Thank you for your interest in Rhea County Academy (RCA).  It is exciting to see God’s leading and direction in the development of our school.  RCA exists as a supplement to the parents’ own teaching, enabling the parents to be more effective in their time with their children.   

Please read over the RCA application carefully and fill it out completely.  The decision to attend a RCA should be made only after weighing all of the benefits as well as the sacrifices that may be necessary.  We are praying that God will send families to Rhea County Academy who desire a thoroughly Christ-centered education for their children.

Rhea County Academy is not associated with a specific church or denomination.  No one will be denied admission on the basis of gender, race, color or national origin.

I. Admission Procedures:

1. Upon return of a complete application and $50 application fee, a screening date will be arranged with the teacher.  Following the screening, an interview with the family will be arranged with the admissions committee.  Both parents are to be part of the interview process.
2. The admissions committee will make the decision whether or not to admit the student(s).  It is the prerogative of the admissions committee to permit or deny admission based on any relevant information obtained concerning the student or parents.  After the interview, a review of the results of the RCA Entrance Screening and other student information will be used for an evaluation of grade placement.
3. The school will then notify the parents with the decision regarding acceptance.
4. All financial arrangements between the family and the school must be understood before an admission is considered final.

 II.      Admission Requirements for the Student:

1. All applicants to RCA must pass an interview and screening process prior to acceptance.  Grade level may be adjusted as a result of this process regardless of prior year grade level.  All first time students will be on a 6-week probation, during which time they may be suspended from RCA if it is determined by the admissions committee that they are unable to benefit properly from being at RCA.)
2. A child entering Kindergarten must have reached the age of five years by September 1 of the Fall in which he will be entering Kindergarten.
3. A child must have reached the age of six years by October 1 of the Fall in which he will be entering 1^st Grade or have completed Kindergarten.
4. If a child has successfully completed the previous school year and his school work and behavior compare favorably to the comparable grade at RCA, the child will likely be placed in the grade for which he is applying.  However, if through the administration of the RCA Entrance screening or other evidence, it is determined that the child may not be adequately prepared for the next sequential grade level, it may be necessary that he repeat the previous grade.
5. Children must understand that they are subject to the instruction and discipline of the teachers at Rhea County Academy.  Students entering 3^rd grade or higher are required to sign and abide by the Student Conduct Agreement.
6. In general practice, if the student and parents comply with the requirements outlined here, RCA will admit students of any race to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to all students.  RCA does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, or national origin in the administration of its policies, and other school-directed programs.

III.      Admission Requirements for the Parents:

1. The parents of students in RCA must have a clear understanding of the biblical philosophy and purpose of RCA and must commit to attending church with their child on a regular basis.  They must also be willing to have their child exposed to the clear teaching of the Bible and its principles in various and frequent ways within the school’s program.
2. The parents must be willing to cooperate with the policies of RCA.  This is most important in the area of discipline (see Discipline Guidelines and Student Conduct Explanations) as well as in the area of active communication with the respective teacher(s) and administration.
3. Parents must agree to be an active and involved part of their child’s education both at RCA and at home.
4. Both parents must sign a Parental Statement of Cooperation that formalizes their commitment to the above mentioned items. Failure to follow through on this commitment is sufficient cause for the suspension of their student.  

IV.      Priority for Admission:

These guidelines apply to new and returning students.  Students will be enrolled or re-enrolled according to the following order of priority.  These priorities apply only after students have been qualified through application, testing, and interview.  Returning students are considered qualified unless special academic or behavioral probation applies.

• 1^st Priority – Returning students – Students who re-enroll from the previous year provided they register in the protected period (before March 15). 
• 2^nd Priority – Sibling Applicants – Students who have a Rhea County Academy sibling enrolled.
• 3^rd  Priority – Other applicants – Students who do not meet one of the above criteria.  Date of application is only one factor in the admission process and does not determine an applicant’s place on the waiting list.  It does, however, determine the applicant’s place among other qualified applicants of the same priority level.  No application is dated earlier than December 15^th before the year of admission.  All applications received before that date are chronologically equal.