Veritas Christian Academy

I am a parent with a child currently attending VCA. My child has been with this school for the past five years. After reading reviews, I felt compelled to address these with the TRUTH.This is an amazing place with an incredibly dedicated and loving faculty. Corporal punishment has NEVER been used and grace-centered discipline is always practiced. The leadership is accessible and kind. Communication is fabulous (newsletters every Monday, email every week, Parent web, mandatory and at-will conferences, same day call back, etc.) The school has an excellent teacher retention and has had the same logic team in place for years. The building is an older building with beautiful classical appeal and A/C and heat througout. An asbestos report is available upon request, indicating no problems and no lead paint or mold...period. Students in High School may not use cell phones during the school day but certainly may after school. The school does NOT conduct bag checks. The school does have a program for students with high-funtioning autism and these students (2 in the entire school) are in the classroom with one-on-one support. Christians should support those with special needs.
—Submitted by a parent

When you first visit this school, you may be impressed by the academic philosophy. Learning Latin beginning in 3rd grade will help with those SAT scores, right? And they will show you examples of the students' writing and the literature list. But all that is useless because the attitude of the faculty and staff is demeaning and even damaging to the students. When you have the 1st grade teacher referring to that 1st grade year as "boot camp", you know you have a problem. The staff manhandles the children. My child was bruised by a staff member. Whats worse is that the school allows for no indicidual learning curve--if you are ahead, you are out of luck. If you are behind, the staff will try to lanel you as dyslexic or ADHD and recommend medication. Be sure to ask how many children there are on medication for ADHD. It's been 3 years since we were at the school and my child is still affected by the terrible experience we had there. Confidence was destroyed and we lost about a year of education. Thankfully we are making up for it now, but it was an expereince I would not wish on anyone.
—Submitted by a parent

In my opinion a strong education includes: strong staff, excellent leadership, and good facilities for a sound, well-rounded education. Veritas surely lacks the kind of leadership and facilties that allow it to be a superior school. Eventually, subpar leadership with questionable decision-making will drag down even the best staff. I would not send my child for these reasons.
—Submitted by a parent

I am sorry but after 3 years of my kid being at Veritas 6th, 7th, 8th, all I have to say is THANK MY LORD JESUS for Asheville Christian Academy. My child is now a 4.0 GPA with all honors classes 9th grader(2010/11 Year) at ACA. Veritas is no comparison on all levels especially in faculty/parent communication, support and involvement. ACA is what a state of the art classical "CHRISTIAN" school of college prep is all about. My grade for Veriitas would be a C and for ACA an A+.
—Submitted by a parent

while no school is perfect, Veritas makes every attempt to meet the needs of its students and prepares them academically in a way that no other school does. If you're looking for "fun" in education, then recognize that your student's choices for the future will be greatly limited. It's better to focus on good relationships with peers and teachers, classes that challenge the students to reach beyond what comes easily, and limited distractions (what student really needs a cellphone during school hours?). VCA provides all of these and more
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school! The teachers and staff are loving, caring and want to see each student succeed. The facilities may be old, but so are many of the public schools in the area. Besides I'm more concerned with the education for my child rather than shiny new buildings! It truly is a Christ-centered school.
—Submitted by a parent

The facilities are not the greatest but they are making improvements all along. What is going to matter when your child is 18 - - whether their desk was sparkly & new or whether they are prepared to face college & young adulthood with a strong education and Godly vision? The classical education cannot be beat. But, most importantly, the teachers and staff are loving and dedicated. I have no doubt my child is receiving a superior education and learning self-discipline and confidence along the way. The children and the parents in the school I have met have always proven to be good Christian people, with the children's best interests at heart - mostly professionals or stay-at-home moms that are community leaders.
—Submitted by a parent

I have to agree. I have a lot of reservations about keeping my daughter at vertias this year. In is not the direction I want my daughter to go. I see the issue with the logic classes. I see the struggle and the worry about failing a class and not have the resources there to get help. The actually logic team left last year. So they just put in what they had. Thats what you get! Worth the money and your childs future grades? Hmmmmm
—Submitted by a parent

I really like the school. Great structure. A bit to rigid in the high school groups. Bag checks, not letting them have cell phones even after school. Forgetting that high school is about fun.
—Submitted by a parent

Really think this out, before enrolling. The environment is safe, and caring. Building is old, and not very safe. Asbestos? LEad Paint? Mold? There is a musty smell, all through the school....always. Air conditioning is old and does not work presently. (Might be repaired) Kids went to school in August and literally 'sweated' right through their clothes. Heat- In Winter the heat is practically absent. Lunch Room - Not impressed with the 'buy' lunch program. You have to pre order a month in advance and pay with PayPal. Not convenient at all. No Art Class,? Almost all extra curriculars will cost you money. You have to pay for art class in grade 6-12.?? No computer training...labs. Textbooks: Many are really old. Some are new. Bathrooms: Really old Class size: 12-21 Seems to be many children that are 'special' and need extra attention. Problems like Autistic Children...are put into same classes with non autistic children. Good hearted people run the school
—Submitted by a parent

Veritas has a great, loving environment with excellent, classical-based education. You cannot find a better school for your child.
—Submitted by a parent