Distinctives

Who are we?

ZCA is an evangelical Christian, college preparatory school in Columbia, Tennessee for preschool through 12th-grade students.

Educational Philosophy & Methodology

Zion Christian Academy has a distinctive educational philosophy and methodology, which we believe is well summarized by our tagline: Training Hearts and Minds for the Glory of God. This approach is more holistic in vision and scope, and more integrative in practice, than the predominant models of education available in our culture today.

We aim to teach the whole truth.

We approach everything we do from a Christ-centered, gospel-oriented perspective. Every person and every institution approaches things from a point of reference. Our point of reference is the reality of the eternal triune God revealed in Holy Scripture as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who created all things, sustains all things, and is restoring all things to their intended purpose through the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ.

This means that we not only teach the Bible systematically but also that we teach every subject through the lens of a biblical worldview. In other words, our students learn to see and engage with every aspect of life and subject of study in a way that represents God’s creative intentions and redemptive purposes.

We aim at shaping the whole student for the whole of life.

A ZCA education is a complete and coherent education. People are integrated beings with a soul, created by God with a deep awareness of Him and a deep need for relationship with Him. Moreover, a rightly-oriented relationship with God enables us to relate rightly with others and the world around us. An education that ignores or obscures this reality deprives students of an essential aspect of learning and growth.

In addition to our excellent academic program, we are privileged to offer numerous co-curricular opportunities, including athletics, fine arts, clubs, leadership, and more. We do so not only to provide opportunities for diversely gifted students to develop their interests but also because we know that learning that engages the whole brain boosts student competencies in every area of academics and of life.

A Zion Christian education is integrative.

We approach our mission from the perspective that all things belong and matter to God and find their rightful place in relation to Him. Therefore, we do not hold to the idea that the world is made of sacred and secular realms.

Indeed, we approach every aspect of the educational experience, from curriculum to staffing to methodology to co-curricular activities as sacred realms and endeavors which matter greatly to God and about which He has much to teach us through the study of the Scriptures and the world He purposely designed and created. As a result, we pursue an approach that integrates a myriad of skills, subjects, and activities. Further, the teaching of spiritual (foundational/ultimate/metaphysical) truth and biblically-based morality and ethics is a natural and essential part of everything we do.

Superior Academic Achievement

ZCA maintains the highest ACT average scores in the area every year. Our standardized testing results consistently place our students in the top 24% of the nation annually. The current average ACT score for our graduating seniors is 25.9  We offer extensive math, science and AP course electives at the high school level.

Dual Accreditation

ZCA is the only area school to achieve the honor and distinction of dual accreditation. We are accredited by both ACSI and Cognia (formerly AdvancED).

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