Carson City Christian school says it’s growing

Growth at Legacy Christian Academy in its third year is a good problem to have.

The covenant school licensed with the Nevada Department of Education has 70 students this year.

Lisa Potts, Legacy director of development, is excited about the upward trend.

“We have a really good team of teachers,” she said. “They’re all accredited or working toward their accreditation, which is not a requirement for private schools, but we want to maintain a high standard. We also use University of Arizona curriculum, and one of the things that we really focus on that’s really important to us is a biblical worldview.

“So every class and every subject, our curriculum talks about, ‘What does God say about this?’” she said.

Legacy’s students represent 19 Christian churches in Carson City, Dayton, Gardnerville, Minden and Reno. The academy is not affiliated with LifeChurch, but the church has continued to offer its facilities to Legacy and the preschool Grace and Wonder.

The school, which does not follow the state’s Common Core standards, uses the BJU Press Biblical curriculum, Potts said.

The school offers enrichment courses on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For girls in all levels, cheer is available in the first quarter on Tuesdays, for example, or parents can help kids bring bikes and helmets for youth in the third through eighth grades for outdoor biking.

Sewing and origami also are available Tuesdays, or music instructor Joey Navarro teaches an “Exploring Music” class with a variety of instruments. On Thursdays, students can take part in the school’s Christmas musical for its Dec. 12 performance or learn Spanish, explore art concepts or take a history class and a create a paper quilt. Last year, students in the music class performed the “Star Wars” theme, Potts said.

Jennifer Ingram, a kindergarten teacher who previously taught in Montessori and public schools, said she enjoyed moving to the private school environment.

“We have the small class sizes, so by the end of the year, all of my kindergartners are reading just because I’m able to spend so much more time with them,” Ingram said.

The class size cap is 12 for kindergarten.

LCA also has helped to retain a connection with families who had homeschooling needs, Potts said, and classes are offered for a charge.

Sara Choat became head of school when principal Todd Ross’ left, Potts said, and there are now nine on staff, up from seven and interns assisting to give them experience in their educational journey.

Potts said Legacy hopes the Nevada Legislature will allow for more funding for the Educational Choice Scholarship Program, or the Opportunity Scholarship that gives need-based scholarships for youth living in households whose income level does not exceed 300 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Family members of private school students are able to apply for the scholarship and receive assistance for tuition, fees and transportation for school costs. Potts said it’s helpful not just to Legacy’s students but others in private schools.

Potts said she’s also pleased to see there’s a real need for smaller schools in the community serving children and are performing well.

“You know, less than four years ago, this was a vacant property,” she said. “None of us had any ties to it. We just came and we prayed, and God, he provided, and it's beautiful. I mean, all of the entities here are just thriving and, you know, to have nothing, no building, no resources, no staffing, like, I mean, LifeChurch was up there, but they didn't have their church yet, and to be here is just — it's a miracle.”