Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln Counties
Good News
Area News of Churches and Related Christian Events
VOL. 1 NO. 17
REPUBLIC NEWSPAPERS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1992
School is Christ centered
By RENEE WALSER
The kindergarten chil-
dren are intent on a film
when "Preacher Doug"
walks into class for a mo-
ment. He goes over to hug
some of the students in the
center of the room. They re-
spond with fondness and
"Hi, Preacher Doug." But
soon return their attention
in a well-behaved manner
to the screen in the front.
Walking through the
halls of Cramerton
Christian Academy in
Cramerton, the first thing
you notice is the quiet. It's
not the kind of quiet that
comes with a strict, no-talk-
ing atmosphere. For there
are children in the class-
rooms in groups talking
and interacting with each
other and teachers. The
students somehow know
they don't need to be loud
and rambunctious to com-
municate and learn.
"It's a structured kind
of school," said Rev. Doug
King, pastor of the acade-
my's parent church, Free
Will Baptist Church.
The school was begun
15 years ago by King's fa-
ther, the Rev. Bob King,
who was pastor of the
church at that time.
"He felt led to have
Christian education avail-
able," said his son. "He was
a firm believer in good edu-
cation and a Christian edu-
cation.”
Bob King died in 1989
and his son, Doug, was
elected pastor.
"We have a Christ-cen-
"Our quality
education is the
biggest draw,"
King said.
tered education,” said
Doug. "We try to center ev-
erything around Christ. It's
not just an expensive side-
line study. We believe it's
every part of your life.
Everything you do should
be Christ-centered.”
King said the school
carries high standards for
students. They have rules
governing conduct and the
way the students dress, for
instance.
The girls wear dresses;
the boys wear dress pants
and collared shirts. And
there are hair codes for
boys.
"Our quality education
is the biggest draw," King
said.
The
strong in reading, he said.
The five year olds in
kindergarten for the most
part can read before they go
on to first grade, he said.
"We've maintained
strong enrollment," King
said.
The. school has almost
500 students from kinder-
garten through 12th grade.
There is a waiting list for
enrollment.
curriculum is
Kindergarteners at Cramerton Christian Academy watch a film.
Students are trans-
ported by parents from all
over the area -- as far away
as Kings Mountain, daily.
Tuition costs begin
around $1,000 to $1,600 a
year.
Any denomination is
accepted.
This coming year will
see the first class that has
gone all the way through
from kindergarten to 12th
grade graduate.
The school has an 80
percent rate of students go-
ing on to colleges.
"We prefer them to go
to Christian colleges," said
King. "to continue a
Christian education. And
we hope we are preparing
people for a Christian min-
istry."
Among the past gradu-
ates are three Christian
school teachers, three in
college training, two in the
pastorate and one deacon.
The school is in the
process of certification with
Southeastern Association of
Christian Schools. All
teachers are college de-
greed and state certified.
Applications are taken
on a first-come, first-served
basis.
"We don't want it to be
an elite school," said King.
However, we don't have
LD classes. We're working
on that."
King said enrollment
includes hispanics, blacks
and Asians.