Westminster Christian Academy

From a former wildcat: I transferred there starting with junior high and stayed until graduation. Almost all negative reviews are from drama in one's life or an "insufficient" education. First, almost all people who hate a school because of drama(girlfirend/boyfriend problems, relationships, etc.) will hate most schools because they allow themselves to be drawn into or give into certain relationships. Six years at WCA and I had no drama problems because I didn't date a different person or change my friends every other week. Second, as of 2011, WCA has a smaller number of AP classes then Bob Jones or Grissom but that in no ways equates to an insufficient education. My ACT scores were in the top 99th percentile and I was able to get into every school I applied to, the most prestigious being a top 25 nationally ranked school. It is up to the individual student! Even in college I have been well prepared, even ahead. Also, you have more chances to show leadership(vital to prestigious schools)because of the small number of students compared to the large number of extracurricular activities. Last, just visit a football or other game and feel the school spirit for yourself.

I am a former student at westminster. I really enjoyed the school in elementary school but once i got to middle school it was the worst 3 years of my life. The kids are all immature spoiled bratts. the four years i was there i didnt make one steady friend and i am very outgoing, it seems to be that the only kids that like the school are the ones that have been there since kindergarten. I felt that i was not learning as much as my friends from public school and they had better grades than me. The kids are very clique-ey and stuck up, my parents seem to love the school but they havent been there.do NOT send your kids to that school. its the biggest waist of money and there are far fewer opportunities than public school,church is for teaching about God and I feel that school should be about learning about the occupations and how to deal with college, no kids that go to westminster get anywhere in life. okay that is all

My girls have been at WCA for 7 and 4 years now. They both love the school, teachers and learning. They both score Above Average on almost every section of the Stanford achievement test. They also love being in the band. We are truely blessed to be at this school.
--Submitted by a parent

I wish I had never went to this school. If I was given the opportunity to go back, I would rather have dropped out! Many of the teachers at WCA are uncaring. Nothing was done about bullying which happened to me on a nearly daily basis. I was practically driven away from going to church for a long time after leaving due to the hypocracy that runs rampant at that school. Also I was a bit unprepared for college as the teachers there refuse to teach scientific theories that would be needed for college level science.

Westminster academics, curriculum, leadership, and facilities are leaps and bounds ahead of the public school that we transferred from. I suppose they are not perfect, but who is? Parent/teacher/administration communication is encouraged and that really makes a difference. Westminster has surpassed our expectations thus far. It's definitely worth checking out.
--Submitted by a parent

Westminster is a school in a tremendous growth process. They realize that there is much improvement that needs to be made in their academic climate. For a school that has been in existence for 45 years it has an appallingly low academic bar. If you look closely at the programs that stand out and are supported by the administration they are primarily the athletics. The academics are way behind. Depending on your priorities, this could be an ideal school.
--Submitted by a parent

I have recently transferred my kids from a large school in Georgia. This is an excellent school. God first and students second. The people involved with this school from the administration to the janitor are the nicest people I have ever meet. It gives a high level of education, and the kids are very welcoming. Me and my family love this place, and only wish we would have never waisted time in Georgia.
--Submitted by a parent

To be honest, yes parents love this school. But it's because they don't go here. Academically, there are some good parts, some very poor. I was in major leadership roles in this school and I loved it, but at the same time it was frustrating because the administration and the structure of the overall school in my opinion was needing some major work. They are slowly but surely making changes, and especially with the new coming building, I feel those changes could be speeding up. If you are going to put your child here, prepare them to be able to stand strong and stand up in what they believe, face frustrations with teachers and maybe some conflicting beliefs on certain Bible topics, and get an outdated education.
--Submitted by a student

First and foremost, I had the unfortunate experience of attending Westminster for all 12 years of my schooling (not by choice). Pros Good christian values are represented throughout all of the academic and athletic programs at the school. Cons (there are many) The academics is tremendously sub-par. Very few AP courses or honors classes(w/poor performance on the few AP exams)...If you take a look at the graduation class each year it becomes evident of this. A third of the class will go to calhoun community college. A third will go evenly between alabama and auburn. and the other third will go to small colleges in alabama or not college at all. This is consistent every year. There are rarely any kids from westminster that aspire to go anywhere outside their comfort zone. Westminster kids are sheltered into thinking that in the real-world all people love God and dont curse.
--Submitted by a student

As a former student who attended WCA for 8 years, I have to disagree with some of the comments made. Yes, the textbooks and teachers stress quality Christian principles, but from my experience, the overall academic atmosphere lacked excellence, especially when compared to the nearby schools such as Randolph, Bob Jones, and Grissom. If a Christian education is what is sought for your students, then I definitely recommend sending them to WCA, but if you want a school that will really prepare your children for the rigor of the real world, I would advise looking some place else.
--Submitted by a student