Canyonville Christian Academy review: Poor academics 21

We couldn't disagree more. We sent both of our kids to CCA, one just finished her masters at Purdue, the other is getting a 3.8 in law school at University of Michigan. Two members of our church have kids currently enrolled at CCA who are home for the summer and couldn't be happier.

I'm sorry your child had trouble in college, but from my experience, the reasons for such downturn are more related to the current school and environment than their high school experience. I've been a college professor for 23 years and can tell you that I have NEVER met a new student who was actually "prepared" for the open freedoms, temptations, and distractions that college brings. Normally the slump/curve from college-prep students is actually from students being used to small class sizes (like CCA) and coming to rely on 1-on-1 time with professors (not practical at Universities)

Please don't take this as a criticism toward you. But, to be fair to CCA, I don't think claiming that their academics are poor is founded. If your child carried an almost perfect GPA and graduated with honors, he/she was far exceeding the test standards set by the fed and state. Therefore, I'd ask, what would you expect CCA to change?

In fact, I have heard quite the opposite - that the academics and knowledge-earning at CCA are off the charts.

I am sure that your child will find his or her stride. Don't give up!

i think this school is not too bad, but the food is not too good for student and the rule too hard for them.

It's sad that their student did badly wherever they went after CCA. I appreciated the response from the parent of the successful student.

Recent grads in the past few years have gone to very good schools and done well. Richard Wang from China who arrived here with ZERO English, just graduated with a double major from the University of Washington. (He said that when he becomes wealthy, he's coming to donate big and wants a building with his name on it! That's how much he loves CCA). We have more than one student at Purdue, Rutgers, Indiana State, Penn State, University of Oregon, University of Illinois Champaign Urbana, University of Michigan, University of Colorado, etc. Kate Soules, who graduated from CCA at age 16 and is just now 17, is already a Teaching Assistant for a professor at the college she's attending.

Please know that all teachers of core classes have at least a bachelor's degree, and three or four have master's degrees. (Our art teacher does not, but she is an artist and we feel her professional experience is highly beneficial to her students.)

The last turn over of teachers was five years ago. We lost one half-time teacher last year, who went to the missionary field, as she planned when she came here. One teacher has been here 23 years, another has been here 11. Three of our current teachers are CCA graduates who went on to college, got their degrees, and returned here to teach. ( One of them spoke not one word of English when she came, with not a penny in her pocket. )

Our international students generally score higher on the SATs, and we are proud of their achievements scholastically and in learning a second language while doing so.

Here is the list for 2007 of colleges and universities where our graduates are studying: Binghamton University, Cedarville University, Davis College, Indiana State University, Jacksonville University, Johnson Smith University, Michigan State, Palm Beach Atlantic, Penn State, Pepperdine, Purdue, San Francisco University, Southeastern University, St. Johns University, Stonybrook University, Syracuse, Texas Tech, University of Illinois, Champaign, University of Iowa, University of Massachusetts, University of Missouri, University of Nevada, University of Oregon, University of Washington, Washington State, William and Jessup University, Word of Life in Portersville, NY.

Earlier years are just as prestigious, and I will be happy to put them online if anyone is interested.

We are so proud of our school and are working hard to make it even better. We have two chefs this year preparing the menus and cooking. One chef even knew to put chocolate in the soup to balance the flavors! We trust the complaints about food are dying down (as much as teenagers are ever satisfied with cafeteria food!)

Our sports programs are more difficult as many of our international students have never played competitive sports. But they are happily learning.

I graduated as salutatorian from my high school and almost flunked out my first year at university. because I was having too much fun and not studying. It took me many years and much more maturity to earn 4.0... I trust your daughter will also find her stride. Blessings.

I teach all of the upper-level math classes at Canyonville Christian Academy (CCA), and I'm the Math Dept. Head. A couple of years ago we had a student transfer in from California. She stayed with us for just a year (she was a junior), and she graduated as valedictorian. Her valedictory was one solid whine, unlike any I have ever heard during my 12-year tenure here. She delivered it with aplomb, as if her family observed Festivus (for the rest of us), with its airing of grievances, instead of Christmas, every year of her life.

At the beginning of her internment at CCA, she told me that she did very well in Precalculus at her former high school, and she wanted to take my Calculus class, so I let her in. She bombed (i.e., did poorly) and dropped the class voluntarily. She was unprepared for the rigors of an authentic math class, especially at the calculus level--I do not mess around and play silly games with groups and manipulatives, blocks, sticks, or stones. I teach real mathematics. Why was she so unprepared? That's a question that should be asked of the high school she attended for three whole years before she came to CCA.

So she managed to graduate as valedictorian without taking any advanced math classes; apparently she had enough math credits from her previous school to graduate. I have no doubts that her poor mathematical preparation came back to haunt her when she attended a university. She probably took a placement test and was placed in some kind of remedial math course, like almost 80% (!) of all US college freshmen.

On the other hand, my students generally do well at the university in math if they do reasonably well with me. I've had former students in nontechnical majors tell me that they "tested out" of all math requirements in college. These were students who took my Precalculus class and got A's or B's. In fact, I even had one Algebra II student test out of her math requirements. Some of my former calculus students told me that their math classes at the university were easy after having had my classes. I'm talking about students who are now at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Purdue University.

Pardon me for boasting, but I'll stack my math classes up against any prep school's math courses in the country. I've taught courses like linear algebra (stressing proofs and matrices as linear transformations, for those of you in the know), and my geometry class is practically all proofs (I use George D. Birkhoff's classic text). And all this at a bargain price; our tuition is one of the lowest for a boarding school in the country, so "scraping by to send our child to a college prep school that turned out to be an expensive cakewalk" is a bit too much for me to accept. And I, like the others who work here, sacrifice much higher-paying jobs and a lot of respect and prestige because we believe that God called us to be here. Even public school teachers on the lowest rung of the pay scale make more money than I--a lot more.

My qualifications? I hold an MS degree in mathematics (NOT mathematics education, mind you) from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. It's a good school. Many of my courses are also offered for college credit through Umpqua Community College's (UCC) "College Now" program. In order for me to do this, I had to meet UCC's standards for their math instructors, and I am an adjunct faculty member of UCC.

Yes, we are in a rural area. This isn't San Francisco; sometimes this sleepy town grates on my nerves because it's too small and quiet--I grew up in the inner city of Chicago--and I have to go to Portland or Seattle for a "city fix." But I make do; I have hobbies; I keep my mind active. I recommend that your child try the same; it's good to be able to adapt to any situation.

I will not presume to speak for my colleagues; I'll let them chime in if they wish. But I can speak for myself, and I can't let these negative remarks go by without saying something, especially after all the work I've put into the math department at CCA. I wonder if it was your child to whom I referred above. Maybe not; you said it was "several years ago, " and this was just a couple of years ago. But if it was, I am not surprised in the least at her performance in college, and you should be posting complaints about the school in which she spent more time--not CCA.

it is just a bad school to say the least... i hate everyone that supports them administration... ### cca

We cannot say that CCA is the best high school to learn but i do not agree that it is a very poor school. I graduated recently and went to a prestigious college perhaps not the top one's but it is a college that can compete with them. Even though I did not score a perfect GPA i still a 3.0. Actually i could get better but i guess i was lazy at the end of the semester and did poorly on one of my final I think i could get way higher.
Even though I was a little bit surprise when i first get in to college because I felt that i was not ready but I worked hard enough to learn what we did not learn. Our first year in college is always hard, the changes between a 1A high school to a College who is like 40000 student are very difficult. If your son droped out of his school it is his problem. Even though I am an international Student i still feel that it is hard to get drop out of a school ... if he worked hard enough i am sure he could get a good GPA.
CCA is perhaps not the best place but I think i had the best memories in my life: Basketball, dorm life, friend, trip, homecoming.., I learned a lot on how to be a person and also made a lot of special friend and also made some memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. The teacher also is very different from the other school that I went, they are always here for us, if we need them they will be here to teach us. We can always talk about the problem that we have. Before I was always scared to get to close with the teacher but in cca they are like our friend. I know that a lot of student in CCA say they hate CCA and want to leave as soon as possible but when the time come to leave, they will be crying and saying that they do not want to leave. After they went on college they will be missing CCA a lot. That is what I felt and also a lot of my friend. If I could I wish I would stay there a little bit more, but time does not stop.
And also I hate the social rule, it is too much. I understand that it is to protect us but sometime it is good to let us experience it first when you teacher are around us, when we go out in college we will be by ourself and if we commit something wrong nobody will here for us. Like most of people know if we put a rule that is disagreed it is human nature to break it. It is not good to be overprotected sometimes, we should learn how to control it not prohibiting it because if you were prohibited for so long in high school, in college you will want to break it as soon as possible and it cause problem but I never had that problem ^^. Just sad that me and my girlfriend in CCA couldnt at least have a hug somtimes when we need it or just holding hand...

Haaaha CCA. Don't even try to protect your school from these complaints. You know it is a bad school. I mean maybe this school is good for students who just got out of China and know nothing but not for Americans or people actually trying to succeed. I recommend the students that start to learn english to transfer them to a better school after one year of learning at this ### international school so they can learn English!

i am poor please help me my edress;- Arsalan shah s/o aijaz shah-; Sanitary shop near L.H.D.P. ofice kazia Wah Gharibabad ward#6 P.O.Badin Sindh Pakistan

I remember the "valedictorian" mentioned in the complaint. Anti social and bitter who never ventured out to be with the rest of us. Just because we're international and she was American?! Who knows, but her speech was the worst I've ever heard. If she left CCA and did badly at university, maybe it was her terrible social skills. Any school is gonna have their good points and bad points, for the most part CCA to me was positive and helped me develop as a person. I felt liked and accepted by the staff and made some of the best friends of my life. CCA rocks!

Our daughter currently attends CCA and let me tell you all it beats the other schools around here. Maybe there is some problems but our daughter is coming out of her shell and doing excellent. I have no idea what they mean about high turn over rate because most of the teachers have been there for years. It is affordable to the fact that Milo academy is 5 times as much a year. We love this school and the teachers and staff are friendly and helpful for sure.

I LOVE CCA. You can never find a better loving and fun school like Canyonville Christian Academy. I have been going to cca for a long time(try 7 years long) and yes, I have had my complaints but all in all you could not pick a better private school to go to than Canyonville Christian Academy. I went to school with your daughter and the reason why this "complaint" was posted here was because she wasn't smart enough to get out of the dorm once in a while and TRY to make something of her life at cca! Instead of making her senior year productive and fun, she spent all of her time writing down all the negatives of cca and then spilled them out on graduation day. I mean why not?! what better way to spend your time than mooding over everything that wasn't "up to her standards" than instead of focusing on the positives that the people and environment bring to you. The teachers at CCA are only there because they care for the students. It's as plain as that. Yes, the food may not be excellent like that of a 5 star restaurant but it's good anyways! In the Bible it says that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Duh people! at least be thankful that you have cca food!(which is sometimes better than food that I get at home)Things may not be all perfect at cca but at least it is one place a person can be truly fed and prepared for their future. I have family members that have graduated from cca and they told me that they have been more than prepared for college had in store for them. From experience I know that it is hard to achieve good grades. It takes massive amounts of perseverance but it will more than prepare you for college. All I just wanted to say was that I am deeply offended by this complaint and it makes me angry to see something like this right next to Canyonville Christian Academy's website. You people have no right to complain about MY school. I shall be praying for your whole family. God bless you!

Hey CCA, GO ### YOURSELVES! HA

Completely disagree with the complain. I graduated from CCA in 1998 and went on to attend and graduate at Yale. CCA is a solid and institution

I used to teach music, Spanish, and math at CBA. My whole family loved the experience. It looks like they got a new math head- the old one was fabulous as well. All my coworkers were excellent, interesting, and caring individuals. The beauty of the campus is unparalleled. The graduates are able to go on to anything they desire. I am sorry about your daughter's experience. I would go back and teach at CCA again if I had the chance.

Around 20 of our family have gone to and graduated from CBA/CCA and none that I know of have had any problems with college or their careers. Our oldest son, who was valedictorian in 1985 at CBA, got a degree in Aerospace Engineering at San Diego St and was in the top 10% of his class. He then went to medical school and now has a successful practice with two other doctors. He was in the top 97% with his MCAT scores.
Our second son graduated there a couple of years later and is a senior pastor of a church that has grown 6 fold since he became pastor there 13 years ago. Both learned what they needed to at CCA to go on and be successful in college and in their careers. Part of the learning experience there is being away from home and learning how to get along with others who aren't just like you, or didn't grow up in the same area.

Going to CCA is a lot like life, you get out of it what you put into it.

I think that the students who did well beyond CCA did so in spite of the place, and because of their own merits. The curriculum was a problem for one. Wanna hear a joke? My favorite parts of my SCIENCE classes were the BIBLE QUOTES! Funny because its true. I received virtually no help with applying to college. The only thing I really asked for wasn't done. Because of CCA person's incompetence/lateness, I didn't get into my first choice college on a technicality (application cancelled b/c the university didn't receive my transcript from CCA on time.So I had to transfer to my first choice school a year later.But if thats your kinda thing, go for it. If ya wanna feel funky, feel free. But PLeASE don't spread that funk on me.

CCA was a bogus 'accredited' school. I had a biology teacher that had never gone to school to be a science teacher ... I believe he was a coach of some sort. We were not prepped for entering university (no counseling), not required to take SAT's (most of us only went to get out of class for the day), were not allowed to date (SOCIALED!) ... there were some scandalous events that went on during my time there.

But on the other hand, I did meet life long friends. I hear it's pretty much all foreign kids now.

I f you do a little research on CCA president Doug Wead, you will find a paid spokes man for Amway, a man who motivates people into joining a pyramid scheme.
There is great article on Doug Wead called: Wead in the Rose Garden, By Bill Berkowitz,
Mr Berkowitz lays out the truth on this self promoting huckster and pyramid scheme pitch man.
CCA had ex con and Xango sales man Sherman Unkefer deliver a speach to the 2009 class of CCA.
Google Sherman Unkefer prison and you will find another Pyramid Scheme huckster trying to hawk $40 fruit juice as some sort of miracle cure.
Mr Unkefer tries to pass himself off as a man of integrity and a succesfull sales man.
Truth is he got sent to prison for 10 years in Arizona for one of the biggest cases of fraud in Az history. After having a$7, 5 milliion criminal restitution order placed on him. he decided it was cheaper to stash his money in a Cayman Island bank and use his now deceased wife as the front.
Doug also is a pichman for Xango, and it was nice for him to hire an ex con and thief to deliver the 2009 graduation speach.

Reading some of the comments made here by some students is quite shocking. Their grammatical errors is enough to get the picture.