Students Flourish at New 6th Grade Academy

Two months into the 2018-2019 school year, Lexington Christian Academy’s new, innovative 6th Grade Academy is thriving at its new location on the Rose Campus on Reynolds Road.

The 6th Grade Academy is a self-contained program in the same building as the school’s seventh through 12th graders. Previously, sixth graders attended the elementary school at Immanuel Baptist Church on Tates Creek Road.

The Academy supports sixth graders as they transition into junior high. The program also offers a curriculum that stresses 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and creativity.

“We recognize that the sixth grade is a pivotal year in the educational journey of our students,” LCA’s Head of School Mark Sisk said. “To that end, the LCA 6th Grade Academy is uniquely designed to engage students in the learning process.”

There are currently 108 students enrolled at the new location, and their response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Students are still smiling and we’ve received great feedback from parents,” Academy Director James Jaeger said.

The 6th Grade Academy prepares students for higher learning and the real world. Dynamic resources such as Makerspaces and STEAM labs engage the imagination of students, prompting innovative thinking, and empowering them to produce and deliver individualized work in a highly collaborative environment.

Hallways are an extension of the classroom, providing spaces to brainstorm ideas.

Classes are intimate – They average about 20 students.

Every six weeks, students rotate between six subjects: financial literacy, world language, robotics, music, art, and shape to serve.

“Sixth grade is a critical year,” Jaeger said. “Students have outgrown elementary school but haven’t yet discovered who they are. We want to make education an experience that is preparing our students for an ever-changing, highly adaptive world.”

An open house for the Academy is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 13, 6-7 p.m. at LCA’s Rose Campus. Info: (859) 422-5700 or visit www.lexingtonchristian.org.