A Brief History of Bethesda Christian Academy
In the early 1990’s, members of Bethesda Baptist Church felt the need for a Christian school to be located in the southern part of Durham County. A committee was formed to research the interest of families with school-aged children. The first of many tasks facing this committee was spending time in prayer and seeking God’s direction.
Once adequate need was determined, the committee, headed by Pastor John Butler and his wife Kristi, began to make plans for the academy to open in 1994. After much prayer, the committee felt led to delay the opening until the 1995-1996 school year.
Bethesda Christian Academy (BCA) began operation in 1995 with a kindergarten class of 17 students. The staff consisted of one kindergarten teacher, an assistant, and Pastor Butler serving as Principal. In the 1996-1997 school year, a first grade class was added. Pastor Butler continued to serve as Principal.
In 1997, Bethesda Baptist Church completed the new education wing of the Church and the Academy had the privilege of moving into space at the beginning of the 1997-1998 school year. This new location provided the Academy with space for a library and computer lab. In addition, Mr. Tony Manning was hired as the full-time Principal of BCA and enrollment increased to 75 students in grades K-2.
Originally, the BCA School Board had planned to add one grade per year to our list of offerings. In 1998, the decision was reconsidered, and a third and fourth grade were both added to the Academy. In the years to follow, one additional class was added per year until our curriculum K-8 was complete.
As BCA entered the 2000-2001 school year, we ventured into the world of “middle school”. An athletic director was hired and the middle school sports program began. Ms. Brenda Brown was promoted to the newly created Assistant Principal position to help with the expanding student population. The Band Program, which began the year before, was expanded to include intermediate band.
Middle school brought the extra challenges of providing the needed space for students to have the experience of changing classes and the opportunity to socialize. Over the next two years, modular units were added to house the core middle school classes. Teaching schedules were adjusted to allow teachers to specialize in specific subjects. Required state testing for Algebra and Computer was added to the middle school curriculum. Most of the growth challenges were handled on site; however, due to the limited gym and athletic fields, it became necessary for BCA to rent sports facilities.
In the 2019-2020 school year, the BCA School Board with the leadership at Bethesda Baptist Church prayerfully sought to start a high school at BCA. Seeing God's hand at work, the high school was officially adopted and a plan set into place to enroll our first high school students in the fall of 2021. Our high school is striving to meet the individual needs of every student. Our high school uses a hybrid classroom system. This system uses a blend of classes on our campus with classes at local colleges and online. With many opportunities for each student, a personal relationship with Christ is always the goal.
Since 1995, BCA has seen growth in many areas. Realizing the need for a well-rounded education; Art, Music, Physical Education, Computer, Spanish and other classes have been added to the curriculum. Various elective classes, after school clubs, National Junior Honor Society, Student Government, Bible Club and a variety of high and middle school sports have been added to give students the most positive learning experience possible.
BCA experienced consistent growth through the 2004-2005 school year. In subsequent years, the enrollment trend seems to follow the economy. The BCA School Board has continued to pray, seek God’s wisdom and provide feedback to the administration and teaching staff. The Board has undergone training in the area of Board Governance and has followed this model of administration since 2009.
The Academy was initially accredited during the 2006 school year and continues to maintain dual accreditation.
Once adequate need was determined, the committee, headed by Pastor John Butler and his wife Kristi, began to make plans for the academy to open in 1994. After much prayer, the committee felt led to delay the opening until the 1995-1996 school year.
Bethesda Christian Academy (BCA) began operation in 1995 with a kindergarten class of 17 students. The staff consisted of one kindergarten teacher, an assistant, and Pastor Butler serving as Principal. In the 1996-1997 school year, a first grade class was added. Pastor Butler continued to serve as Principal.
In 1997, Bethesda Baptist Church completed the new education wing of the Church and the Academy had the privilege of moving into space at the beginning of the 1997-1998 school year. This new location provided the Academy with space for a library and computer lab. In addition, Mr. Tony Manning was hired as the full-time Principal of BCA and enrollment increased to 75 students in grades K-2.
Originally, the BCA School Board had planned to add one grade per year to our list of offerings. In 1998, the decision was reconsidered, and a third and fourth grade were both added to the Academy. In the years to follow, one additional class was added per year until our curriculum K-8 was complete.
As BCA entered the 2000-2001 school year, we ventured into the world of “middle school”. An athletic director was hired and the middle school sports program began. Ms. Brenda Brown was promoted to the newly created Assistant Principal position to help with the expanding student population. The Band Program, which began the year before, was expanded to include intermediate band.
Middle school brought the extra challenges of providing the needed space for students to have the experience of changing classes and the opportunity to socialize. Over the next two years, modular units were added to house the core middle school classes. Teaching schedules were adjusted to allow teachers to specialize in specific subjects. Required state testing for Algebra and Computer was added to the middle school curriculum. Most of the growth challenges were handled on site; however, due to the limited gym and athletic fields, it became necessary for BCA to rent sports facilities.
In the 2019-2020 school year, the BCA School Board with the leadership at Bethesda Baptist Church prayerfully sought to start a high school at BCA. Seeing God's hand at work, the high school was officially adopted and a plan set into place to enroll our first high school students in the fall of 2021. Our high school is striving to meet the individual needs of every student. Our high school uses a hybrid classroom system. This system uses a blend of classes on our campus with classes at local colleges and online. With many opportunities for each student, a personal relationship with Christ is always the goal.
Since 1995, BCA has seen growth in many areas. Realizing the need for a well-rounded education; Art, Music, Physical Education, Computer, Spanish and other classes have been added to the curriculum. Various elective classes, after school clubs, National Junior Honor Society, Student Government, Bible Club and a variety of high and middle school sports have been added to give students the most positive learning experience possible.
BCA experienced consistent growth through the 2004-2005 school year. In subsequent years, the enrollment trend seems to follow the economy. The BCA School Board has continued to pray, seek God’s wisdom and provide feedback to the administration and teaching staff. The Board has undergone training in the area of Board Governance and has followed this model of administration since 2009.
The Academy was initially accredited during the 2006 school year and continues to maintain dual accreditation.
