History

Frederick Christian Academy opened in September of 1974 with about 80 students in grades kindergarten through eight under the leadership of Carl Chewning. Mr. Chewning was the administrator of Heritage Academy of Hagerstown, Maryland. Heritage Academy gave Mr. Chewning time during the 1973-74 school year to organize Frederick Christian Academy, knowing that he would be the new administrator. Frederick Christian Academy opened as an independent school, although it was legally under the authority of the Locust Valley Bible Church, Rev. Curvin Stambaugh, Pastor.

Midway through the 1975-76 school year Mr. Chewning resigned, and the Rev. Roger L. Salomon became school administrator. During Mr. Salomon’s ministry the school was legally placed under the authority of the People’s Baptist Church, Inc., Rev. Arnold G. Cooper, Pastor, and an eleven-room classroom educational building was erected in 1978 on the 22-acre campus of the church. The school had been located on North Market Street Extended since 1974.

In 1980 the first class was graduated from Frederick Christian Academy, and Mr. Salomon announced his resignation. He was followed by Rev. David Staples. During Mr. Staples’s ministry a four classroom high school building was added, connecting the existing school building and the church building. Mr. Staples resigned in 1983, and Mr. Robert W. Becker was appointed school administrator.

Mr. Becker resigned in 1985, and Rev. Roger Salomon was asked to return and became school director on July 1, 1985. In 1987 Frederick Christian Academy began a pre-school program. In 1988 Rev. Arnold G. Cooper, pastor of People’s Baptist Church for sixteen years, resigned. In May, 1989, Rev. Michael E. Davidson was called as the pastor of the church. Ground was broken for a gymnasium addition in September of 1990. Rev. H. Robert Thompson became the Director of Academic Affairs on August 1, 1990. During the summer of 1991 a summer day camp program began for children in kindergarten through grade eight and was later expanded to include a pre-school program. This program continued in operation through 2007.

Mr. Roger Salomon resigned as administrator of Frederick Christian Academy in 1998, and Rev. Bradley D. Fleming was called to serve as the school’s fifth administrator. Mrs. Kathy Gerard rejoined the administrative staff in 1999 and served as assistant administrator, pre-school and elementary principal until 2008.

During the summer and fall of 2000, a two-classroom modular unit was erected to provide for continued expansion of two-section classes throughout the elementary school. In January of 2005, the work was completed on a commercial kitchen addition adjacent to the gymnasium.

In September 2007 Rev. Michael Davidson resigned as senior pastor of People’s Baptist Church after serving for nineteen years. As Rev. Bradley Fleming stepped away from the school after ten years as its administrator to serve as interim pastor, Mr. Braden Parker became the sixth administrator of Frederick Christian Academy.

Mission

The mission of Frederick Christian Academy, functioning as an educational ministry of People’s Baptist Church, is to assist parents in their God-given responsibility of educating their children in accordance with Biblical principles, by providing a high-quality spiritual and academic program while encouraging children to live Christ-centered lives and to prepare for effective service to the Lord.