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Cary Christian School

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a classical education compare to other educational models?

Classical education teaches with the grain of a child’s development, which makes learning more enjoyable for students. Classical teaching engages the active mind of a student with the active mind of a teacher. The classroom environment is known for its vibrancy and rich conversation. Because the classical model is grounded in the liberal arts, we are cultivating critical thinking skills in our students and developing them into articulate communicators who are able to defend their beliefs.

Even though the classical model is a proven methodology, it is as strong as the teachers and staff who are committed to cultivating relationships with students and parents. The heartbeat of Cary Christian School is the student-teacher relationship and parent-teacher partnership. We believe this is the only way for students to achieve extraordinary outcomes.

CCS’s kindergarten program is chock full of activity, exploration, recitation, singing, and hands-on activities. You’d be amazed at all your kindergartener will learn and how they will be reading by Christmas. Kindergarten is a full day program with an option for early release in the first semester, with students leaving at 12:15 p.m. 

School begins in early August. We operate on quarters, enjoying two-week breaks in October, December, and March and having two full months of summer vacation. Students, teachers, and parents love our modified traditional calendar!
 
Our daily schedule is as follows:
  • Kindergarten  8:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (with a 12:15 p.m. dismissal option first semester only)
  • Grades 1-5 – 8:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Grades 6-8 – 8:00 a.m. – 2:25 p.m.
  • Grades 9-12 – 8:00 a.m. – 3:25 p.m.

We offer a study hall and study center for students in Kindergarten – Grade 8. There is an additional cost and programs are supervised. We offer quiet time for students to complete homework followed by a free play time with games and activities. After school programs end at 5:15 P.M. Please contact the main desk at school for more detailed information and cost at 919.303.2560.

Cary Christian School is a non-denominational Christian school. We are a diverse body coming from over 100 area churches. Our staff and board members also come from a number of different strong evangelical churches. We operate under our historical and common Statement of Faith.

Although we do not have a chapel or regularly scheduled chapel services, students engage in regular times of prayer, singing, fellowship, and study of Scripture. All aspects of student life—academics, the arts, and athletics—are saturated with a biblical worldview which enlarges the scope of biblical training provided at CCS.

Once students enter the Upper School (Grades 6-12), they engage in monthly convocation times aimed at cultivating strong character based on goodness, strength, and freedom.

Cary Christian School from the beginning has not accepted state or federal funding to support the school’s finances. Although Cary Christian School does not accept the NC Opportunity Scholarship, we do offer tuition assistance through a third party. Families who qualify can receive up to 50% tuition assistance.

CCS students take Latin from grades 3-7. Here are 3 benefits to your student by offering them Latin:

  • Better English – Learning a root language such as Latin lays the groundwork for understanding English grammar, which leads to better writing and communication.
  • Broader Vocabulary – 50% of the English language is rooted in Latin and 90% of polysyllabic vocabulary is rooted in Latin.
  • Facilitates Learning Other Romance Languages – Romance languages like Spanish, French, and Italian are derivatives of Latin.

Incoming students that are new to Latin have the opportunity to attend a summer “crash course” to provide basic background knowledge that will equip them to begin alongside their peers on the first day of school. Our teachers and staff have experience in assisting families and students transition to a new school and new curriculum. We find that incoming students generally assimilate quickly and by Christmas break are feeling confident in Latin. Our teachers look at each student’s individual circumstances and come alongside them to help them succeed.  Students who have had prior training in Shurley grammar are especially well prepared for our Latin instruction.

We have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying.

In addition to all the movement and active learning in our classrooms, K–5 students enjoy 20-minute recesses with snack and again at lunch times. Our Logic students, 6–8th grade, will be happy to know they too enjoy an outdoor break time following their lunch period. We also encourage the Rhetoric students, 9–12th grade, to go outside for fresh air every day.

Yes! But our students are prepared for so much more! We want our students to leave CCS prepared for whatever God’s calling is in their life. Our College and Career Counselors start working with families starting in the 9th grade. They offer essay writing clinics and will support the students through the application process. Whether students are called to an Ivy League school, a state school, a trade school, or any other pursuit, we want them to be equipped to flourish in the modern world.

Our school is more rigorous than most schools in North Carolina in the 21st century. Yet, we find that students rise to high standards because their teachers pursue and shepherd them according to their uniqueness. Students work hard and find joy in the process of learning because of the relationships with their teachers and the collaborative and conversational classroom culture.
 
Cary Christian School’s workload is in line with other classical and Christian schools. Our students do advance more quickly because of the efficiency of learning. Teachers assign quality work rather than quantity. “Homework” for students consists of studying for tests and quizzes, finishing up math or reading assignments not completed in class, and projects. We do not assign busy work, and teachers coordinate testing dates so that students are not overloaded with tests falling all on one day.

Yes. In 2002, we gained and continue to hold accreditation from the Association of Classical & Christian Schools (ACCS).

Cary Christian School sees technology as effective tools to enhance learning but not as a replacement for the student-teacher relationship. We incorporate and advance technology when it adds depth and insight into the classroom learning culture. The goal of our educational enterprise is to develop in students the capacity to think and live well rather than develop “skills” as such. Toward that end, we use technology such as interactive whiteboards, computers, and scientific lab equipment in various ways in support of our mission.
 
As a classical school, we understand the benefits of utilizing the timeless methods proposed by Dorothy Sayers and the Trivium. Though our approach is classical, it is not antiquated. A goal is to educate students to be successful thinkers and do-ers in the twenty-first century. We do this through historically proven, classical methods using a variety of tools, including the technologies available to us in today’s world.
 
At Cary Christian School, each classroom is equipped with an interactive whiteboard. At the elementary level, having exposure to the whiteboard as a teacher-guided resource allows the students an introduction to responsible and appropriate use of technology. It is able to enhance lessons and subjects throughout the day as opposed to the limited exposure from an isolated computer class.
 
Our sixth graders take a typing course that will develop keyboarding skills, teach Word, Excel and PowerPoint—all these tools they will use frequently.
 
Our Rhetoric students will need a computer for research and writing.

Please refer to our Admissions page for information on how to apply to Cary Christian School.