Trinity Christian Academy (Addison, Texas)

Trinity Christian Academy is a conservative multi-denominational Christian school in Addison, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, that was founded in the late 1960s. It is one of the largest Christian schools in the United States.

History

In 1968 planning for the school took place by concerned parents seeking a better education for their children. According to school history there was a strong desire for a combination of rigorous academics within a framework of traditional Christian values. The parents therefore rented a church facility to begin the school. The space opened to eighty students in 1970. However the space became too small and in 1976 a new school was built among sorghum fields in rural Addison. At the time this area was lacking in water and sewage lines and only had a few homes. Since that time the area has become heavily urbanized and today the school attracts over 1,500 students from twenty-seven jurisdictions in the surrounding Dallas metropolitan area. The school reports that its alums identify with fourteen different "denominations and religious groups".

James Barnett gay rights controversy

In 2004 and 2005 the school received national media attention when the administration controversially expelled a student for his sexual orientation. James Barnett was expelled for his "immoral behavior and [for] supporting an immoral cause" after a fellow student informed the school. This was Trinity's description of Barnett's gay orientation in addition to the fact that he was running the gay-themed website my-boi.com, a social network he created for gay youth.

Curriculum and policy

According to the schools mission statement it aims to provide an education that is independent, academically rigorous, and strongly Christian oriented.

In addition to traditional subjects, visual arts, drama, band, choir are also available as fine arts courses.

There are 132 faculty, and the financial budget is $US 16,000,000. The campus is over 40-acre (160,000 m²) in size.

The school maintains a diversity program and non-discrimination policy to include all kinds of students regardless of their origin, as long as they are "believers". The protected groups are: national origin, race, color, ethnicity, culture, economic status, and physical ability. This policy does not however protect or encourage students of different religions or sexual orientations, which has led to controversy.

Campus and student body

Of the 1,523 students, 553 are in the lower school or elementary school, while 481 are in middle school and 489 in the upper school which is the high school equivalent.

6.8% of students receive financial aid which total 900,000 US$ in awards annually. The school claims that 100% of graduates attend college. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Athletics

There are 13 sports played and 54 athletic teams. The school competes with other private and parochial schools in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) league, in the largest classification level of 6A, where it won state championships in 2006 for both varsity baseball and wrestling, and placed 2nd in football. On November 10, 2007, the TCA girls volleyball team returned to the TAPPS class 6A state title game and came away with a 3â€"1 victory.

The football stadium is named after famed football coach, Tom Landry, due to his extensive involvement with the school.

Notable alumni

• Chace Crawford â€" actor
• Jason Hursh â€" baseball player
• David Purcey â€" baseball player

References

External links

• Official Website