Actually, at Cambridge Christian School (CCS), our view is that they must co-exist, and they do – right here on our campus. Scripture makes it clear that we are to do all things “as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Christ is excellent; He is perfect. Therefore, as a Christian school touting “excellence” in our mission statement, we have a mandate to provide a preeminent education through the lens of truth. This is what we are doing and will continue to do at CCS.
Occasionally, prospective CCS families express concerns rooted in misperceptions of Christian schools paralleling one room schoolhouses of the early 19th century – schools that taught the fundamentals but lacked the resources, support and innovation that can allegedly be found in contemporary government schools. With this false mindset and a priority of high academia, it is not difficult to understand why these parents would choose public schools. While this perception may not be completely misguided in some remote corners of the country, it is overwhelmingly untrue in most Christian schools, and it finds no footing whatsoever at CCS.
CCS is fully accredited by Christian Schools of Florida (CSF), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) (otherwise known as AdvancEd), and the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA). These three organizations provide us with state, regional and national accreditation accordingly. SACS is the primary accreditor for public schools in the southeast United States. All of these groups, working in conjunction with one another, provide us with external “eyes” of accountability to ensure that we are providing academic excellence with a Biblical worldview. Further, Athletics and the Arts will not be sacrificed at CCS. While many public school systems have been forced to cut in these areas, our programs have expanded and gained a winning reputation by every definition of the word. CCS is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) and competes for state championships.
Rigor is not sacrificed at CCS. We offer a full complement of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and we continue to graduate National Merit Scholars. Actually, our AP passing rate has increased each of the last five years. University Admissions Offices love our alumni. For example, the acceptance rate at the University of Florida (UF) for CCS grads is 90%, whereas the state of FL acceptance rate to UF is 45%. In recent years, our graduating classes have averaged close to $80,000 per student in college scholarship offers. Amongst our 22 years of alumni are reputable doctors, prominent Tampa area attorneys, an International Trade Specialist at the US Dept. of Commerce, legislative aides, engineers, and pilots, just to name a handful. These alumni have been equipped to engage and impact culture both professionally and spiritually.
What does the research say about the rigor in Christian schools? The Cardus Education Survey, a million-dollar study conducted by Cardus in a research partnership with the University of Notre Dame in 2011, analyzed both quantitative and qualitative research into the lives of nearly 2,500 American high school graduates between the ages of 24-39, measuring at least 43 different categories of academic, spiritual and civic life. You can find the full report on our website at ccslancers.com. Upon review of the data, you will find that you are undeniably making the right decision to place and keep your children in Christian schools – specifically, CCS. We look forward to celebrating along with you when your children become graduates of Cambridge Christian School – a school that will equip them with confidence and enthusiasm to embrace the future.
