Admissions FAQs

List of 19 frequently asked questions.

• Q. What is a covenant-model school?

  In Christian education, there are two primary models of community structure: missional and covenantal.
  
  

  Mission-model schools enroll a certain percentage of students from non-believing families. They open their schools as a mission field, evangelizing to students and families.
  
  

  Covenant-model schools require that at least one of the parents of enrolled students be a believer and ascribe to the Statement of Faith. They do this to build strong faith-based families.
  
  

  HCA is a covenant-model school.

• Q. Why is HCA a covenant-model?

  The covenant model unifies the HCA community with a singular purpose - to bolster the faith of future leaders who are exceedingly prepared for college and fully equipped to impact the world for Christ.
  
  

  Every enrolled HCA family affirms our Statement of Faith and maintains active involvement in a local evangelical church. This covenant commitment is not about exclusion—it’s about alignment.

   

  When families, teachers, and church leaders share the same core beliefs, trust is built, discipleship deepens, and students are surrounded by consistent spiritual guidance. Our goal is to foster a community where accountability is welcomed, encouragement is mutual, and Christ is central to every relationship.

   

  This shared foundation creates more than just a school—it builds a Christ-centered culture where students thrive in truth and grace.

• Q. Who has spiritual oversight of HCA?

  HCA operates as a ministry of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA). Redeemer has the sole spiritual oversight of HCA. This structure keeps HCA theologically grounded and missionally aligned with the church, while allowing the school’s leadership to carry out its day-to-day operations.
  
  

  Redeemer leadership and congregants impact HCA as members of the School Board, Administration, Faculty, and student body. 
  
  

  HCA is blessed with a permanent easement with Legacy Christian Church at the Upper School, but Redeemer Presbyterian has spiritual oversight over preschool through 12th grade.

• Q. How does Redeemer's church doctrine relate to what is taught at HCA?

  Bible doctrine and theology will be taught from an evangelical and reformed perspective. The doctrines of Scripture, God, Man, Sin, Salvation and Sanctification will be emphasized. Most evangelicals would agree with our biblical understanding and explanation of these doctrines. We generally stay focused on these areas; non-essential areas (like baptism, the end times, etc.) will not be emphasized, but will be addressed as they come up in the study of Scripture and when specific questions are asked. When such questions are addressed, respect and consideration will be given to the various interpretations within evangelicalism. Our position will be stated on these matters, but not in a way that disparages any other brothers or sisters in Christ. Students will be encouraged to discuss the issues further with their pastors and parents.
  
  

  Our goal is not to make people Presbyterian or PCA, but rather to be helpful assistants to Christian families in the discipleship and worldview formation of their children. We will promote a high view of Scripture and the competent, faithful study thereof. We will strive to teach students to think biblically, know the various positions held by others, and develop a coherent, Christ-honoring apologetic approach so they may always be prepared to make a defense of the hope that is within them (I Peter 3:15).

• Q. Do you have chapel services?

  Yes, students K-12 have chapel by seminary-trained pastors who uphold HCA's Statement of Faith every week.

• Q. Why is your school inside 2 churches?

  Heritage Christian Academy was officially established in 2010 as a merger between two successful schools. While much has changed over the years, the locations have stayed the same.
  
  

  Westminster Christian Academy was founded by Redeemer Presbyterian Church, which now houses our Preschool and Elementary programs.
  
  

  Berean Christian School was founded by Berean Bible Church in 1974. This school eventually became the current Upper Campus, grades 6-12.

• Q. What does security look like at HCA?

  We understand that school security is a top priority for families.
  
  

  We take the safety of our students, faculty, and staff very seriously. To ensure a secure environment, Titan Security provides armed security officers on each campus during school hours. Access to our campuses is closely monitored, and we collaborate with local authorities, who have conducted safety audits on our facilities to ensure that windows, doors, and other points of entry are secure. Additionally, our faculty and staff receive comprehensive safety training that includes fire, tornado, and active shooter drills to prepare for various emergency situations.
  
  

  While we ultimately trust in the Lord for our safety, we are committed to doing everything humanly possible to ensure our students feel safe and secure.

• Q. What do students have to wear at HCA?

  Students K-5 have a uniform dress code which includes skirts, pants, polos, and a selection of spirit wear items.
  
  Students 6-12 have a dress code which includes spirit wear, jeans, and polos.
  
  

  You can find more information about the dress code for each campus on the Life at HCA page.

• Q. What about books and school supplies?

  Books and classroom supplies are purchased by HCA and are included in your tuition.
  
  

  Student supply lists will be available for each school year in July.

• Q. How do families stay up-to-date at HCA?

  Every Friday, the all-school newsletter, The Charger Pulse, is sent to each family. This is a hub of information about upcoming events, messages from our school leadership, announcements, and reminders.

• Q. How can I get involved at HCA?

  Here at HCA, we believe that God has blessed every Charger family with unique gifts and talents that can build and connect the HCA community. No matter your life’s circumstances, there is a place for you in the CHARGE volunteer program.
  
  

  You can find a list of volunteer opportunities and complete the volunteer form in the Student Life section.

• Q. What sports do you offer?

  The HCA athletic program begins in 6th grade.
  
  

  MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS

  • Boys & Girls Soccer
  • Volleyball
  • Cross Country
  • Boys & Girls Basketball
  • Track

  
  HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS

  • Boys & Girls Soccer
  • Volleyball
  • Cross Country
  • Boys & Girls Basketball
  • Cheer
  • Track
  • Golf
  • Baseball

• Q. What clubs are offered at HCA?

  Besides our robust co-curricular programs in STEM and Fine Arts, HCA offers a number of other clubs your student can enjoy.
  
  

  HCA Clubs (in alphabetical order):
  

  • Ambassadors (6-12)
  • Jazz Band (8-12)
  • Kindness Council (K-5)
  • Mentoring (11-12)
  • National Honor Society (10-12)
  • Robotics (6-8 & 9-12)
  • Scholars Bowl (9-12)
  • Student Council (6-8 & 9-12)
  • Students for Life (9-12)
  • Young Americans for Freedom (9-12)

• Q. Do you offer before or after school care?

  BEFORE SCHOOL CARE
  We do not offer supervised care before school. However, grades 6-12 can enter the school building beginning at 7:35am and grades K-5 at 8:00am.
  
  

  HCA does offer busing in the morning from the Upper School to the Elementary for families wishing to opt in.
  
  

  AFTER SCHOOL CARE
  Both campuses offer supervised care for students after school until 5:30pm. Students will enjoy recreational time in the gym or a classroom with one of HCA's amazing teachers. Elementary dismisses at 3:00pm and Upper School at 3:05pm.

• Q. How does lunch work at HCA?

  HCA operates a closed-campus lunch, meaning that students stay on campus during lunch time. Students at either campus have two options: bring their own lunch or participate in the hot lunch program.
  
  

  HOT LUNCH AT THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUS
  The Elementary Campus utilizes the Olathe Public School for the hot lunch program. Parents must pre-order a lunch for their student in our School Information System (SIS).
  
  

  HOT LUNCH AT THE UPPER SCHOOL
  HCA caters lunch daily from various restaurants around south Johnson County. Parents must pre-order at lunch for their students in our School Information System.

• Q. What is the tech usage/policy at HCA?

  At HCA, we aim to partner with parents to cultivate a culture of digital responsibility and create a nurturing environment for every student throughout the school day.
  
  

  TECHNOLOGY USAGE BY PROGRAM
  Preschool: Our early childhood education program does not incorporate classroom technology.
  
  

  Elementary (Grades K-5): Teachers may occasionally use multimedia resources, such as videos and websites, for instructional purposes. K-2 Elementary students do limited educational games with 3rd-5th grades using a STEM Curriculum through Project Lead The Way (PLTW).
  
  

  Middle School (Grades 6-8): Starting in grade 6, HCA integrates Google educational platforms. Teachers have access to a Chromebook cart for activities such as typing, word processing, and research.
  
  

  High School (Grades 9-12): In 9th grade, students receive a school-issued iPad, which they will use throughout high school for homework, research, and communication.
  
  

  CELL PHONE POLICY
  Preschool: Cell phones and smart watches are not permitted.
  
  

  Elementary: Cell phones and smart watches are not permitted.
  
  

  Upper School: Students must keep cell phones and smart watches silenced and stored in their lockers at all times, out of classrooms. They may use their phones briefly during three designated periods throughout the day, totaling 18 minutes.
  
  

  A.I. IN THE CLASSROOM
  We acknowledge that we are just beginning to explore AI's potential in education. Students may only use AI tools with explicit permission and teacher guidance.

• Q. How many students are at HCA?

  Every year varies, but HCA typically has anywhere from 670-720 students enrolled.

• Q. How many students are in each grade?

  Kindergarten: 36 students per grade
  1st-3rd: 40 students per grade
  4th-5th: 44 students per grade
  6th-12th: 48 students per grade
  
  

  Preschool is harder to define because it is divided into different sections depending on age, days attended, and morning/afternoon shift. However, around 120 preschoolers are enrolled per year.

• Q. Is HCA accredited?

  Yes, HCA is proudly accredited through ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) and Cognia. We undergo a rigorous review process to maintain accreditation, demonstrating a high-quality educational program. Accreditation ensures that the school prioritizes Christian values and integrates biblical teachings into its instruction. ACSI and Cognia set specific standards for academics, spiritual development, and school operations that Heritage Christian Academy must meet to maintain accreditation.