature as they study several genres and time periods of American literature. In addition, students will learn about significant American authors and their influential works while reading various classics. American Literature also includes paintings that reflect the themes and time periods of each unit. Grammar and Composition builds upon the grammar foundation established in previous years and introduces new concepts to further enhance the students’ knowledge of basic grammar. In addition, this text emphasizes explanative writing by having students write essays, critical book reviews, and a research paper.
English 12
The Abeka English 12 is designed to incorporate a program of English literature, composition, grammar, vocabulary, and outside reading into a senior-level English class. The study of grammar is not stressed in the senior year as much as in earlier years because of the extensive background that students should have gained from previous study; however, grammar is still taught briefly. English Literature presents a chronological study of English literature from the Anglo-Saxon period to the Modern Age (twentieth century). Classics were chosen not only for their literary value but also for their character development. Students will learn about a variety of literary genres and will further analyze literature through in-depth studies of a tragedy, an allegory, and a novel. In order to help students visualize the works and time periods they are studying, English Literature contains a variety of illustrations and photographs of English people, places, and art.
World History and Cultures
World History and Cultures enables students to see God’s purpose and plan in human events from the beginning of civilization to the 20th century rise of globalism. Students study the beginning of nations at the Tower of Babel, the beginning of writing in Sumer, the rise of republican government in Rome, the revival of humanities in the Renaissance, the rise of exploration from Europe, and the consequences of Communism in Russia. With timelines of events, over 300 photographs of important people and places in history, section and chapter reviews, plus maps of the world, students develop a firm grasp of world events and cultures.
United States History
Heritage of Freedom provides a positive, narrative approach to American history that is reinforced by factual accounts of events, people, and ideas essential in shaping the success of America today. Special emphasis is placed on America’s Christian heritage and patriotic pursuit of freedom, helping students identify the values that are the foundation of the United States of America.
World Geography in Christian Perspective
World Geography in Christian Perspective presents a physical-cultural study of the earth and mankind in one semester. The curriculum travels all over the globe with over 250 photographs to exhibit many different cultures and geographical features. Each chapter displays continents and their features such as vegetation and wildlife, national flags and profiles, cultural insights, famous locations, and famous people that have lived on that continent. Section and chapter reviews plus over 30 detailed maps within the text provides information to develop a firm grasp of geography and cultures.
American Government
Students will become familiar with the Christian foundation that the United States was founded upon through the one-semester study of American Government. With a detailed presentation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, students will see the emphasis on limited government that was intended by the Founding Fathers. The curriculum clearly displays the three branches of government along with the responsibilities that citizens have to the government.
Physical Science, 5th ed.
Beginning with an introduction to why we do science, the Physical Science, 5th ed., gradually builds the student’s understanding of physics concepts in a logical sequence. Beginning with classical mechanics, the text progresses through work and energy, wave phenomena, electricity and magnetism, and light and optics. These transition naturally into the chemistry topics, beginning with the atomic model, then to elements and compounds, chemical reactions, and finishing with solutions, and acids, basis, and salts.
Biology, 4th ed.
The Biology, 4th ed., takes the student on a quest to understand God’s living world, from the microscopic world of the cells to the macroscopic world of plants, animals, and the human body. Clear scientific images help them picture the cell’s workings, and galleries of photos in every chapter give them a sense of the classification of life.
BJU Chemistry, 4th ed.
Chemistry, 4th ed., gives students the tools to build an understanding of atomic structure, chemical composition, and chemical reactions. Throughout the course, students will put these tools to work in different fields of chemistry in ways that can show them the impact that chemistry can have to help people and to wisely use God’s world to glorify Him.
Physics
The BJU physics curriculum investigates the world of physics with units that feature information on classical Newtonian mechanics, the concepts of thermodynamics and matter, electricity and magnetism, the physics of light sand optics, and the worlds of relativity, quantum mechanics, and nuclear physics. Chapter openers feature real-world problems or data needed for actual exercises. Throughout, exercises note how science is the best way to understand and exercise dominion over God’s creation. The course is mathematically rigorous and algebra-based. The student should have completed at least two years of algebra and one year of geometry instruction.
Algebra 1
Glencoe Algebra 1 is developed to help all students achieve a better understanding of mathematics and improve their mathematics scores on today’s assessments. It helps all students become better problem solvers by interweaving skills, concepts, and word problems.
Geometry
Glencoe Geometry is aligned to rigorous state and national standards, including the American Diploma Project’s Benchmarks, the College Board Standards for Student Success, and the NTCM Principles & Standards for School Mathematics. The curriculum involves bringing mathematics to life for teens by using teen-relevant problem-solving stories to promote active learning.
Algebra 2
Glencoe Algebra 2 provides relevant applications for teens and is aligned to rigorous state and national standards, including the American Diploma Project’s Benchmarks, the College Board Standards for Student Success, and the NTCM Principles & Standards for School Mathematics. It provides applications in every lesson to bring mathematics to life for teens using a variety of teen-relevant problem-solving stories in a graphic novel format.
Precalculus
Glencoe Precalculus is a comprehensive program that prepares students to be successful in college or AP Calculus programs. Features of this program include: Chapter 0 – Preparing for Precalculus, Graphing Technology Labs, leveled exercise sets, Higher-Order Thinking Problems, and Preparation for AP Calculus lessons within every chapter. It also includes modeling and applications that help students relate mathematical concepts to their everyday lives.
Integrated I: MathMatters 1
The BJU integrated math curriculum incorporates real-life application and career features for understanding mathematics. Lessons include activities that help build understanding of the concept being taught. Contents include data and graphs; measurement; real numbers and variable expressions; two- and three-dimensional geometry; equations and inequalities; equations and percents; functions and graphs; relationships in geometry; polynomials; probability; and reasoning.
Integrated II: MathMatters 2
The BJU integrated math curriculum incorporates real-life application and career features for understanding mathematics. Lessons include activities that help build understanding of the concept being taught. Contents include displaying data, foundations of algebra, equations and inequalities, probability, logic and geometry, graphing, systems of equations and inequalities, polynomials, three-dimensional geometry, right triangle trigonometry, logic and sets.
Integrated III: MathMatters 3
The BJU integrated math curriculum incorporates real-life application and career features for understanding mathematics. Lessons include activities that help build understanding of the concept being taught. Contents include essential mathematics; essential algebra and statistics; geometry and reasoning; triangles, quadrilaterals, and other polygons; measurement; linear systems of equations; similar triangles; transformations; probability and statistics; right triangles and circles; polynomials; quadratic functions; advanced functions and relations; and trigonometry.
Integrated IV: Consumer Math
The BJU consumer math program develops consumer skills in a biblical framework. It was written with the hope and prayer that students would know Christ as Savior, grow in their knowledge of Him, and understand the value of mathematics for their Christian growth and service. Bible verses and applications are included throughout, and each chapter has an in-depth Bible study on stewardship. Topics of study include math skills, measurement, income, budgeting, personal banking, borrowing money, transportation, food, clothing, acquiring housing, maintaining a home, life and health insurance, income taxes, and vacations.
Introduction to Drama: Theatre Study for Christian Education
This is a full-year drama course for grades 7 to 12 designed to teach the basics of acting. It encourages students to become active participants in the creative process every day. Units include: Movement, Improvisation, the Play, the Stage, Voice and sections on auditioning, rehearsing, building characterizations, overcoming stage fright and discovering theatre’s past.
Fine Arts
Our Fine Arts course is typically taught to the 9th grade class. It is a mixture of different mediums including Photography, Drawing, and other topics. When possible, the fine arts assignments are tied in to the major academic classes.
Spanish 1
The four basic steps in learning any language are study, memorization, practice, and application. This course utilizes all four of these steps. The text Por todo el mundo is designed to enable the student to speak, understand, read, and write the basic Spanish he would need to know in most everyday situations. Memorization of Bible verses in Spanish is also a major part of the course. The Vocabulary Manual provides a first-year student with a logical, step-by-step introduction to the most common Spanish words and expressions. They apply this knowledge as they participate in conversations, read assigned material, sing songs, translate Bible stories orally, give oral reports, perform dramas, and write letters and reports.
Spanish 2
The Spanish 2 program is designed to improve the students’ ability to speak, understand, read, and write basic Spanish in most everyday situations, with a strong emphasis on witnessing for Christ. A Bible memory verse for each week, practice lessons from the life of Christ, and a strong missionary emphasis make this course unique. The other applications of these skills include writing Bible stories, performing create-a-scenes and situation act-outs, storytelling, taking part in discussion and debate, anecdote and questions, and giving their and then introduces new grammar. The goal of Spanish 2 is to enable the student to speak the language with a real working knowledge of it. Cultural readings of Spain and Latin America are featured. The Vocabulary Manual briefly reviews the basic words and expressions learned in Spanish 1, and then introduces new expressions and words. The Spanish 2 student will find the vocabulary manual a helpful tool in writing compositions.
Choir
This is a once a week elective class for non-credit to those students wishing to become part of the JH & HS choir.
Entrepreneurship 101
Taught to 8th grade classes each year, this class will teach our students the skills needed to learn how to become an entrepreneur. Over the course of the semester the students will develop, produce and market their own business, culminating with selling their productions to the other students and staff.