What type of curriculum do you follow?
AGCCA follows the Alabama Course of Study (ALCOS) which is the state adopted curriculum. These are the standards followed by all state schools. Because we have such a small student to teacher ratio, we are able to cover these standards more in depth. Bible classes are taught from the Bible. Students in grades K-5th grade receive instruction in mathematics, language arts,
spelling, science, social studies, reading and Bible. Students in the middle school receive instruction in mathematics, science, English, social studies, Bible, physical education and electives. Students in the high school follow a path of instruction for an Alabama High School Diploma with 24 credits.
What textbooks do you use?
We currently use textbooks that have been adopted by the state of Alabama in all grades. We adopted the newest reading series Treasures for our K-5th reading program. Bible classes are taught using the Bible as the students’ textbook.
Are your teachers certified?
All of our K-5th grade teachers are certified teachers with either a master’s or bachelor’s degree in elementary or early childhood education. Our 6th-12th grade teachers are either certified
teachers or have a degree in the field in which they teach.
Do you have a library and computer lab?
Yes, we have a library. It is in the early stages, so we are growing our collection. Students at AGCCA also enjoy the privilege of using the Baldwin County Library System through the Bookmobile, which comes to our school every two weeks. Students can also have passwords to use the Alabama Virtual Library. We also have a computer lab. There are 10 Dell computers with Windows XP capabilities. Students can word process, create Power Point presentations, research the Internet, and create multi-media presentations. We also offer several accredited online classes for our middle and high school students. There are also several computers in classrooms for other programs.
Do you serve lunch?
No. We currently do not have the facilities to accomodate a daily hot lunch. We do have pizza days every Friday.
Are there special programs for my child?
We have guitar and violin lessons for the 2010-2011 school year for a fee. Students in grades K-5th have music and art once a week and physical education daily. Students in grades 6th-8th have physical education daily. Students in middle and high school can also take music, art, or creative writing.
What is the teacher to student ratio?
Currently the teacher to student ratio is 1:10. We strive to maintain small classroom sizes with not more than 15 students in any one classroom.
Do you provide transportation to and from school?
No, we do not have transportation for students to and from school. We do provide transportation in vans for field trips.
Do you follow a particular creed or religious doctrine?
No, all Bible classes are taught using the Bible as a textbook. Although we encourage families to attend church regularly, we do not “force” a particular doctrine or church on our students.
Do the students wear uniforms?
Yes, students have a dress code that is strictly adhered to for safety and modesty. Students can wear white, hunter green, or navy polo or golf type shirts monogrammed with our school logo. We also sell a uniform T-shirt, sweatshirt, and hoodie. Students also dress-out for physical education to protect school uniforms from excess wear and tear or damage.
What are clustered or combined classes?
Some of our classrooms have 1-3 grade levels working simultaneously in the same room. In this way, students who are advanced can forge ahead, while students who are struggling can work at a lower level. We strive to have one teacher for each grade, but realize that sometimes there are not enough students in a grade level to accomplish this. Teachers who are working with multi-leveled classes closely monitor the progress of each student so that he/she can achieve success in all areas.
Are there scholarships available?
Yes, there are scholarships available to students who are accepted and qualify for assistance. Parents can fill out an application for assistance when they enroll. Scholarships are given by a source that is independent of the school and its employees.
I have a “special needs” student. Do you help special needs children?
Although we do not have any special education or gifted education teachers, we accept special needs students based on the amount of help that we can adequately provide. Students with
severe special needs or severe behavioral issues are not encouraged to apply as we do not have the facilities or staffing that would best serve the needs of your child.
Do you provide before or after-school care?
We provide an after-school program. This program runs from 3:30-5:30 each day that the school is open. The cost for this program is $8.00 per day. We do not have before-school care.
Do you have athletic teams?
At this time we do not have the number of students needed to have athletic teams. We encourage students to participate in local athletic teams for Baldwin County.
Do you have a website?
Our website is the key to information at AGCCA. It has news and information that is continuously updated. The school newsletter, lunch menus, and events calendars are located on the site. We also send out e-mail reminders about upcoming events. Check us out at www.GCCAcademy.org!