Last year, Mt. Bethel Christian Academy celebrated two decades of distinction and graduated its first senior class with a 100% college acceptance rate. Now, in its 21st year, the Academy has even greater cause for jubilation as it is recognized by the Department of Education as a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School. Mt. Bethel is in elite company as one of only 50 private schools in the nation to be so awarded, selected for being in the top 15 percent nationally for excellence in reading and mathematics. According to the Department of Education, “These schools serve as examples for other schools throughout the nation.”
East Cobb families have long considered the Academy a premier Christian school, but its geographic reach now touches all corners of greater Atlanta. No longer an option just for families right next door, expanded bus services, the acquisition of a north campus for the Upper School, and GHSA athletic offerings are driving enrollment. “We’re hitting on all cylinders,” said Chip Barber, Director of Admission. “Academics, fine arts, athletics, and a sense of peace as we lean into God’s plan and the path He has for our future, create a positivity we can only attribute to Him. Our school family has never been stronger.”
The community has invested in Mt. Bethel since the very beginning, making it a school where excellence is achieved daily. However, school leadership relentlessly pursues improvement, constantly investigating the needs of students and the challenges they face. Head of School Jim Callis explains how he embraces opportunities to better serve Academy families.
“Working with faculty, I developed a proprietary method of analyzing our standardized assessment data,” he said. “Using that information, we began a multi-year process of adjusting our curriculum to optimize learning, and the results are exceptional. That process of continual improvement will never end, but I’m glad for this opportunity to pause and to recognize the incredible efforts of our faculty. A school is only as good as its teachers, and I’m proud to say, we have the very best.”
The Academy also set out to fill a need for students needing additional learning support. The newly created Pathways program provides supplementary help for students in grades 1-8 in the areas of executive functioning, mathematics, reading, and language arts. In its first year, the program is garnering high praise from students and parents.
Veteran Academy teacher Lisa Kelly serves as the director of the Pathways Program, and believes Pathways will help MBCA remain a Blue Ribbon-caliber school for a long time. “Being recognized as a high-performing school is rewarding,” said Mrs. Kelly. “It confirms nationally what we’ve always known as a school community. Our focus on the academic and spiritual development of our students creates intelligent leaders of character and faith.”
Mt. Bethel Christian Academy will be honored at the 2018 National Blue Ribbon ceremony in Washington, DC in November, where Mr. Callis and Mrs. Kelly will receive a plaque and a flag to signify this exemplary status.
Congratulations, MBCA!
This article originally appeared in the October issue of the EAST COBBER magazine, on page 20. Click here to view the digital edition.
