Secondary

Secondary Academics

As the four-state region’s top private Christian school,the curriculum at New Heights Christian Academy is designed to challenge students to maximize their potential. Curriculum lives beyond the books and involves a classroom experience that engages them as learners while preparing them for college. New Heights Christian Academy believes the Bible is the source of God’s truth. The curriculum’s biblical integration showcases God’s truth in all subject matters of high quality academics.

Our rigorous curriculum seamlessly carries students through progressively more difficult courses. By the time they reach high school, students are prepared for our most advanced high school courses.

Middle school includes students in grades 6 -8. To better prepare for middle school students for high school, students have classes in different classrooms with several teachers throughout the day. Each year, students take Bible, English, History, Math, Science, Spanish, and Computer. Students choose from several electives, such as Art, Drama, Band, Choir, and PE. Eighth grade students have the opportunity to take more advanced classes in some subjects that meet high school graduation requirements and appear on high school transcripts, but do not receive high school credit. This affords students the opportunity to move into higher level classes sooner and take our most advanced classes their senior year in high school, such as Calculus and Spanish 4.

At the high school level, students take Bible, English, Math, History, Spanish, and Science as part of their core courses. We prepare students for college by offering several college-level courses within those areas. Many of our weighted courses may be taken for Advanced Placement (AP) or Dual Credit (DC). These weighted courses include:

Anatomy & Physiology (DC)
Art Appreciation (DC)
Biology (DC)
Calculus (DC)
College Algebra (DC)
English Literature & Composition (Honors)
Lifetime Wellness (DC)
Physics (Honors)
Spanish (DC)
Spanish 4 (Honors)
Trigonometry (DC)
US History (Honors)

Diploma Types & GPA:

New Heights Christian Academy offers two diploma types. See our handbook for a full description of our Diploma Requirements. Letter grades are awarded based on a 10-point scale. GPA is calculated on a weighted scale, with honors courses earning up to five points.

College Preparatory Diploma - 28 total credits, including 4 Bible credits, 4 English credits, 3 Social Science credits, 3 Math credits, 3 Science credits, 1 Foreign Language credit, 1 Practical Arts credit, 0.5 Speech credit, 1 Fine Arts credit, 1 PE credit, and 6.5 elective credits.

Honors Diploma - 29 total credits, including 4 Bible credits, 4 English credits, 3 Social Science credits, 4 Math credits (including College Algebra/Trig), 4 Science credits, 2 Foreign Language credit, 1 Practical Arts credit, 0.5 Speech credit, 1 Fine Art credit, 1 PE credit, and 4.5 elective credits.

Students who receive an Honors Diploma must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and “B’s” or better (both semesters) in four core honors courses. One of these honors courses must be an AP or Dual Credit core course.

Testing:

In the fall, all ninth and tenth grade students take the Pre-ACT. They may take the PSAT. Eleventh grade students take a practice ACT and may opt to take the PSAT-NMSQT. In the spring, elementary and middle school students take the IOWA Assessments.

A+ Designated School:

As an A+ Designated School since 2017, we provide students the opportunity to meet the criteria needed to be eligible for the scholarship. Our Cadet Teaching Program allows students to complete the required 50 hours of mentoring/tutoring. Offered as a semester-long class, students spend one class period a day working in a designated elementary classroom, where they work with students in a one-on-one or small group capacity. Find out more about the A+ Scholarship program here.

1:1 Program

In the 1:1 initiative, every high school student is assigned a Chromebook to use in an educational facet in order to expand educational opportunities. Students are trained in Digital Citizenship throughout our curriculum.

College & Career:

Our comprehensive education includes college and career development. Middle and high school students engage in activities to help them consider possibilities for their future. Middle school students experience a career week and listen to many speakers. Students also use Naviance, a premier college and career readiness platform that connects interests and goals to post-secondary schools, degree programs, and careers.

Upon graduation, almost all of our students continue their education at a wide variety of colleges and universities such as Baylor University, Northwestern University, University of Arkansas, University of Missouri, and many more.