FAQ

What are the School Fees?

We recognize the investment parents make by choosing HCA,  we thus create “eternal return on investment” by providing strong academic training with a Christian worldview, while nurturing students spiritual formation and transformation.  At HCA you are investing in your family, through a partner that affirms your beliefs and assists your students to OWN their own faith.  HCA delivers this with Tuition & Fees which are substantially lower than other private schools, as our mission is to work hard to make Christian Education available to those willing to invest in their family.

While HCA has a set tuition rate every year, there are a number of discount programs, alumni programs, referral programs, in place that make each families situation unique.  The best strategy for curious parents is to make an inquiry today to start the conversation with no commitment, this allows our team to create a customized summary of the financial side of the equation.  .  If financial obstacles are a concern for you, we have a tuition assistance program which may be able to help you, should you qualify.

Which programs are offered at each campus?

Our Halifax campus in the Fairmount/Armdale area offers pre-primary through grade 12, and our Timberlea campus accepts children as young as 18 months into our licenced Christian daycare, and runs through to Grade 1.  In future our Timberlea elementary program will expand to run from Pre-Primary to Grade 3 or 4.

Do you offer extended hours child care?

Yes!

At Timberlea’s Early Childhood Education Centre, we offer before and after school care with extended programming for Ages 18months through 4yrs.   Before- and after-school care is also available at HCA Armdale Campus for students of all ages with an additonal fee.  Camps and other programs are also offered during holidays and summer break.

Do you offer transportation?

Yes, in part.

For the 2019/20 school year we successfully piloted a user paid shuttle service from Cole Harbour and Dartmouth, for 2020/21 we are hoping to expand the shuttle service to THREE routes;

1. East Route : Cole Harbour – Dartmouth – HCA Armdale
2. North Route : Enfield – Fall River – Sackville – HCA Armdale
3. South Route : Tantallon – HCA Timberlea – HCA Armdale

Those using the service drop off their students at pre-designated central locations in the morning and pick them up at the same location after school.   Seats on the shuttles are assigned on a first come first paid basis.

What grades do you offer?

Our Halifax campus in the Fairmount/Armdale area offers pre-primary through grade 12, and our Timberlea campus accepts children as young as 18 months into our licenced Christian daycare, and runs through to Grade 1.  In future our Timberlea elementary program will expand to run from Pre-Primary to Grade 3 or 4.

What is the quality of academics like at HCA?

HCA has a long history of success in helping students realize their potential.  Our curriculum, faculty and smaller class sizes are a powerful combination that fuels student learning.  In NATIONWIDE standardized testing our students are performing 2 to 3 grade levels ABOVE their actual numerical grade.  We are proud of our students and staff, and thank our parents for their partnership to assist their children to excel.  Our graduates are quite typically heavily recruited by multiple universities, and HCA has a 100% placement rate over the past 5 years, meaning that every student that wished to go to Post-secondary education, was admitted.  What an awesome testimony to the quality of our teachers, program, and students.

What is HCA's track record in preparing students for post-secondary?

HCA high school has a 40+ year track record of sending students onto post-secondary.  100% of those that wanted to attend were accepted in the past years, and those same ~60 students were offered over $500,000 in scholarships.  Our average high school student is performing at university levels in standardized testing.

What are your teachers' qualifications and experience?

Our teachers are extremely well educated, with 50% holding multiple degrees, master’s degrees or PHD’s.  Over 95% hold at least a bachelor’s degree, with the other 5% holding senior diplomas in their areas of specialty (for example our art teacher holds a diploma from NS College Art and Design).  Our teachers have an average of 18 years of teaching experience and are gifted at helping your children.

How do students at HCA learn to serve others?

Part of our mission at HCA is to “positively affect others through our service” and we take this seriously.  For each of the past two years our students and staff have poured between 1500 and 2000 hours of volunteering into our city and region.  We believe that when our community pours into the community at large, BOTH see benefit.

In addition to our local service, we have a well established Missions program which sees our high school students travel to Guatemala, once every two years.  Over the years, HCA has played a huge roll in seeing a town in Guatemala transformed.  We praise God for this.    In 2018 we led our first Middle School mission trip.  The group was able to increase their education, grow in faith, make cross-border friendships, and serve the impoverished and the elderly in that local community.  We are praying about offering the middle school mission again in 2021 and will seek to make that a bi-annual occurrence.

Inside our walls on a weekly basis, our students are serving.  It is a part of our culture.  It is completely normal to see students helping set up or tear down from lunch, assembly, chapel services, etc.  It is equally normal to see older students mentoring and assisting younger students.  What a beautiful picture this is !

Does my family have to be Christian to attend?

No.  While HCA teaches from a Christian worldview, you do not have to be a Christian to attend.  Over the years, many non-Christian HCA families have joined our community due to our track record of excellent academic training, strong morality, challenging students to push themselves to achieve a goal, and excellent leadership development.  Non-Christian families are not pressured to adopt a Christian worldview; however they do covenant with the school, acknowledging our beliefs and the manner in which that shapes the student experience in and out of the classroom.

Does HCA allow students to earn University Credit in High School?

YES ! We offer a full suite of Advanced University Placement (AP) courses which scholarly students can complete while in high school, earning university credits prior to university admission.

The AP program has a long history of success and the courses are recognized for credit by nearly every university in Canada and the United States.  The added benefit of the AP stream is that it can be CUSTOMIZED to meet the students needs and interests….the student may select which AP courses they take, in alignment to their desired area of post secondary specialty, allowing them to tailor make their high school program to meet their specific needs.

This is a strong advantage over IB which dictates that the student take EVERY course in IB format, which means that future chemists are forced to take an advanced humanities courses outside their area of interest, and lose much more of their non-school hours to extra (unnecessary) homework.  At HCA we want to recognize the gifted students we work with, but we don’t want their studies to consume every waking minute, preventing them from experiencing other valuable aspects of youth.

What is Discipleship at HCA?

Our approach to spiritual formation and transformation is simple.  We desire to have all students HEAR the truth, ACCEPT the truth, and SHARE the truth of a Christian belief system.  Our investment and focus on discipleship does not detract from our academic training in fact it enhanced it, as the root of the word “disciple” is “to teach”.  HCA believes that showing all students the simple power of the Gospel is a powerful teaching tool, whether they choose to adopt a Christian worldview or not.  Christianity is not about forcing our beliefs upon another, it is a movement of free will, accepting what God has done for us by sending his own Son to die for our shortcomings, which Christians call sin.

At HCA discipleship begins when a student chooses, of their own free will, to accept the teaching and saving work of Jesus.  Once a student (or adult) becomes a Christ-follower, they choose a path whereby their lives are to be transformed by the example of Jesus, in accordance with the Holy scriptures daily.  This is a daunting challenge for almost every Christian.  HCA wants to be a partner with all Christ-followers to help them on their journey, and we are very thankful for the grace that abounds when we struggle with our earthly selves.

How does HCA meet the individual needs of the student?

In many ways!

Academically

1. Smaller Classes – the simple fact that our average class is approximately half the size of a typical public school class brings tremendous benefits to our students.
2. Resource Group – we have a team of professionals who assist students if they are having some learning challenges with reading, speech, computation, and comprehension.  Our resource professionals work with groups of 1 to 4 students at a time, depending on need and student ages.
3. Arrowsmith Program – HCA is the only school in Atlantic Canada to offer this world renowned, and potentially life changing program.  The Arrowsmith program is designed around the science of neuro-plasticity, and employs revolutionary learning methods to help students literally re-wire the way their brain processes information.  Note : admission to this program is granted only after specialized assessment, and families who enrol are subject to increased tuition.
4. Course Counselling – one of HCA’s Lead Teachers works with developing course plans which are tailored to the needs and goals of the high school students.

Spiritually, Emotionally, Relationally

1. Smaller Classes – again with half the students in the class, our teachers have the opportunity to really get to know your kids.  By knowing them, they have a stronger realtionship and are able to better guide them emotionally, and spiritually.
2. HCA Discipleship team – HCA employs staff that is focused on the spiritual formation and transformation of your students, with the student controlling the pace of development.  We present the good news of Christ to all that we interact with, and for those that choose to accept His free gift, we stand alongside and help them grow in their own faith, and as disciples.
3. Counselling – HCA has several staff members that have served as Youth Workers, Youth Pastors, Pastors, and lay-Counsellors.   We have connections to trained certified Christian counsellors, to whom we can refer particularily complex situations and challenges that some of our students, and families are facing.

How does HCA handle bullying and student discipline?

HCA believes that the quality and genuineness of student to student relationships are of paramount importance, and our teachers and staff work diligently to instill mutual respect of others in our students.  With these key cultural elements in place, we find that there are very few student issues in our school, and instances of bullying are rare.  When we do discover circumstances where one student is exerting control or power over a student, or ridiculing or intimidating another, we take an active role in showing the offending student(s) the value, skills, and gifts that those being bullied have, and affirming that no student has the right to bully another which is equally made in God’s image.  Student disciplinary issues are very rare and relatively minor in nature at HCA.  Few can remember the last time a student was suspended, and we are not aware of a student being expelled in the last two or three decades.

Are there any tuition discounts, scholarships, or financial aid programs available?

We have a number of discounts and financial assistance programs available for those who qualify.  These programs help keep HCA accessible to families.  Please contact our admissions department at admissions@halifaxchristianacademy.ca to make application for enrollment and learn which financial programs you may qualify for.

How can parents, grandparents, alumni, former students and former parents get involved?

We consider it a privilege to partner with our students’ parents and grandparents, as well as alumni and former parents.  We invite the larger HCA community to volunteer in the classroom, lead extracurricular clubs, coach our athletics teams, accompany our students on field trips, help organize our two or three key fundraising events in 0the school year, chaperone overnight trips, and travel alongside our Guatemala mission team.  The efforts of the “friends of HCA” are essential to the success of our school.