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The Application Process

 

 

Your HHCA Journey Begins Here.
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Thank you for your interest in Hilton Head Christian Academy. We are honored that you are considering our school for your family. We invite you to explore our site to learn more about HHCA.

For the 2020-2021 school year, we are fully enrolled in most grades. We currently have room in 4th grade only. 

In order to accommodate proper physical distancing and other COVID-19-related safety measures, while providing the best possible educational experience, we are keeping our class sizes smaller than normal for now.

Families who wish to become a candidate for admissions when spaces become available are highly encouraged to connect with our Admissions Team.

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Now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year!
 
DO THESE 4 THINGS FIRST:

(1) Submit the Let's Talk form here.
(2) Schedule a tour. (in person or virtual)
(3) Connect with our students and mentors to experience HHCA. (We'll set you up!)
(4) Follow the steps below.

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APPLICANT FAMILY CHECKLIST

Our goal is for your experience to be excellent - from the time you connect with us, to your tour of our campus, all the way through the application process, and beyond. We will walk alongside you the entire way, and are always happy to answer any questions.  The following steps are required within the application process:
 
  1.  Create Your myHHCA Account HERE.
    myHHCA is our online platform used throughout the application process.

  2. Complete online application form in myHHCA and submit the $100 application fee.

  3. Applications for HHCA's financial aid program (Flex Tuition) for the 2021-2022 school year open December 1, 2020. For priority consideration, the financial aid application and all supporting documentation should be submitted by December 15, 2020. Notification of financial aid awards will be provided for January 15, 2020.

  4. Gather the following supporting documents. Download and complete our student record request form (available in the sidebar). This form is for you to download and send to your child's school. This is a parent driven process. We will not communicate with your current school unless we speak with you first.
    - school records
    - transcripts and/or report cards
    - birth certificate
    - immunization records

  5. Email the supporting documents above to admissionfiles@hhca.org.
 
NOTE: All students accepted and enrolled in 6-12 grade are required to have a health physical, regardless of sports participation, prior to beginning classes at HHCA.
 
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AFTER APPLYING, YOUR NEXT STEPS

  • After you've applied, our Admissions Team will schedule both student and parent interviews with the appropriate principal.

  • After the application, application fee and all supporting documents have been submitted and interviews have been conducted, the student officially enters our pool of candidates. 

  • BENCHMARKING
    Benchmark testing will be scheduled for all potential students. Testing dates are Saturday, January 16, 2021 or Saturday, January 23, 2021.
             Rising 1st-5th grade testing will be from 10:00-10:45 AM.     
             Rising 6th-12th grade testing will be from 9:30-11:00 AM.
             Each Kindergarten student will be benchmarked individually.
    This will be held on our new campus in Bluffton, SC. If the potential student is unable to attend in person, the testing can be administered online at the same dates and times.

  • Our Admissions Review Committee then reviews each candidate and awards admission based on the following criteria:

    Desire    : Applicants must express the desire and ability to be an active contributor to the HHCA school community. Students admitted to HHCA must agree to adhere to the Christian philosophy of education and all policies outlined in the Student Handbook.

    Success    : The Admissions Review Committee must be confident that the student will be successful in the HHCA educational environment.

    Partnership: Families must be committed to partnering with HHCA in the complete education of their student(s) and support the principles of Christian Education outlined in the Parent Partnership Agreement (included below).

  • When the Admissions Review Committee completes its evaluation, our Admissions Team will notify you.

  • Upon acceptance, all families intending to enroll their student(s) will be asked to submit an enrollment contract. This is the final step in accepting seats offered to your student(s) and serves as a binding contract between applicant families and HHCA. Applicants seeking tuition adjustments will receive award notification from the Business Office and will be asked to confirm any awards prior to solidify the Enrollment Agreement.

 
Hilton Head Christian Academy admits students of any race, religion, color, nationality or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. HHCA does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, nationality or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance, and athletic or other school-administered programs.

Kindergarten applicants must be 5 years of age, on or before September 1 of intended enrollment year.
 
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INFORMATION ABOUT HHCA & FAQs

We have compiled the following topics and FAQs to give you a deeper sense of what the HHCA experience is all about. Please take time to review these important topics during the application process. 
 
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We firmly believe that Christ calls us to excellence in all that we do. With that belief as a cornerstone, our definition of Christian education goes beyond constructing a set of studies…AND a “Bible” class. Christ is infused in ALL that we do. Yes, our curricular offerings are excellent. Yes, we offer an array of arts, athletics, and extra-curricular programs. Yes, we do have intentional, Bible-based instruction and weekly chapels. What sets us apart however is that each facet of HHCA is presented through the lens of a Christian world-view. The teachers at HHCA are active in their faith and display a passion for sharing their lives, nurturing their students, and pointing each toward a life-saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
No. 
 
Hilton Head Christian Academy admits students of any race, religion, color, nationality or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. HHCA does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, nationality or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance, and athletic or other school-administered programs.
 
Understanding HHCA's family partnership agreement is essential.  (The full agreement is shared in the next section.)
We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be verbally inspired, inerrant in the original manuscripts and infallible. The Bible is the Word of God, the supreme authority in faith and life.

We believe there is one living and true God: an infinite, eternal and unchanging Spirit; perfect in all His attributes; one in essence, power and glory but eternally subsistent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe that in Adam’s sin the human race fell from a state of innocence before its Creator and entered a state of sinfulness and spiritual impotence. In the fall the image of God in man was marred, and man became unwilling and unable to fulfill his obligations to his Creator. In his natural state, man is helpless before the just wrath of a righteous God.

We believe Jesus Christ was eternally existent as God, that He became man, yet without sin, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary; that He lived a sinless life; that He ascended into heaven in that body glorified, where He is now our intercessor; and that He will return again personally, visibly and gloriously.

We believe that salvation is wholly of God, by grace; that God in love gave His only Son to die on the cross for sin, thus procuring the redemption of those who believe in Him; that this salvation is not merited in any way by man; that God commands all people to repent of sin and believe in Christ; and that this salvation is eternal in its duration and results in good works.

 

  1. Christian education is a cooperative partnership between the school, parents and students. Consequently, the educational philosophy, objectives, practices, and policies of the school will receive my support and that of my child(ren) at and away from school. The lack of such support may be grounds for being denied admission, re-enrollment, and in some cases, dismissal from school in accordance with school policies.

  2. I have carefully read and submit to the Mission Statement and Statement of Faith of Hilton Head Christian Academy and commit to partnering with the school in the total education of my child(ren). I pledge to support the aims and ideals of HHCA and will bring any criticisms directly to the faculty and/or administration so that those in authority may properly consider them.

  3. In accordance with the philosophy of Hilton Head Christian Academy, my child(ren) will respectfully participate in the spiritual life of the school, including bible classes, chapels, scripture memorization, spiritual emphasis activities, service projects, and retreats.

  4. The faculty and administration of the school have the responsibility, as well as the authority, to discipline my child(ren) and assign consequences in keeping with the discipline system outlined in the student handbook. If for any reason my child does not cooperate with the academic, disciplinary, or spiritual life standards in accordance with school policy, I will cooperate with the administration as it handles these situations and will avoid discussion with those not involved, so as to avert a spirit of dissension and division. HHCA reserves the right to dismiss, suspend, or otherwise discipline any student who does not adhere to the standards stated in the Student Handbook as determined by the administration.
As a college and life preparatory school, HHCA prepares each student to be successful at whatever college or university they may attend, and for life beyond our campus.
 
With a rigorous curriculum including honors and advanced placement courses in every upper school core subject area, HHCA has high standards that are well respected around the state of South Carolina and the country. 
 
We have a full team of Guidance professionals dedicated to our families. You can learn more about how they enhance the HHCA experience in THIS VIDEO.

 

Tuition Payments

All tuition and fee payments are handled through a third party billing processor, Smart Tuition.
 
It is the responsibility of the family to ensure that they have established an account with Smart Tuition, and that they manage and maintain a current account at all times. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the family to read and understand all policies and procedures related to their account with Smart Tuition, including but not limited to payment methods and due dates.

HHCA offers multiple payment plans: an annual one-time payment, or bi-annual, quarterly or monthly payments. A discount is offered for tuition paid in full by June 15th prior to the start of that school year. If paying monthly, payments are required to be set-up as an auto-draft.

In order to reserve a student’s seat for the coming year, HHCA requires at least 25% of tuition be paid before the start of school. This is composed of payments due in June, July and August if paying monthly; or the first quarter or semester if paying quarterly or bi-annually. 

A late fee of $40.00 will be assessed for non-timely payment of tuition and fees. A $25.00 bank fee will be assessed for returned checks or failed payments.

Payment of tuition is a condition of continuing enrollment. The individual(s) who signs the enrollment agreement is ultimately responsible for all payments to the student’s account.
 

Accounts Receivable Policy

In the event that a family is unable to make a timely payment, contact should be initiated with the Business Office immediately to communicate the situation and make arrangements for payment. HHCA is committed to working diligently with its families to maintain each student’s enrollment in HHCA. However, in the event that an account begins aging and a payment arrangement cannot be agreed upon, the following steps will be taken:
  1. Initial communication from Smart Tuition, notifying family of late payment.
  2. At 30 days past due, communication will be initiated by the Business Office, either electronically or via phone call, to request payment.
  3. At 60 days past due, communication will be sent requesting payment and notifying the family that the student(s) will not be allowed to participate in the following services:
    - Access to report cards
    - Transcript requests
    - Extracurricular activities, including but not limited to athletics, drama and school trips
  4. At 90 days past due, a certified letter will be sent explaining that non-payment of tuition is equivalent to withdrawal, and the withdrawal process will be initiated for the student. No student with a balance that is 90 days or more past due will be allowed to start a semester.

Withdrawal

If a family enrolls their child at HHCA and subsequently withdraws their student, the family must notify the Admissions Office in writing no later than March 15th prior to the upcoming school year. After March 15th but prior to the first day of school, a $3,500 withdrawal fee per student will apply; however, the family will be released of any additional financial obligation.
  1. Once a student begins attending classes at HHCA, the signor of the enrollment contract assumes the obligation to pay the remaining balance of tuition for the entirety of the school year. This obligation remains in effect in the event of withdrawal of the student prior to the end of the school year, whether the withdrawal be voluntary or for disciplinary, financial, and/or other reasons.
  2. Tuition payments are non-refundable.
  3. HHCA partners with Dewar Tuition Refund Insurance to offer parents protection for their tuition commitment in the case of an unforeseen student withdrawal from the school.  Participation in the Tuition Refund Insurance Program is required for all students unless tuition is paid in full prior to the start of the school year, in which case participation in optional.  The premium is calculated using a standard percentage and is based on the NET tuition amount owed for each student (total tuition net of any financial aid).  The premium will be billed through Smart Tuition and is payable with the first payment.


Flex Tuition

Flex Tuition is HHCA’s program that determines a family’s financial need, and if a need exists, adjusts tuition to meet the family in their financial circumstance. Flex Tuition is awarded to families on a financial needs basis ONLY.
  1. All Flex Tuition applications are submitted through a third party processor, Smart Aid. Evaluation of completeness and validity of the information submitted, as well as the initial analysis of need, is provided by Smart Aid. When the family has completed the entire process with Smart Aid, including submitting all supporting documentation and follow-up requests from Smart Aid, the HHCA Financial Aid Committee reviews the Smart Aid Analysis. The Financial Aid Committee makes final decisions for Flex Tuition awards, including for appeals that are made to the original award granted to a family.

  2. Families receiving Flex Tuition awards must re-apply in each year for which they enroll. Flex Tuition awards will not be “grandfathered” for any family from year to year.

  3. For families receiving Flex Tuition awards, the enrollment agreement is not binding until they have formally accepted or declined the award.
Exceptions to any of the financial policies stated herein may be made solely by the Head of School and/or Board of Directors.

 

Immunization Requirements

South Carolina law dictates that children cannot be admitted to attend any school or child development program without a valid SC Certificate of Immunization or a medical, religious, or special exemption. I understand that I must provide current immunization records for my child as a condition of enrollment. 

Medical Records

Hilton Head Christian Academy uses Magnus Health, which is a secure online portal for the collection of student medical records and parent/guardian release and consent forms. I understand that ALL forms within the Magnus system must be completed prior to my child's first day of attendance at HHCA. 

Health Physical Requirements

All 6th-12th grade students at HHCA are required to complete a current health physical prior to the start of school, regardless of participation  in physical education classes or school athletics. I understand and agree that I will provide an updated physical that will remain current for the entirety of the school year for my 6th-12th grade student.

Safety Acknowledgement

I understand that in the course of the school day and at after-school activities, my child may become ill or injured. As the parent or legal guardian of the named student, I grant permission for treatment deemed necessary for a condition arising while on the HHCA school campus, at an athletic or school-sponsored event, retreat or field trip by a licensed medical/health professional. This includes the school nurse, athletic trainer, physicians or those under their direction.  

If necessary, I approve school authorities to take the following steps:

  • Contact a parent or legal guardian of the student and follow his or her instructions.
  • Contact the child’s physician and follow his or her instructions in the event a parent or legal guardian cannot be reached.
  • Use his/her own discretion in contacting a properly licensed physician in the event the child’s physician and a parent or legal guardian cannot be reached.

If, in the opinion of a properly licensed and practicing medical/healthcare professional, my child needs medical or surgical services which require my consent before being supplied, I hereby authorize, appoint, and empower the Head of School or his designee, to furnish on my behalf such written or oral authorization as may be so required. Furthermore, I release the Head of School, his designee, the board of directors, and HHCA any liability that may arise from giving such authorization, it being my desire that my child be furnished with medical or surgical services as soon as reasonably possible after the need arises.
 

Student Travel Policy

Hilton Head Christian Academy believes that off-campus educational trips enhance the learning experience and bring classroom lessons to life. I understand that field trips are a part of the curriculum for students kindergarten through 12th grade and I hereby permit my child to attend all authorized and supervised field trips.

In the event of an injury requiring medical attention, I hereby grant permission to the supervising teacher(s) or staff (including volunteers) to attend to my son/daughter. If the injury warrants further medical attention, I expect every effort will be made to contact me to receive my specific authorization before action is taken. If efforts to contact me are unsuccessful, I grant permission for necessary medical treatment to be given. In addition, I hereby give my permission to the supervising teacher(s) or staff (including volunteers) to take my child to the physician, dentist or to the hospital if an accident or serious illness occurs on the trip and I cannot be located. 

I recognize that unanticipated situations and problems can arise on any school-sponsored trip, which situations or problems are not reasonably within the control of the supervising teacher(s) or staff (including volunteers). I agree to release and hold harmless Hilton Head Christian Academy and its employees and volunteers, from any and all liability, claims, suits, demands, judgments, costs, interest and expense, arising from such activities, including any accident or injury to the student and the costs of medical services, or any cause beyond the control of HHCA including, but not limited to, natural disasters, civil disturbances, or acts of terrorism. 
HHCA offers bus transportation to and from school for an additional fee. Bus registration for the 1st semester of the 2020-2021 is now closed as all seats are full. However, we are currently accepting names for a waiting list should additional seats become available during the first semester.  Contact Rachel Bagenstose with questions about bus transportation.
HHCA students do wear school uniforms. Our full dress code can be found HERE.
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The student record request form below is for you to download and send to your child's school. This is a parent driven process. We will not communicate with your current school unless we speak with you first. Submit records to admissionfiles@hhca.org
 
STUDENT RECORDS REQUEST FORM: