River's Edge Christian Academy

History

The beginnings of River's Edge Christian Academy reach back to 1996 with an article in Focus on the Family magazine about a new option in schooling that combined homeschooling with Christian education. Interested families in Knoxville, Tennessee, then obtained information from a school in California that outlined its format and philosophy. In October of that year, a meeting was held that provided information about the possibility of a parent cooperative school in Knoxville. From that meeting came a list of 30 interested families, and six of those families formed a steering committee with hopes to make this new schooling option a reality for their children.

The next nine months were filled with research of existing schools, legal aspects, curriculum, policies, etc. The search for teachers, an administrator, and a building also occurred during this timeframe. The beginning operating fund was created from the advance tuition of three students. God provided all that was needed, and Christian Family Cooperative opened its classrooms in West Towne Christian Church on August 25, 1997, with an enrollment of 40 students. Enrollment doubled the following year.

In December of 2009, Christian Family Cooperative changed its name to River’s Edge Christian Academy. The fall of 2010 ushered in the birth of a high school. This upper academy is pursuing certification with the National Association of University-Model Schools® (NAUMS).

Currently, River’s Edge Christian Academy has approximately 200 students in attendance in grades K4 through 9. With the addition of 10th grade in the fall of 2011, River’s Edge CA will add a high school grade each year and expects to have a graduating high school class in May 2014.

Campus Tours

Tours of River’s Edge Christian Academy are scheduled by appointment for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 9:00 and 11:30 a.m. Tours may be scheduled by calling the school office at 865.693.6779.

University-Model Schools

The Upper Academy of River’s Edge CA is transitioning to the University Model®. To find out more about University-Model Schools®, please visit the National Association of University-Model Schools®.