Choosing Foundations Academy or St. Ambrose Christian High School

Is your family committed to Christ? While families of various faiths attend the Academy, most of our families value our commitment to Christ in all that we do. Our school motto means “To the glory of God alone”. Children memorize entire chapters of scripture regularly and are taught to live according to them. We often hear the story of parents who are pulled aside by their children’s Sunday school teachers and asked how they know so much. We pray and work so they will translate what they learn here into a life of service to Christ. If you share these values, you probably will fit well at the Academy. If you don’t, you are welcome to apply. We accept members of other faiths with a few conditions.

Are you committed to well-behaved children? Our standards within the school are loving and structured. Children who throw fits or are disobedient, dishonest, or unkind are disciplined. All children are prone to sinful behavior, so we don’t expect your kids to be perfect (or even close). We do expect parents to support our teachers and administration as we lovingly, but firmly discipline children who are acting out.

We believe all children are created in the image of God and we deeply respect the uniqueness of their personalities. If you are unsure about subjecting your children to loving Christian discipline, you may want to talk with us further about our expectations. If you value a partnership with a school that will uphold high standards, you will do well at the Academy.

Do you value academics and a Christian work ethic? Our school is generally recognized in the community for the academic standards we uphold. This comes with a standard of work that requires a little more of both parents and students. Parents are often called upon to be actively involved with their young children as they do homework. Many parents find that by the 4^th or 5^th grade, the Latin, history, and other subjects exceed their ability to help. However, parents still remain actively involved to ensure they are diligently working to prevent frustration from poor study habits. A few families find it difficult to trade-off some recreational or entertainment time to focus on academics. Our graduates commonly thank us for their training.

Some misunderstand our work ethic. We do not desire or expect children to work excessively. Certainly, children need time to play. For this reason, we restrict the amount of homework allowed each week.

For those who wonder why we have higher expectations: the Academy’s expectations do not rise to the level of even 2 or 3 generations ago, or the standards in most other developed countries today. Hundreds of families have found that their children thrive in our environment because they enjoy being challenged. What expectations characterize your family? If you are serious about finding an educational partner with you in preparing your child for life, we would invite you to visit and see what’s possible.

Do you value a broad-based education or do you see education as a relatively generic commodity, with slight distinctions? Some families want a mainstream education like they had. If you were satisfied with your education (assuming you were educated in a mainstream public or private school) and don’t see any reason to want more, then you probably won’t find our form of education appealing. From our uniforms to our study of the great books to our emphasis on writing, we are different than most schools.

Often, the people who most identify with classical Christian education are those who went to school in the eastern or southern United States, Europe, or any of the British or French commonwealths. A vestige of classical education remains in most of these areas, particularly in the preparatory schools. Because classical Christian education takes time to appreciate, those with a background in traditional Western European education more quickly identify with the advantages gained in what has been called a “Western Liberal arts” education.

If you are attracted to education that reaches beyond training to enrich the minds the spirits of students as they learn to love learning, then you should consider our school.

Does your family love learning and books? The most consistent success factor for children at the Academy is the learning environment at home. Families who read and love to learn send children to our school because they want the world of language, books, history, science, and math to be an integrated whole. They want their children to use their love of knowledge to explore and seek truth. Families that do not have many books in their home and that rarely visit a library or bookstore probably will not find our value compelling.

Having said this, many families discover the world of literature and information through their children’s experience at our school. If you would like to develop a love of books, knowledge, and learning in your home, the Academy can provide a great start.