What grade levels are offered at Cornerstone Academy?

For 2009-2010, Cornerstone offers a full academic program for kindergarten through ninth grade. Half-day and full-day kindergarten is available.  Each year, another grade will be added until CA is a full K-12 school.

How does the school view parental involvement?

It is viewed as necessary and welcome!  Cornerstone Academy’s mission to partner with parents can only be fulfilled through the ongoing involvement of the parents.  Much of what is done on a daily basis is accomplished through the efforts of the volunteer staff.  Parents as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even friends are encouraged to invest their time and talents in the classrooms and for special events.

Is your school associated with a denomination or area church? 

Cornerstone Academy is not associated with a particular denomination or local church.  It is a Christian school that welcomes students and families from a variety of Christian church affiliations.

Is Cornerstone Academy accredited by any agency or organization?

Cornerstone Academy is a member of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).  Cornerstone is currently going through the process of accreditation with ACSI.

Are your teachers certified to teach in the state of Tennessee?

State certification is not a requirement to teach at Cornerstone Academy. Teachers must, however, possess a bachelor’s degree and go through a very thorough interview process.  They must be active and faithful Christians, demonstrate a love for teaching and children, be committed to the classical model of education, and have a passion for the subjects they teach.  Once hired, all teachers are required to be certified through the school’s accrediting agency, ACSI, whose standards require continued education in biblical and educational studies.  Many of the teachers at Cornerstone have graduate degrees and all are specifically trained in classical and Christian education methods.

Do you offer tuition discounts or financial aid? 

Cornerstone Academy offers financial assistance based on need to families that apply and qualify. To apply, families must submit a financial aid application which is available online or through the office to Family Financial Needs Assessment (FFNA), a financial needs assessment organization.  Financial aid is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

What about academic standards? How rigorous is your program?

Achieving academic excellence is part of Cornerstone Academy’s mission. A variety of teaching and learning methods are adopted to enable students to meet their full intellectual and spiritual potential.

What about new students transferring into your program from other schools?

It has been Cornerstone Academy’s experience that students transferring from other schools have adjusted readily to the new approach to learning as well as to the different types of curricula.  Reasonable allowances are made for transfer students in the areas of study that they may not have been previously exposed to.  One example would be Latin.

Do your students participate in standardized testing programs?

The Stanford Achievement test is administered to every grade each year in the spring.

Do you have a preschool?

Cornerstone Academy does not offer pre-school at this time.