Cape Fear Academy

I have had 3 children at Cape Fear Academy since Kindergarten. I can honestly say that the academics have been very challenging thus far. My oldest daughter is currently completing her first year of Middle School and I can see that she has truly developed excellent study habits and she is reaping the rewards of her hard work with great pleasure. The CFA Lower School prepared her for the work load and academic demands of Middle School. It has been worth every dollar invested and every sacrifice taken to give my children the best education in town. From my personal comparisons, it seems as if CFA manages to stay academically ahead of other schools in the area by a minimum of 1 year and by 2 years in certain subjects. The small class sizes, teacher-to-student ratios, parent involvement, and additional skills teachers make CFA a strong competitor in the private sector. I am thankful and proud to be a part of such a great organization.
—Submitted by a parent

Ten years ago, soon after we moved to Wilmington, my wife and I were invited to meet with school administrators to discuss our expectations of Cape Fear Academy as our school of choice for our children. Our message at the time was simple and straightforward: our kids will one day compete on a global stage so we expect their education to be competitive with like schools across the nation. Last week we learned that five CFA Seniors were named National Merit Scholarship Finalists. Nine percent of the Class of 2011 placed in the top 1% of their US peer group who took the PSAT last year. Numbers do not deceive.....those statistics are impressive any way you slice them. We would like to personally commend the entire CFA staff for developing and implementing a regional academic program that enables CFA students to achieve at the highest level. In the past, when programs have not measured up to a strong national standard, the school made the appropriate adjustments to insure improvement. This is all we can ask for. I congratulate them for delivering on a challenge set forth a decade ago.
—Submitted by a parent

Cape Fear Academy is so much more than a school. It is a future builder. Everyday and I mean every single day, it is absolutely apparent that my husband and I have made the exact right decision in sending our child to CFA. And for us that decision came with some sacrifices, but it is so worth it. We have watched our little girl grow in confidence as her mind expands to the world of learning. She is challenged to do her best and beat her best, everyday. We are thrilled with the support and guidance our child and our family receive from both teachers and the administrators. As we ready ourselves and our second child to begin his school career, we are so comforted and, quite frankly, amazed at the completely open, honest and direct discussions we are able to have with members of the admissions team, administrators and teachers about what is right for our son now and what are the best steps to take for his future.
—Submitted by a parent

I have children in Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools at Cape Fear Academy. This school has become so much more than an educational institution for our family. It is home. It is comfortable. It is challenging. It provides opportunity. And, it provides nurturing, not only for our children, but also for entire families. I am so thankful to be able to have my children there.
—Submitted by a parent

Not only is the the quality of education outstanding at CFA, the faculty and staff are actively caring and compassionate. My daughter is truly being educated 'by heart.' I can think of no better education.
—Submitted by a parent

As parents of minority children, we had some concerns about CFA -- it had originally been founded as a 'white flight' school when Wilmington public schools desegregated in the early '70s. But we could not ignore the school's reputation for academic excellence. We wanted the best for our children and decided to risk the potential racism as a tradeoff against the advantages of attending such a rigorous school. We're happy to say our fears of prejudice were unfounded. All three of our children have thrived at CFA -- a school which is as supportive as it is demanding. Furthermore, as CFA graduates, they had no difficulty in gaining admission into the colleges of their choice. We won't pretend making the tuition was not a sacrifice, but it was an investment that has paid off very well indeed.
—Submitted by a parent

Both of our children are students at CFA and we couldn't be happier. The children are able to truly excel in an environment where they are respected and where high expectations are a norm. There are countless opportunities for children to have experiences out of the classroom such as overnight trips to salt marshes and mandatory community service activities. 100% of students are accepted into 4 year college programs and this past year, CFA was one of very few schools in the country where the students excelled at more than 1 AP exam. We are thrilled with the school and know our children are growing in ways we could only hope for in the majority of schools.
—Submitted by a parent

Two of my children attend CFA and have been there since PK and 1st grade. They are now entering 3rd and 5th grades and are as enthused to be there as the first day they attended. I believe the school provides an excellent education to all students, on all different ability levels. CFA challenges those student that wish to be challenged and offers an excellent skills program to those students that have special needs. The curriculum is exceptional, the homework moderate, and the after school extracurricular activities (like the chess club) exciting. I don't know of another school in the area, both public or private, that does a better job of offering an overall package to parents and students alike. Several other assets CFA has going for it is it's beautiful campus and facilities. The brand new upper school boasts state of the art computer and chemistry labs and a top-notch drama stage system. I am looking forward to my children using these wonderful facilities down the line. Another key element that CFA has is its 'community' feel. Parents are always encouraged to become envolved in the many volunteer opportunities, from PSA and numerous other committees to classroom activities and reading. The number of parents that come in to share their unique knowledge and talents with the children still amazes me, like the time last year a doctor parent helped third graders swab for and culture bacteria from different things (bottoms of shoes, hands, etc.) Not only did the children truly learned the importance of good hygene, they were imspired to ask further questions and wonder more about their experience. I, myself, started out as a parent volunteer and was so enthuastic about CFA that when a teachers assistant position opened up I accepted it. I enjoy being at CFA every day and am starting my third year there this fall. I believe CFA has some great, very committed teachers who get the kids excited about learning. The school is particularly strong academically and offers a broad array of 'winning' athletic teams and sports. An energetic new headmaster came on board last year and seems to be inspiring both teachers and students to do their best. The school benefits from lots of parent involvement as well as strong support from the local community.
—Submitted by a parent