Our Mission
We exist to serve the parents in the greater Spotsylvania area by cultivating virtue in young men and women through a Classical Christian education.
01
Cultivating Virtue
Virtue is character in action. It is likeness to Christ that begins deep in our character and extends outward into actions and deeds. While we know that “growing” virtue is a work of God, “cultivating” virtue is a responsibility of parents. Parents who partner with Heritage do so because they are prioritizing virtue formation in the hearts of their children.
02
Young Men and Women
We are complementarian – holding to the historic Biblical teaching that God created us male and female, with differing roles and with equal value. Every child is part of this beautiful, binary creation reality. We aim to equip boys to be men, husbands and fathers; and we aim to equip girls to be women, wives, and mothers. Parents who partner with Heritage want to move beyond defending the Biblical teaching, to seeing it celebrated in their children’s lives.
03
Classical
A classical education is one which developed in Classical Antiquity and focuses on the liberal arts: grammar, logic, rhetoric, math, music, and science. It aims to introduce students to the “Great Conversation” which has been happening in the West over the past 2000 years. Parents who partner with Heritage desire a robust education which equips their children with wisdom to engage with the culture.
04
Christian
A truly Christian education is Christ-centered. It is built from the ground up with the recognition that Christ is the center of all things. Every subject – be it rhetoric or music or science – finds its ultimate purpose in Christ. Parents who partner with Heritage desire that their children learn to find Christ in the center of their studies and the center of their lives.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Colossians 2:6-7
FAQs
Admission & Tuition
Who is HCA for?
We exist to help Christian families cultivate virtue in the hearts of their children. Our goal is also to provide a robust education. These distinctives mean that HCA will not be the right fit for every family or child. If you think that it might be for you, we look forward to hearing from you!
What grades are offered at Heritage Christian Academy?
Kindergarten through 12th.
When do you start accepting applications for the upcoming school year?
We will begin accepting applications for the upcoming school year on March 15. The first step is to fill out the application with a $100 application fee (per student). After these are received, we will schedule an in person interview with the perspective parents and student(s).
What is your policy regarding grade level?
Generally, students will be admitted to the grade level based on their age as of September 30. To start kindergarten at Heritage, students must be five years old as of September 30.
How much does it cost to attend Heritage Christian Academy?
Tuition and fees will be released for the coming school year by April 15, 2025. Our heart and commitment is to do everything within our power to make this education affordable for as many families as possible, while simultaneously paying our teachers well enough that they can make a long-term commitment to our school. Our tuition and fee numbers reflect careful planning and budgeting to ensure financial stability and that we’re providing a truly robust education.
Do you offer tuition discounts for multiple children from one family?
Families with more than four children may enroll additional children at no additional cost. Otherwise, we don’t offer discounted tuition for multiple students from a single family, but we strive to keep tuition as affordable as possible.
When did Heritage Christian Academy open?
We will be opening in the fall of 2025.
Academics
What is “Classical Education”?
The goal of a classical approach to education is to teach students how to learn for themselves by equipping them with the tools of learning. In the elementary ages, this looks like emphasizing core knowledge like math facts, reading skills, English and Latin vocabulary, and English grammar. The middle school ages are focused on discovering the connection between ideas and learning to use logic. The high school ages deepen the understanding through articulating what has been learned through writing and rhetoric.
Where did “Classical Education” come from?
Classical education refers to the prevailing method of educating children in democratic Greece and from the Renaissance until about 150 years ago. At that time, educators began experimenting with modern methods that threw off traditional methods in favor of training workers for the factory—and the results on American education and morals have been disastrous.
What makes “Classical Education” unique?
The uniqueness of classical instruction is readily apparent at the logic (middle school) and rhetoric (high school) phases. Emphasis here is not just knowledge for knowledge’s sake (or for the sake of a standardized test) but on discernment and prudent, persuasive communication of truth. At the grammar level (elementary school), the most apparent differences are in orientation—in that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” not “self discovery” or even the world around us—and methodology, with a heavy emphasis on memorization and earnest effort to encourage a love of learning through vivid books, hands-on projects, and wide exposure to what’s good, true, and beautiful.
If my incoming student hasn’t been exposed to classical education, will he or she be able to succeed academically?
We believe that students from a variety of educational backgrounds—including public school, conventional private school, and homeschool—will be able to transition successfully into classical education. Much of the foundational memory work is revisited each year of the grammar level, so incoming students will be able to learn that information beginning in any grade.
My incoming student has never taken Latin. Will he or she be able to catch up?
Absolutely! Our curriculum is designed to offer various “on ramps” so students who have not previously studied Latin will be able to participate fully in Latin class.
Can Heritage Christian Academy make accommodations for students with learning differences?
Classical teachers are prepared to work with students with different abilities, as long as one student’s needs do not dominate class time. Students with significant learning differences or behavioral problems would probably not thrive at Heritage Christian Academy due to the overall academic rigor and pace of instruction.
How hard is HCA?
We know that God has made your child unique, with particular strengths and weaknesses. Our desire is to come alongside parents to help their children grow to their potential. Our aim is to be “robust”, meaning an education that meets each student where they are and then helps them to grow, learn, and improve – perhaps even far beyond what they thought possible!
Is Heritage Christian Academy accredited, or are you planning to seek accreditation?
We will not seek accreditation by the state of Virginia, as that could require us to comply with state mandates that could compromise key elements of our mission and vision. As we grow, we plan to seek accreditation from the Association of Classical Christian Schools. Many excellent classical Christian schools aren’t yet accredited by and most choose not to become state accredited. Because we’re committed to one day seeking accreditation, you can be confident that we’re committed to excellence at every level—teaching, curriculum, administration, and leadership.
Statement of Faith & Denominational Affiliation
Are you affiliated with a particular church or denomination?
Yes! We are a ministry of Mercy Hill Community Church. Mercy Hill is a part of a small denomination called Sovereign Grace Churches. The values of our denomination and church are those which guide our school. To get Heritage started, and to help foster the values we desire to pursue, we began it as a ministry of our church. We are happy to be affiliated with our parent church and may remain affiliated for the long run. That said, our goal is to build Heritage into a strong Christian School which would at least have the potential to stand “on its own” under its own governing board.
Do you have a Statement of Faith?
Yes! We actually have three. The purpose of having three is to pursue a protestant reformed “catholicity” which invites protestants of a variety of reformed traditions to find their home at Heritage.
Sovereign Grace Churches Statement of Faith
The London Baptist Confession of 1689
Westminster Confession of Faith of 1647 (or as adjusted in 1789)
Who must agree with your Statement of Faith?
To maintain a distinctively Christ-centered community at Heritage, our board members, faculty, staff, and one parent or guardian of every student are required to sign a statement affirming that they agree with and abide by one of our Statements of Faith.
Must the family be involved in a local church?
Absolutely yes. Deeply. We are a ministry from churches and for churches. Our hope is to help families achieve their goal of training the next generation of the church, but we cannot do this alone – we must have the help of local churches. Families are expected to regularly attend their local church and to demonstrate deep commitment to their church’s mission and people.
Nuts and Bolts
What days are school days?
Students are on campus on Monday through Thursday from 7:30 AM through 2:30 PM.
Why do you have such unusual hours?
A shorter school day enables families to schedule activities for their children beyond robust academic pursuits. This could include sports, fine arts, internships, and employment. A shorter school week enables families to prioritize family and church. Every weekend is a three-day weekend meaning activities, extra-curricular opportunities, and meaningful involvement in their local church are always possible.
Where is the campus?
We meet at Mercy Hill Community Church at 9215 Courthouse Rd, Spotsylvania, VA.
What security measures will be in place?
We’ve consulted with local law enforcement officers to implement best practices for student safety. We will gladly talk with parents about some of these safety measures, but will refrain from putting them all online.
Will you require school uniforms?
Yes, we’ve established a uniform policy to help students embrace their vocation as students striving toward excellence, avoid social distractions related to attire, and as a security measure so that teachers and staff can easily identify students. We also believe that using school uniforms will ultimately save parents money.