Mission

In 2008, both the U.S. Department of Education and the Utah State Office of Education released data regarding student achievement levels in core subject areas. Despite the efforts made by the government in the past 10 years, the numbers are alarming. Less than 35% of students in the U.S. are proficient in reading or mathematics. Of greater concern is the dramatic disparity between Caucasian students and students in the African-American and Hispanic communities and between low-income students and middle to upper income students. The gaps are between 20 and 30 percentage points in most cases. To further aggravate the situation, the disparity between families from low income backgrounds and those from middle to upper income backgrounds is equally astounding. Scores are around 20 percentage points lower for those students coming from low income families. As the world transitions into a global economy and America itself continues to experience vast changes in the demographic make-up of its citizens, both from a cultural standpoint and a socio-economic standpoint, the education system needs to create changes if the nation is to produce citizens that can integrate into the new economic structures and help build the American global economic engine.

Summit Christian Academy believes all children have the potential to be great, regardless of race, gender, or socio-economic status. With that in mind the governing bodies have been intentional about keeping quality education accessible for all families through keeping tuition low and offering tuition assistance to families who demonstrate need, while keeping our academic standards high and continually striving for excellence in education and character development. No one should be limited by the circumstance within which they were created.

At the same time, the Christian world is seeing a similar pattern emerge within the setting of the Church. Opportunities for mission, ministry, and Christian education are being passed over for children – especially those from low income backgrounds. Many churches have decided that funding needs to funnel toward adult programming. George Barna, the legendary Christian researcher, just released a book that he considers to be the culmination of his 20 years of research, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions. In the foreword, Barna laments the years in which he believed the most efficient path to help promote Christianity was through a heavy focus on the spiritual and moral development of adults. He writes, “In retrospect, my view was so far off the mark that I didn’t just miss the boat – I missed the entire ocean.” Instead, Barna asserts the following as the number one goal of his book, “If you do not share my view that ministry to children is the single most strategic ministry in God’s kingdom, then I hope this book will challenge your prevailing notions.”

First and foremost, SCA seeks to produce students of high moral character who place supreme value on living a life that focuses on serving others. The power of love, as demonstrated by Jesus, when incorporated into the life of a student will give them the ability make rich the lives of those around them. No matter how great the achievement of any one man or woman, willingness to serve those in need is the true test of strength. While climbing the ladder of success takes strength of mind, the humility to remove rank and drop to a knee, to extend a helping hand, requires strength of character.