• Non-Believers – We consistently present the gospel message in chapel services, devotions and in the classroom as an outreach to the non-Christian students in the school.
• Un-Churched Families – We strive to encourage the Christian families in our school who are not attending a local church to become involved with Covenant Presbyterian or another local Church.

To preserve the school’s primary purpose, the percentage of students/families who are admitted as part of this ministry for the purpose of outreach will be kept to a relatively small percentage.

The goal of Covenant Christian School is that all of our students learn to “love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbors as themselves.” Through a genuinely Christian Education the students learn to serve God in everything they do and in whatever vocation God calls them to follow.

What we are not:

• Covenant Christian School does not have an alternative program for the special academic, behavioral, or emotional needs of students.
• Covenant Christian School will not serve as a detention facility or shelter from the outside world for students who cannot avoid trouble in the public school system.

Educational Philosophy:

A. God gives parents/guardians the responsibility for their children’s education. “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

B. Parents/guardians may delegate a portion of the instruction of their children to teachers or a school, but the responsibility remains with the parents. Covenant takes the responsibility of acting “in the place of parents” very seriously, realizing the necessity for the home, the church, and the school to provide consistent truth for the educational, spiritual, and physical growth of the student. We, therefore, encourage and expect parental cooperation and participation in the work of the school, in prayer support, oversight of the student’s homework, upholding of disciplinary procedures, special help in areas when the student may be deficient, and such other areas that benefit the instruction of the student.

C. It is the purpose of Covenant Christian School to provide a sound academic education integrated with a Christian view of God and the world. The instructional program is based on the infallible Word of God and the doctrinal standards of the Westminster Confession. We make no apology for standing firmly upon the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and life.

D. We believe there can be no neutrality in education or in any area of life. Learning is either God-centered or man-centered; it begins either with acknowledging the authority of God’s revelation and seeks His glory or with man’s attempts to discover truth on his own. This latter approach--making man the center of the universe and the measure of all things is known as humanism. Most education today, public and private, is consciously or unconsciously based on humanistic principles.

Admission Standards

Admission Process: Students applying for admission to CCS for the first time in grades K5-12 will complete all required forms and provide records from previous schools. Admission decisions are primarily the responsibility of the Headmaster supported by the office staff who will verify the accuracy and completeness of the records. At least one parent/guardian and the student will interview with the Headmaster prior to being approved for admission. The Preschool Coordinator will conduct interviews for Preschool, and the Coordinator will forward a recommendation to the Headmaster. The Headmaster has the authority to admit students/families who meet the guidelines below. The Headmaster will recommend approval/disapproval of students/families who fall outside the general guidelines to the School Executive Committee for decision.

Academic Guidelines: Students transferring to CCS need to have an academic record that indicates they are capable of handling a challenging program. Those with grades consistently below B at other schools may have difficulty at CCS. Students with low grades must show a sincere desire to improve in the CCS environment, and in some cases they may need to be admitted under academic probation to give emphasis to the need for academic success.

Behavioral Guidelines: Students transferring to CCS should demonstrate a respect for authority and a willingness to follow rules. CCS is not a second-chance school for those who repeatedly violated rules or who have been expelled from other schools. We do affirm the Grace of God, and in special cases we offer grace and forgiveness to those who clearly demonstrate a repentant heart and willingness to change their behavior patterns. Those with questionable behavior records are only accepted on the recommendation of the Headmaster and concurrence of the School Executive Committee or full Committee. The student and parents may be required to interview with the either or both of these committees. Typically these students will be admitted on a probationary status.

Spiritual Guidelines: Consistent with the school’s primary purpose, the typical CCS student will be a member of a Christian family. It is not required that the student be a professing Christian, but we typically expect at least one member of the immediate family to be a professing Christian. Non-believing students/families must at least show a willingness to be open to spiritual/biblical instruction. The Headmaster must make a recommendation to the Executive Committee for all non-believing families before they will be admitted. Any students/families who are followers of non-Christian religions or cults will be interviewed by the School Committee (if recommended by the Headmaster) before they will be admitted.

Covenant Christian School is a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) Panama City, Florida.

Covenant Christian School is a member of CSF (Christian Schools of Florida) and is a SEVIS participating school.