SouthLake Christian Academy

SouthLake Christian Academy is a Christ-centered, college-preparatory school serving grades junior kindergarten through 12 in the Charlotte, NC area. SouthLake Christian Academy was founded in 1994 as a ministry of SouthLake Presbyterian (PCA) Church.

SouthLake Christian provides a challenging college-preparatory curriculum that prepares graduates to excel in their chosen field of study. SouthLake has 35 athletic teams, which offer competitive programs for middle and high school students. The fine arts program develops students in the visual, musical and theater arts. SouthLake's Wingspan program provides outreach and missions opportunities in the Lake Norman community, the nation, and internationally.^[1]

SouthLake Christian is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS-CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancEd. Additional accreditation is held by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).^[2]

The current head of school is David B. Rowles, who took the position in 2015.^[3]

In 2016 the school had about 640 students^[4] and tuition ranged from $8,500 to $12,000.^[5]

Mission

SouthLake Christian Academy exists for the sake of God's glory and mission; proclaiming the gospel and discipling the whole person in all aspects of God's reality.^[6]

About the school

The vision of SouthLake Christian is that Christ may be preeminent in all things. Because of this, the school is a mission, where students are taught the gospel of Jesus Christ through daily instruction in God’s Word and integration of biblical principles into every academic, artistic, athletic, service and social endeavor. It is our hope that each student and family that comes to SouthLake Christian will come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

SouthLake Christian is conveniently located in the Lake Norman community north of Charlotte on 30 acres in Huntersville, NC. The campus and facilities have grown over the years to accommodate the growth of the Lake Norman region. The campus includes three main academic buildings, a gymnasium, a library, three computer labs, a field house (with weightlifting and training rooms), a softball field, a cross country course, and a turf athletic field for soccer, lacrosse and football.^[7]

SouthLake is creating a STEM lab by beginning with LEGO Education software and build sets.^[8]

On July 28, 2016 the former headmaster for 18 years, Wayne Parker, pleaded guilty to stealing 9 million dollars from the school.^[9]

Academic Philosophy

SouthLake Christian Academy emphasizes academic rigor utilizing a college-preparatory, biblically-integrated curriculum. Each classroom is energized by a challenging and supportive environment. Smaller class sizes enable allow instructors to provide individual attention and to encourage students to perform at their highest level.

SouthLake Christian promotes an engaging and exceptional learning environment through the use of curriculum, technology and individual teaching methods. Each student absorbs information in a variety of ways and learns using different skill sets. The multi-sensory teaching approach accommodates most learning styles to teach to each student's strengths.^[10]

Arts

SouthLake Christian celebrates the arts, including performing and visual arts. Students participate in productions from kindergarten through high school and have regular art class through the eighth grade. High school students are required to achieve a Fine Arts credit for graduation.

Extra-curricular offerings in Fine Arts include the ACSI Art Festival, the ACSI Creative Writing Festival, Christmas Music Night, the Spring Extravaganza, local music competitions, and the newly established Legacy Benefit Gala. The highlight of each year is the annual high school drama production featuring musicals such as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Bye Bye Birdie, The Wizard of Oz, Oklahoma! and Seussical.^[11]

Service and Missions

Learning at SouthLake does not stop at the door. Service opportunities are offered at all age levels in the outreach endeavor known as Wingspan. Kindergarten children sing and share Bible verses in nursing homes, second graders sort cans at the Ada Jenkins Food Pantry. Three days in November are dedicated for freshmen to complete service projects for local widows, while sophomores head to rural Honea Path, South Carolina to complete construction projects for widows in need. The senior class trip in May is dedicated to serving street boys in Peru by building schools and orphanages.^[12]

Athletics

SouthLake Christian Academy offers athletics as a unique opportunity to teach self-discipline, teamwork, obedience, compassion and Christ-like character on the field of competition. The athletic program seeks to develop these spiritual characteristics while also training the physical body in a competitive environment.

SouthLake offers middle and high school students the opportunity to compete in 14 different sports on 35 competitive teams. SouthLake teams have enjoyed success by winning 5 team state championships (NCISAA) and 20 individual state championships in baseball, cross country, football, swimming, volleyball and wrestling.^[13]

Sports offered at SouthLake Christian are: Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, and Wrestling.^[14]

References

http://www.southlakechristian.org/

Coordinates: 35°25′42″N 80°56′10″W / 35.42847°N 80.9361856°W / 35.42847; -80.9361856

1. ↑ "About". SouthLake Christian Academy. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
2. ↑ "SouthLake Christian Academy Profile". Private School Review. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
3. ↑ "Administrative Staff". SouthLake Christian Academy. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
4. ↑ "SouthLake Christian Academy Profile". Private School Review. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
5. ↑ "Tuition & Financial Aid". SouthLake Christian Academy. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
6. ↑ "Mission & History". SouthLake Christian Academy. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
7. ↑ "Mission & History". SouthLake Christian Academy. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
8. ↑ Daniels, Rachel (20 December 2014). "SouthLake Christian builds learning through LEGOs". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
9. ↑ Gordon, Michael; Cole, Kiana (28 July 2016). "Ex-headmaster pleads guilty to stealing millions from Charlotte-area school, church, families". The Charolotte Observer. Retrieved 30 July 2016. 
10. ↑ "Mission & History". SouthLake Christian Academy. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
11. ↑ "Mission & History". SouthLake Christian Academy. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
12. ↑ "Mission & History". SouthLake Christian Academy. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
13. ↑ "From the Athletic Director". SouthLake Christian Academy. Retrieved 14 October 2016. 
14. ↑ "SouthLake Christian Academy profile". Private School Review. Retrieved 14 October 2016.