Crossroads Christian Academy is a private school
dedicated to academic excellence with a Christian worldview. CCA
offers an American style education from preschool (age 4) through
grade 12. The school was founded as a ministry of Crossroads Bible
Church in 1997 by a small group of missionaries, pastors and parents.
The school year consists of two semesters, one beginning early August
to mid-December and the other from mid- January to mid-June.
Organization: A Board of Directors
governs Crossroads Christian Academy. The school is accredited
by the Ministry of Education of Panama and is in the accreditation
process with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
(currently candidacy status). The school is a member of the Association
of Christian Schools International, the Tri-Association and the
Association of American Schools in Central America (AASCA).
Curriculum: The curriculum is
based on U.S educational standards. In addition to the core subjects,
instruction is offered in Bible, Fine Arts, and Technology with
classes such as Photography, Interior Design, Home Economics,
and Marine Science in the secondary. Spanish is offered as a foreign
language in grades 1 through 12 and as a native language class
in grades 2 - 10. Private music lessons are offered in conjunction
with the school program. Extracurricular activities include basketball,
volleyball and soccer. Many graduates go on to higher education
in colleges and universities in the United States.
Faculty: The majority of the
faculty is recruited from the U.S. Teachers are expected to have
a degree in their area of teaching and have teaching certification
from a U.S. state. Spanish language teachers are hired locally.
Currently, there are 21 full-time teachers and 8 part-time teachers.
Enrollment: From
preschool through grade twelve there are currently 239 students
enrolled, approximately 36% of which are U.S. citizens, 40% are
host-country nationals and 24% are students from over twenty other
countries. Prior to admittance, students are tested for
academic and English competency. Students deficient in English
are not accepted in grades 1-12. ESL is available only in K4 and
K5. Students with special needs are not accepted, based on the
school’s lack of resources to adequately meet such needs.
Facilities: Crossroads Christian
Academy shares facilities with Crossroads Bible Church. There
are a total of seventeen classrooms, an infirmary, two libraries,
a kitchen, an auditorium, an outdoor kitchen and social area.
Additional school facilities include an outdoor play shelter,
soccer field and playground. There are also a number of recreational
facilities located in nearby communities which the school utilizes.
