Statement of Faith
Zion Christian Academy is a Christian church school. We hold the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures as the inspired, inerrant, and final authority for faith and practice. We affirm the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Enrolling families are not required to be members of a specific church, but must willingly accept and support the school's Statement of Faith and biblical worldview.
Admissions
Age & Grade
Zion Christian Academy accepts students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students entering Kindergarten must turn 5 years old by August 1 of the enrollment year. Grade placement for transfer students is determined by the director based on prior records and assessment.
Enrollment Process
All applications are personally reviewed by the director, Matthew Brady Renfroe. The school reserves the right to accept or decline any application at its sole discretion. Applications are typically reviewed within 1–2 business days.
Records & Health Requirements
Alabama-compliant immunization records must be submitted before the first day of class unless a religious exemption has been formally documented. Prior academic records may be requested from the student's previous school through our built-in Records Request tool.
Special Learning Needs
Zion Christian Academy welcomes students with IEPs, 504 plans, and learning differences on a case-by-case basis. Families should share existing documentation during the application process so the director can determine whether the school is a good fit for the student's needs.
Tuition & Payment
Annual tuition is $1,500 per child for the 2026–2027 school year. Payment options are cash or check (paid at enrollment) or an end-of-year payment plan arranged with the school.
Late Payment
Tuition or payment-plan installments more than 15 days late will result in a written notice. After 30 days late, transcripts and records may be withheld and the student may be removed from the school until the account is current. A $30 returned-check fee is charged for any check returned by the bank.
Sibling Discount
No sibling discount is offered for the 2026–2027 school year. This policy may be revised in future years.
Code of Conduct
Zion Christian Academy operates on a biblical model of discipline, grounded in Proverbs and Matthew 18. Our discipline process is: correction → parent conference → suspension → dismissal.
Grounds for Immediate Dismissal
Behaviors that may result in immediate dismissal include (but are not limited to): violence toward students or staff, possession or use of drugs or alcohol, unrepentant sexual sin, persistent defiance of authority, theft, and repeated dishonesty.
Family Conduct
Parents and guardians are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the school's Christian standards, both on and off campus. Persistent conduct that undermines the school's witness may result in the family being asked to withdraw.
Bullying
Bullying, harassment, and cruel speech are forbidden and are grounds for immediate discipline up to and including dismissal.
Dress Code & Community Standards
The full dress code is published in the Family Handbook and is enforced at every school function. Repeated dress-code violations result in the student being sent home to change and, if persistent, a parent conference.
Electronics
Cell phones and personal electronic devices must be silenced and put away during class and chapel. Devices used disruptively are confiscated for the day and returned to a parent, not the student.
Social Media
Students and families are expected to represent the school in a Christ-honoring way online. Content that mocks, defames, or misrepresents the school, staff, or fellow students is a violation of this policy.
Records & Privacy
Zion Christian Academy complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g). Student educational records are maintained by the director and released only to parents/guardians of the student or with written consent.
Directory Information
Photos, names, and class lists are used in school newsletters and social media only with written parental consent, collected at enrollment. Families may opt out at any time by emailing the school.
Transcript Hold
Alabama law permits private schools to withhold transcripts for accounts with outstanding balances. The school will release records once the account is paid in full.
Legal
Governing Law
This agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Alabama.
Church School Status
Zion Christian Academy operates as a church school under Alabama Code § 16-28-1(2), an exempt category of Alabama education. Upon enrollment, families receive documents to withdraw from public school and notify their county Board of Education.
Photo & Video Release
Enrollment does not automatically grant permission to use student photos or video. A separate opt-in form is collected annually at enrollment for families who wish to allow their child's image to appear in school marketing and social media.
Field Trips & Liability
The school may organize off-site field trips throughout the year. A separate permission slip and liability release is required for each trip.
Dispute Resolution
In keeping with Matthew 18:15–17, parents and staff agree to attempt biblical mediation of any dispute before pursuing civil action. Disputes should be brought first to the director, then to the school's pastoral counsel.
Modifications
Zion Christian Academy reserves the right to amend this Enrollment Policy at any time. Parents and guardians will receive written notice of material changes.
Acknowledgment
By submitting an enrollment application, the parent/guardian acknowledges having read, understood, and agreed to this Enrollment Policy and the Refund Policy in full. The initial enrollment agreement remains in effect for the family until formal withdrawal or graduation.
Effective Date: This policy takes effect January 1, 2026 and applies to all enrollments from that date forward.