Admission

Our families value our commitment to Christ in all that we do. Children memorize entire chapters of scripture regularly and are taught to live according to them. We often hear the story of parents who are pulled aside by their children’s Sunday school teachers and asked how these children know so much. We pray and work so they will translate what they learn here into a life of service to Christ. If you share these values, you probably will fit well at Arma Dei Academy.

Our standards within the school are loving and structured. We believe all children are created in the image of God and we deeply respect the uniqueness of their personalities. All children are prone to misbehavior on occasion, so we don’t expect your kids to be perfect (or even close). We do expect parents to support our teachers and administration as we lovingly but firmly discipline children who are acting out. If you value a partnership with a school that will uphold high standards, you will do well at Arma Dei.

Our school is generally recognized in the community for the academic standards we uphold. This comes with a standard of work that requires a little more of both parents and students. Parents are often called upon to be actively involved with their young children as they do homework. Many parents find that by the 4th or 5th grade, the Latin, history, and other subjects exceed their ability to help. However, parents still remain actively involved to ensure they are diligently working to prevent frustration from poor study habits. While some families may find it difficult to trade-off some recreational or entertainment time to focus on academics, our graduates commonly thank us for their training.

Some misunderstand our work ethic. We do not desire or expect children to work excessively. Certainly, children need time to play. For this reason, we restrict the amount of homework allowed each week.

For those who wonder why we have higher expectations: Hundreds of families have found that their children thrive in our environment because they enjoy being challenged. What expectations characterize your family? If you are serious about finding an educational partner with you in preparing your child for life, we invite you to visit and see what’s possible.

Some families want a mainstream education like they had. If you were satisfied with your education (assuming you were educated in a mainstream public or private school) and don’t see any reason to want more, then you probably won’t find our form of education appealing. From our uniforms to our study of the great books to our emphasis on writing, we are different than most schools.

Often, the people who most identify with classical Christian education are those who went to school in the eastern or southern United States, Europe, or any of the British or French commonwealths. A vestige of classical education remains in most of these areas, particularly in the preparatory schools. Because classical Christian education takes time to appreciate, those with a background in traditional Western education more quickly identify with the advantages gained in what has been called a “Western liberal arts” education.

If you are attracted to education that reaches beyond training to enrich the minds and the spirits of students as they learn to love learning, then you should consider our school.

The most consistent success factor for children at Arma Dei is the learning environment at home. Families who read and love to learn send children to our school because they want the world of language, books, history, science, and math to be an integrated whole. They want their children to use their love of knowledge to explore and seek truth. Families that do not have many books in their home and that rarely visit a library or bookstore probably will not find our value compelling.

Having said this, many families discover the world of literature and information through their children’s experience at our school. If you would like to develop a love of books, knowledge, and learning in your home, Arma Dei can provide a great start.

Arma Dei Academy takes a measured approach to the usage of technology in the classroom and believe that students need skills more foundational than those acquired by technology alone.

Technology is one of many tools and we are careful in the tools we use as they have the ability to make and shape us.

The Washington Post cited a recent study that found, “the more children use computers at school, the more their reading abilities seem to suffer.”

Technology is strong in handling data and locating, accessing, relaying, processing, and handling certain types of communication. Technology is not good for encouraging contemplation and reflection, socialization, or identifying and valuing truth, goodness and beauty – all things Arma Dei desires to cultivate in our students.

​Arma Dei Academy is a community of believing parents and teachers sharing a commitment for teaching students to love learning and grow in godliness.

Education at Arma Dei Academy is a family affair and takes a generational approach. At Arma Dei we act and operate under the principle of “in loco parentis” – a Latin phrase that means “in the place of a parent.” Parents have God-mandated authority over their children; we partner with your family to educate your children but do not usurp your authority or responsibilities as a parent.