SAT Series

In an effort to display excellence in education we are publishing these charts (Harcourt Assessments, Inc.) which reveal the scores of our student body in the Stanford Achievement Test Series.

This Growth Chart displays results of Aquidneck Island Christian Academy’s (AICA) total reading scores. The scores of AICA and public and private institutions are represented as the National Norms. This particular chart shows that our students at every level score consistently and considerably higher than the national norms (represented by the black line across the colored columns). One note of interest seen in virtually every graph, in every academic, is that within the national norms in grade 12 student scores in the public and private schools begin to decline. However, you will notice in the classical model of education scores continue to rise. The reason for this is that our goal is to instruct our student body to become learners. We nurture our students in the tools of learning rather than simply a mass of information and unconnected facts. Our desire is to train skilled learners who will be equipped to apply these tools of learning (grammar, logic and rhetoric) in all of life. These tools are accompanied by other tools of learning that equip a student to become a skilled learner at every level of their education, throughout their life and within every career choice.

In this next chart (PR of Mean NCE) we see the testing results of an upper grade class (language, mathematics, reading comprehension, vocabulary and reading). All the scores reach far above the 50th percentile norm. In this particular chart we see scores reaching between 30-40 percentile points above the national norms and in all areas.

Again, in order to demonstrate consistent student performance (below), we observe similar results for the fifth grade in duplicating testing areas (except for the area of problem solving, though in this area a high level of performance is demonstrated).These scores are impressive, and encouraging to the board, faculty, and administration of AICA.

We see evidence that hard work and commitment bear fruit in the lives of our students. These results bear evidence that the Classical Model of Education is superior in its methodology as it respects the child as created in the image of God.

“Education is all about methodology and methodology is all about worldview.“

This next chart demonstrates the proficiency of our student body at every level in reading vocabulary. Again we observe the decline in 12th grade scores for the national norm in contrast to the classical education methodology as used by AICA students. A classical Christian education concentrates on the language arts areas, yet does not neglect other areas of math and science. The average grade across the board in math is an 85% (35% above the national norm). In the area of thinking skills AICA achieved an average score of 82.5% in all grade levels. These scores are not indicative of an exclusive group of high achievers, but represent what can be accomplished in a student’s education as addressed by a classical methodology and applying the tools of learning on a daily basis.

Sadly, many Christian schools model themselves after government schools by adopting the same curriculum and methodologies, but adding a Christian and moral environment. While the environment may be “safer” for our children we run the risk of ignoring matters of educational failure or a true and biblical understanding of God’s world. We believe that the classical Christian Model of Education is not only a proven model passing the test of time (definition of classical), but is respectful of man in that he is created in the image of God and therefore addressed with dignity and an eternal perspective in mind. Our students are instructed in a manner conducive to his/her development as God’s creation and to be educated to the glory of God for His purpose. The results of teaching with these goals is observed in the thinking of our students as they come to understand their world and education united with the Creator and ultimately in Christ. This also results in a comprehensive, unified, worldview grounded in truth according to the Word of God.

The students of Aquidneck Island Christian Academy are instructed in the principles of our God as He is revealed to us through His Word. Our students understand that not only is God the Creator, but Sustainer as well. As all things come from Him then logically, all things are under His authority and maintained by Him for His purpose. We, as His creation were created for a purpose as well, to worship and serve the Creator to His glory in every aspect of life. Man cannot truly know anything aright outside of his knowledge of the One True and Living God. God has revealed Himself to man through His written Word and His Son Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Bible is of utmost importance as it teaches us who God is and what man’s duty is to Him. The chart above displays the importance of these truths. Again, the scores of our students exceed the scores of their counterparts who have participated in this aspect of the Stanford Acheivement Test Series 10. AICA students, among peers, still achieve at a high level. While we do not believe we can save a child (which is the work of the Holy Spirit), we can fulfill the Biblical mandate of raising our children in the paidiea of the Lord (Eph. 6). This word found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is defined as raising and training children in a Christian culture in all aspects of life each day. The children referred to in the Ephesian letter were to be immersed in a Christian understanding about all things. The mandate found in Holy Scriptures directs parents to instruct their children to know (grammar/knowledge) and understand (logic/understanding) their world from a Christian perspective in order that they live (wisdom/rhetoric) accordingly to the glory of God. A biblical worldview should be the “cultural waters” the minds of our children swim in, not the culture of the world. Here at AICA our desire is to walk alongside Christian parents as they strive to obey and teach their children truth and godly virtues to the glory of their Creator, thus equipping them to engage and influence the world as biblically thinking adults.