Lighthouse Christian Academy

Lighthouse Christian Academy, in Santa Monica, California, is a private, non-profit college preparatory school founded in 1992 as an outgrowth of the Lighthouse Church School (founded in 1983).^[1] It offers varsity sports, drama, music and historical tour programs. In 2004, it purchased its own property.^[1] As of 2007, it is accredited by the International Christian Accrediting Association, an independent Christian educational association.^[2]

History

Lighthouse Christian Academy was an extension of the Lighthouse Church School, a ministry of the Lighthouse Church in Santa Monica.^[3] It started in the rooms of the church and was taught mostly by parents who wanted an alternative to the secular education of the public schools.^[1] But enrollment growth prompted the purchase of the separate campus for the high school in 2004, about a mile from the Lighthouse Church School.^[1] The college preparatory school is largely the brainchild of Lighthouse Church Senior Pastor Rob Scribner, a former UCLA and LA Rams football player^[4]

Enrollment and international students

Enrollment is currently about 50 students. Its student body is 34% white, 34% Hispanic, 14% African American, 8% Asian, 10% international.^[5] Lighthouse admissions adheres to a non-discrimination policy.^[5] Tuition is $6000,^[6] though much higher for international students.^[7] In addition to their studies, international students receive housing with a host family.^[8]

Academics

Lighthouse Christian Academy is also accredited by AdvancED, under the taxonomy of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.^[9] The student/teacher ratio is 10/1, and the school claims that 80% of its graduates go on to four-year universities.^[5] In addition to traditional classrooms, Lighthouse runs an Independent Study Program, which allows students who opt for this program to progress at their own pace through workbooks to fulfill the credits.^[10] The Lighthouse additionally offers concurrent enrollments from community colleges.^[11]

Athletics

The high school offers as varsity sports 8-man football,^[12] girls volleyball, co-ed soccer, swimming,^[13] and boys basketball^[14]

The Academy is a member of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), Southern Section and Harbor League.^[13] In 2004 and 2005, the volleyball team won the CIF league championship,^[15] and in the years 1997 and 2004 the football team won runner-up.^[16]

Notable alumni

• Joy Womack, former Bolshoi ballerina ^[17]
• Jordan Payton, UCLA wide receiver^[18]
• Kate Sommer, Washington State University volleyball player ^[19]

References

External links

• Official website