Covenant Academy is a private non-denominational Christian K-12 school and pre-school (six weeks to 5-6 years old) located at 1079 Country Club Drive (pre-school at 7225 Manchester Highway) in McMinnville.
Covenant Academy is associated with Covenant Fellowship Church, which provided the capital funds to make this vision happen. CA began in 2004 at what is today the pre-school building behind the church. A new, large education facility was built during 2008 and is the center of the CA campus today.
This past May, the second senior class was graduated. There are 141 students at Covenant Academy going from K-12. CA is operating at about two-thirds capacity student wise. There are approximately 50 pre-schoolers. The pre-school is operating at about 75 percent capacity.
Covenant Academy students come from six counties with Warren being 85% percent. Surprisingly, less than 25 percent of the students are regular members at Covenant Fellowship Church. The mission statement for CA is as follows:
“Covenant Academy partners with families to establish in each child an unshakable Christian foundation for future ministries by developing spiritual, cognitive, physical, and social growth based on sound biblical truth.”
How does the spiritual growth for students occur, while public schools ban such practices? Each school day starts with an 8 a.m. student-led prayer over the school loudspeaker system. This is followed with a student reading from the Bible. There is a Bible study class each day. There is a once-a-week chapel class for additional Bible study and singing. Prayers are shared before all athletic events. Special prayers are considered for individuals in need and are typically student requested and led.
The overall focus of Covenant Academy is Christian first, followed by academics, and an engrained family atmosphere where key values and unity are stressed. The result is a student retention rate of over 90 percent.
There is a school wide dress code – boys – collared navy blue or white shirt with khaki pants. For girls, it is the same scheme with pants or skirts. CA has occasional “dress down” days.
Class size at Covenant Academy averages 10-12 students with a cap of 15. Individualized student attention is stressed.
There have been nine students that have been graduated from CA over the last two years. All nine have gone on to higher education with seven of the nine going to college. There will be six seniors starting in August followed by 10 the following year.
CA has 15 teachers on staff. Ninety-five percent of the teachers have come over from public schools and all have teaching certificates from their colleges. The teachers chose to come to CA due to the smaller class sizes, the Christian atmosphere, and less hassle as compared to public schools.
How does a private school compare with a public one? Public schools derive their funding from federal/state/local sources. They are thus led by mandates, guidelines, and policies from the same funding sources. That can become tedious as new administrations come and go at the federal/state/local levels.
Programs such as “No Child Left Behind” can dictate policy for a period of time, only to be phased out. Private schools derive their funding from charged tuition and fees plus school fund raisers and donations. A private school then can direct and develop its desired curriculum, student direction, and programs. There is no variation with people change.
The pre-school involves director Earline Steakley and 8-10 staff members. This is a fully operational daycare center. Cost is $100 to $120/week (more for infants) that includes a morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack. Parents supply formula, diapers, etc. as needed.
The pre-school is open five days a week, 50 weeks a year. The pre-school operating hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pre-schoolers can be dropped off as early as 6:30 a.m. and picked up as late as 5:30 p.m.
Covenant Academy operating hours are 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Students can stay at CA from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m. in after care.
Covenant Academy has a fully staffed cafeteria on-site that makes a hot lunch available every day. There is a salad bar option for middle and high school. Special meals are available as needed for students with dietary requirements. No deep frying is involved. Currently 75-80 percent of all students eat at the cafeteria.
The total cost to attend Covenant Academy is $4,100/year for elementary and middle school and $4,200/year for high school. Payments can be made in one lump sum, monthly, or by automatic withdrawal. Discounts are offered for one payment (3 percent), and multi-siblings (sixth child – free!). Tuiton covers about two-thirds of the cost of this personalized education. Covenant Academy offers a myriad of fundraisers to make up the difference. These include the following:
• Father-daughter ball
• Consignment sale
• WC fair food booth
• Annual fishing tournament
• Annual golf tournament
• Discount card sale
• Fall festival
• Art auction
• Donations
Covenant Academy students have many choices beyond education. Student athletics include cross country, girls volleyball, golf, basketball, soccer, softball, and baseball.
There is a very popular CA basketball academy for 10 to 12 Saturdays during winter months where basketball skills are taught for K-5 students. Participants include a high percentage of kids not going to CA.
A highlight of CA athletics is the new, full-size soccer field on Highway 55 near Old Well Road. This facility has restrooms, concessions, and a covered picnic pavilion.
For CA students, club activities include 4H, chess club, Interact, Excel Club (coming), Lego Club, band, choir, stage performances/drama, video club, and concerts. In addition to these extracurricular activities, Covenant students do spend at least one full day a school year for community service, plus one day a year in local job shadowing.
A unique service for CA high school students is a focus on ACT tests. Students are encouraged to take the June ACT whereby test results and ACT feedback allow for individual analysis designed to improve test performance going forward. This personalized service to students does make a definite difference and raises college entrance expectations.
The website for Covenant Academy is www.covenantacademylions.org. The website does have an online student application, a financial aid application, and links for making donations. Anyone wishing to make a donation should come to the main office at CA.
Covenant Academy currently has openings for substitute teachers. Candidates may apply at the main office.
It is refreshing to this writer to witness God alive and well with youth education. Students, not supervision, lead the spiritual effort. Covenant Academy is making a positive difference with the youth of Warren County. BRAC congratulates this effort and record of achievement.
Business Roundtable 7-19
A religious gateway to adulthood

