1.  How long has the school been around?

Answer:  Paradise Valley Christian Preparatory was started in 1974 by founders Bob and Barb Fraley.

 

2.  Is the school accredited?

Answer:  Paradise Valley Christian Preparatory is accredited by Association of Christian Schools International and North Central Association which are both charter members of the National Council for Private School Accreditation.

 

3.  Is the faculty qualified to teach?

Answer:All full time faculty hold ACSI teaching credentials and Department of Education teacher credentials.(Other state credentials other than Arizona are accepted with the plan to satisfy Arizona requirements.)The faculty is also required to take a philosophy of Christian education course and maintain coursework. 

 

4.  What is the average class size?

Answer: The class sizes range from 15 to 18 students. The preschool follows state guidelines for teacher/student ratio.

 

5.  What other courses do students receive?

Answer:  Students attend music, art, Spanish or Latin, computers, physical education, and library weekly. 

 

6.  What are some of the extra educational trips and activities that students participate in at PVCP?

Answer: Students participate in numerous educational field trips including Catalina Marine Biology Field Week Excursion, NASA Space Challenger Program, Biosphere II, northern and southern   Arizona tours, and community projects and events, choir tours, and scholastic competitions.

 

7.  How is the middle school structured?

Answer:  The program is departmentalized.  Each faculty member teaches a core subject area.  Students are required to take speech, formal writing, computer, Spanish or Latin, physical education and community service.  The specialty areas taken as electives include fine arts, yearbook, computers, drama, logic, and other courses designed to develop a well-rounded student in preparation for high school.  Additional opportunities include band, choir, praise team, hand bells, ensembles, and student leadership.

 

8.  How do you challenge gifted students?

Answer:  Students are challenged by the curriculum.  The students who desire additional challenges are provided opportunities to work the enrichment centers (over 50 topical units that are structured for higher level thinking), Accelerated Reader Program, math placement, scholastic competitions, and projects within the curriculum.

 

9.  How do PVCP students do on standardized tests and how do they compare to area Christian schools? 

Answer:  The average composite of students is two to four years above grade level.  Overall, PVCP students compare very well and excel academically due to rigorous curriculum program.

 

10. How well prepared are the students for high school?

Answer:  The majority of PVCP graduates qualify for honors English and math courses at the high school level.  Before the addition of PVCP's own high school, 8th grade graduates were frequently recruited by area private schools.

 

11. What are the strengths of the school?

Answer:  The school has held to a firm commitment to nurture the spiritual and academic development of each student.  Goals are set annually to strengthen and maintain focus of partnership between the home, school, and church.

 

12. Will the school be expanding through high school?

Answer: PVCP's high school was started in 2009-2010 with an inaugural freshman class.  The high school will celebrate the first graduating class in May 2013.