The Columbia Academy Lower School (grades K-6) strives to meet the needs of the spiritual, physical, and social development of its students. Each faculty member is a Christian and is certified by the Tennessee Department of Education. Administrators, faculty and staff members reinforce on a daily basis the school’s mission statement:

Columbia Academy uses the Stanford Achievement Test to assess student learning. The elementary students score above the national average on the SAT each year.

The Lower School course of study includes Bible, reading, English, spelling, mathematics, social studies, handwriting, art, computer, library, music, and physical education. Fifth and sixth grade students may elect to be involved in beginning band. Some of the extracurricular activities for elementary students include Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and 4-H.

Lower School chapel is conducted at 8:30 on Wednesday mornings in the multi-purpose room, with “Circle of Friends” singing time on Monday and Friday mornings in the rotunda of Vest Hall.

Lower School hours are 8:00 - 2:50. Early morning care is provided at no charge to students beginning each morning at 7:00. Extended day care is offered after school until 5:30.

The Columbia Academy Upper school offers a college prep curriculum. Many high achieving students take advanced English in ninth through twelfth grades, and an advanced track is also offered in math. Students who have high math achievement test scores, have excellent report card grades, and who exhibit a high level of motivation are allowed to skip seventh grade math and take pre-algebra. This allows them to progress a year farther than their peers, and they are able to complete a higher level of math before graduation. Columbia Academy has a good relationship with Columbia State Community College, and some of our students dual enroll in college courses during their junior and senior years of high school. CA is accredited by the Southern Association of Schools, and our graduates meet the standards set by the state as to the number of credits and the types of courses required for graduation.

Columbia Academy uses the Stanford Achievement Test to assess student learning. Our students score above average overall on these test.  The class of 2005 has an average ACT of 22.1 and the top 20% has an ACT average of 28.6. These scores well exceed the state and national averages. A large percentage of Columbia Academy juniors and seniors are members of the National Honor Society. Juniors and additional seniors are inducted each spring. To be inducted in the NHS, a student must show strengths in scholarship, leadership, and community service.

Generally, students are assigned to a standard course of study which includes a class in Bible at every grade level. Students are also required to take a math course every year. There are several electives: physics, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, environmental science, pre-calculus, calculus, Band, chorus, Art I, Art II, journalism, music appreciation, strength and conditioning and Unified PE and psychology. The typical schedule of study follows:

The daily schedule is from 7:50 - 3:00 in the Upper School. Chapel is conducted daily. The Junior Civitan Club (grades 9-12) and the Volunteer Junior Civitan Club (grades 7-8) are the two largest clubs. Community service is the focus of these two groups. They organize the can food drive, the angel tree, and visits to the area nursing homes. Students may also belong to the science club, the drama club, and the mock trial team. Students are selected to participate on math teams and the student council.

Lower School:
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and 4-H

Upper School:
Student Council, National Honor Society, Yearbook Staff, Jr. Civitan, Volunteer Civitan, Mock Trial Team, clubs for Drama, Math, and Science, Spiritual Emphasis Council, Newspaper Staff and Mock Trial Team.

Athletics:
Columbia Academy competes athletically in Class A Division of the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA). Teams compete actively on the high school and junior high level. Columbia Academy has over 15 athletic sport teams: football, baseball, golf, tennis, basketball, girl's softball, girl's volleyball, soccer, trap shooting and cheerleading. Over 60% of the upper school students participate in one or more sports.

Jr. High students are eligible to try out for football, baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, golf, track and cheerleading.

Band:
The band program began in 1994 with ten members. Today it has over ninety students in the program. Even though the band program is young, its has accomplished much:

• Many of the students have participated in All Mid-State Band
• There has been two All State players
• Students have been selected to participate in the prestigious Tennessee Governors School of the Arts
• The band has participated and won first place awards in contests in Atlanta, Cincinnati, New Orleans and Dallas
• The band has received approximately 200 individual superior ratings in the Solo and Ensemble Festival and a superior rating at Concert Festival

The Art Program:
Art basics are taught beginning in the first grade. The program follows the child to the high school level with a discipline based education of esthetics, art history, and art production.

Computer Labs:
Both the Lower and Upper School buildings house computer labs. Classes work in the labs on specified subjects and computer literacy begins in kindergarten. Computer courses are offered for credit at the Upper School level. Computers are located in each classroom and all are internet active.

Library:
For Kindergarten through the sixth grade, library is scheduled for one hour a week. While there, they will be read stories and learn various library skills. In addition, the students will study authors and illustrators of different books. Books on video are offered several times during the school year. There is "flex time" every morning between 7:45 and 8:00 for all students. The fifth and six graders have additional "flex times" Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:15 to 1:30. At this time, students can return books early and check out another one.

Grades seven through eight come to the library once a week. Their focus is to study particular books and participate in the accelerated reading program.

For grades nine through twelve, the library is used for research and to work on class presentations.

Music:
Grades K-6 participate in a music class twice a week. The students practice the songs that will be sung in chapel for that week. In the fall, the children prepare for a Grandparent's Day program in October and for a Holiday show in December. In February, grades 3-6 can participate in a talent show. In the spring, the students practice for various programs such as a Mother's Day Tea, Kindergarten Graduation, Sixth Grade Graduation and D.A.R.E. Graduation.

Other activities during the year include learning music theory and history of music, listening to classics and playing instruments.

Physical Education:
Kindergarteners through sixth grade participate in P.E. three times a week. While there, they are involved in educational games, nutrition is discussed, sports skills are broken down, and basic skills are taught in a variety of sports.

For grades seven through twelve, students are required to take one semester of physical education. This involves playing "team" sports, physical fitness and strength conditioning.

Extended Day Care:
This service is offered to parents with children in kindergarten through the sixth grade that need after school care for their child. Qualified personnel supervise the care in Vest Hall for a nominal fee.  We are currently evaluating the need for extended day care for non-driving Upper School Students.

Summer Enrichment:
Summer Enrichment is held in Vest Hall during summer break for children that have completed kindergarten through sixth grade. This program is directed and taught by Columbia Academy personnel. Activities include weekly fieldtrips and various fun filled camps to enhance the child's intellectual and/or athletic abilities.