FCA’s HISTORY

Frederick Christian Academy opened in September 1974 with approximately 80 students in kindergarten through eighth grade under the leadership of Carl Chewning, who had organized the school while serving at Heritage Academy of Hagerstown in Hagerstown, Maryland. Although the academy operated as an independent school, it was legally under the authority of Locust Valley Bible Church, pastored by Curvin Stambaugh. During the 1975–76 school year, Mr. Chewning resigned and Roger L. Salomon became administrator. Under his leadership the school came under the authority of People’s Baptist Church, Inc., led by Arnold G. Cooper, and an eleven-room classroom building was constructed in 1978 on the church’s 22-acre campus. The academy celebrated its first graduating class in 1980, after which Mr. Salomon resigned and David Staples became administrator, overseeing the addition of a four-classroom high school building connecting the school and church. Leadership continued to change over the years, including Robert W. Becker and a return of Mr. Salomon in 1985, during which time a preschool program began in 1987. With the arrival of pastor Michael E. Davidson in 1989, further development followed, including a gymnasium addition in 1990, the appointment of H. Robert Thompson as Director of Academic Affairs, and the launch of a summer day camp program in 1991. Later administrators included Bradley D. Fleming beginning in 1998 and Braden Parker in 2007, during which time the campus expanded with additional classrooms and facilities such as a modular unit in 2000 and a commercial kitchen completed in 2005. In 2018, after Dr. Parker’s resignation, David Lavoie became the school’s seventh administrator. Continuing its tradition of leadership development and ministry partnership with the church, the academy appointed Jonny Rebert as administrator in 2025 after four years of service with both the church and school.

Our Goals:

• To teach every student enrolled an understanding of God, the priority that should be accorded His Word, and the responsibility that every person has to Him as Creator and Redeemer.

• To enable each student enrolled to develop both natural and spiritual gifts and talents with the understanding that the highest goal of mankind is to use these gifts and talents to worship and to glorify God.

• To develop within each student a level of basic skills achievement that will support successful functioning as a citizen of the kingdom of God and successful functioning as a citizen of this nation.

• To provide both curricular and instructional systems that will enable any student to achieve at levels that will prepare him/her to enter the next level of education chosen, whatever the academic rigor demanded.

• To leave each student enrolled with a strong sense of right and wrong, to make him aware of the spiritual blessing that comes from doing right, and to warn each student of the many wrongs that now characterize our culture and the negative consequences to be borne by those who choose those wrongs.

Doctrinal Position: 

• We believe the Bible to be the verbally inspired and inerrant Word of God and our absolute and final authority in all matters of faith and practice.

• We believe in the unity of the Godhead, eternally existent in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

• We believe in the absolute deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

• We believe in the distinct personality of Satan as the unholy god of this age, author of the powers of darkness and sin, and destined to the eternal judgment of the lake of fire.

• We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, by direct act and not by any process of evolution.

• We believe that man, in the person of Adam, was created in innocence but by voluntary transgression fell into sin, thus plunging the whole human race into condemnation and death.

• We believe that man is born in sin and is therefore separated from God and in need of a savior.

• We believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross as a voluntary substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of the whole world and that He rose from the dead bodily and ascended into Heaven, where He is now our Mediator and High Priest.

• We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the only condition of salvation from sin. This salvation is wholly by grace. No works, however good, make the salvation more secure.

• We believe that once saved, the believer is eternally secure in Christ and can never again be lost.

• We believe that those who die in the Lord are absent from the body but consciously present with the Lord.

• We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust, in the eternal conscious punishment of the lost and the eternal joy of the saved.

FCA QUICK FACTS

Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Faculty: 36 full-time and part-time Faculty & Staff
Preschool K3-K4: 3's & 4's half-day/full-day
K5-5th Grade School Hours: 8:15 am to 3:00 pm
6th-12th Grade School Hours: 8:00 am to 3:10 pm
Before Care: 7:00 am to 7:45 am After Care: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Accreditation: American Association of Christian Schools (AACS)
Parent Church: People's Baptist Church

QUICK LINKS: RESOURCES

FACTS Family Portal
FCA Family Handbook
2025-2026 School Calendar

TESTIMONIES

“Our daughter enrolled in the 7th grade at Frederick Christian Academy in August 2020. She needed extra help with Math. She had tutoring by both teachers and outside tutors but nothing helped. We made the decision to move her to FCA in hopes to find a way to help her in Math. She has now been with FCA for seven months and we couldn't be happier. Her Math skills are improving, through the help of her teacher and the use of teaching regular Math with a real text book. We have also seen our daughter thrive and grow in her Christian faith as well as see how it makes her smile when her peers treat her with kindness on tough days. In only seven months, we have seen her confidence and pride in herself grow. In only seven months, we have seen her take ownership and responsibility for her assignments and meeting the timelines. We look forward to her continuing at FCA and know it is the right place for her to continue to learn and make decisions for herself while growing in her Christian faith. We would highly recommend FCA for other families.” - Bob and Patricia S.

“I have been sending my daughter, Kennedy, to FCA for 10 years. Not only has my daughter developed close relationships with the faculty and staff, but I have as well. As a parent, I feel confident that the staff and faculty encourage my child to live a Christ-centered life. The values, morals and principles are the foundation of the teaching aspect at FCA. At FCA, we are not just students or parents; we are family. I could not imagine sending Kennedy to a different school. FCA has been a blessing to us.” - Ruth T.

“Our daughter has been enrolled in Frederick Christian Academy since ninth grade, and she will graduate this year. She has received an education far superior to anything offered in public school, and she has also participated in the school’s outstanding sports program. FCA’s teachers, coaches, and administrative staff are the finest we have ever been associated with, and they truly care about the students. We highly recommend FCA to any family looking for an alternative to public education.” - Bill and Kristine W.

“We appreciate the devotion that is given to each student by the administration, faculty, and staff. Every child is made to feel special and is encouraged to grow spiritually and academically.” - Daniel and Heidi K.

“Frederick Christian Academy is a phenomenal school. My son started Kindergarten at FCA and I was so impressed. This is his second year at the school and I am still pleased. He has grown academically and spiritually. The faculty and staff are excellent and spiritually blessed. Each student is treated as a unique individual. I would highly recommend FCA to prospective parents who would like a well-rounded education for their child/children.” - Yatta Q.

“My daughter attends Frederick Christian Academy. She’s only 4; however, she attended two previous schools and was not excited about going to school. She’s upset now when she can’t go to FCA on the weekends. She loves her school. The curriculum is outstanding; she even quotes her Bible verses. The staff is very, very friendly and very supportive. FCA provides a wonderful, safe, and encouraging learning environment.” - Jenise H.

“We have two children enrolled at Frederick Christian Academy and we are so pleased with the education they are receiving. There is an attitude of respect that is fostered in this school – respect for oneself, respect for other students, respect for teachers, and respect for the Lord. In addition, we believe the children are really learning how to be good students – to be responsible, to be forward-thinking, and to be proud of their work. Lastly, our children are just happy kids attending FCA and we are so thankful for this school.” - Bill and Michelle S.