Many Christian families are faced with the difficult decision when it comes to investing in a faith-based education or opting for local public school options. The answer to this question largely depends on the type of curriculum used by the school. The 1960s and 1970s saw a surge in the number of conservative evangelical schools, largely due to Supreme Court rulings on school prayer and evolution, debates on sex education, and the fear of “secular humanism”. This period has been referred to as “the second Great Awakening of Christian education in the United States” by Jeff Keaton.
Today, many conservative Protestant schools strive to keep children away from certain ideas, rather than certain people. This is reflected in their curriculum which is designed to be flexible, reflective, and full of a Christian worldview with a reformed perspective. Schools such as Smith Mountain Lake in Southwest Virginia have seen an increase in enrollment due to their academic reputation and strong Christian foundation. When it comes to choosing a school for their children, Christian families should consider the type of curriculum used by the school. Popular curricula used by Christian schools include those published by Christian publishers such as Abeka, BJU Press, and Purposeful Design.
Other Christian schools may adopt curricula published by major publishers. It is important to research the academic quality and costs of each school before making a decision.
