Liberty Christian Academy (LCA, founded as Lynchburg Christian Academy) is a private Christian school in Lynchburg, Virginia. Founded in 1967 by Baptist preacher Jerry Falwell Sr. as a ministry of Thomas Road Baptist Church and a segregation academy, the school is recognized as an educational facility by the Commonwealth of Virginia through the Virginia State Board of Education,[2] Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,[3] and the Association of Christian Schools International.[4] The academy consists of pre–K through grade 12.
| Liberty Christian Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
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3701 Candlers Mountain Rd , | |
| Coordinates | 37°21′38″N 79°10′22″W / 37.3605°N 79.1727°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Christian, college preparatory |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Thomas Road Baptist Church |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| Established | 1967 |
| Founder | Jerry Falwell Sr. |
| Superintendent | Mark Hine |
| Grades | K–12 |
| Gender | co-educational |
| Enrolment | 1853 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Red, White, Blue |
| Athletics | basketball, baseball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, softball, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, wrestling |
| Athletics conference | Virginia High School League (VHSL) |
| Mascot | Benny the Bulldog |
| Nickname | Bulldogs |
| Accreditation | Cognia Association of Christian Schools International |
| Tuition | $7,536–$8,570 (2024–25)[1] |
| Website | www |
History
During the 1950s and 1960s, Falwell spoke and campaigned against civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the desegregation of public school systems by the U.S. federal government.[5][6] In 1966, he led the effort to create "a private school for white students," the Lynchburg News reported. Named Lynchburg Christian Academy, the school opened in 1967 as a segregation academy.[5][6] Falwell developed it as a ministry of his Thomas Road Baptist Church.[7]
Unlike many other segregation academies, the school became racially integrated two years after its opening.[5] Historian Seth Dowland said that school officials later sought to market the school to parents who were not solely motivated by a desire to keep their children out of racially integrated public schools.[8]
In 1975, the Ford administration began trying to deny segregation academies their tax-exempt status on the basis that they perpetuated segregation. In 1979, Falwell denounced this "intervention against Christian schools", which had become a policy of the Carter administration. [9]
In 2005, the Lynchburg Christian Academy was moved next to Liberty University and renamed Liberty Christian Academy.[10]
Athletics
The LCA football team compiled an 85–6 record, winning four state championships and eight conference championships, between 2004, when Frank Rocco become the head coach, and 2013.[11] Among the team's former members are Rashad Jennings[12] and Bobby Massie.
Notable alumni
- Jerry Falwell Jr. (class of 1980), president of Liberty University
- Bob Good (class of 1983), politician[13]
- Rashad Jennings (class of 2005), NFL player[14]
- Jelena Antić (class of 2009), professional basketball player and coach[15]
- Bobby Massie (class of 2009), NFL player[16]
- Elijah Benton (class of 2014), NFL player[17]
- Michael Strachan (class of 2016), NFL player[18]
- Wes Clarke (class of 2018), professional baseball player[19]
References
- ^ "Domestic Tuition and Fees". lcabulldogs.com. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "AdvancED - Institution Summary". Advanc-ed.org. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Member Search « ACSI". Archived from the original on 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- ^ a b c Seth Dowland (2007). Defending Manhood: Gender, Social Order and the Rise of the Christian Right in the South, 1965-1995. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-549-71783-6. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
- ^ a b Blumenthal, Max. "Agent of Intolerance | The Nation". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Archived from the original on 2010-08-08. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
- ^ "Liberty Christian Academy - About LCA - History". Lcabulldogs.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ Dowland, Seth (20 October 2015). Family values and the rise of the Christian right. pp. 27–30. ISBN 9780812291919.
- ^ Republican Gomorrah: Inside The Movement That Shattered The Party. p. 25. Nation Books, 2009.
- ^ "HISTORY". Liberty Christian Academy. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Rashad Jennings". Nfl.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Alumni Spotlight: Former Flames wrestler is first LU graduate to become nominee for U.S. Congressional seat". Liberty News.
- ^ Wismer, Faith (19 July 2022). "Rashad Jennings: The Words He Longed to Hear". Focus on the Family.
- ^ "Jelena Antic - 2010-11 - Women's Basketball". Liberty University.
- ^ "Bobby Massie - Football Recruiting - Player Profiles - ESPN". ESPN.com.
- ^ "4 things to know about new Jets safety Elijah Benton". Jets Wire. 10 December 2021.
- ^ Holder, Stephen. "Michael Strachan's wild journey: From The Bahamas to Division II to the Colts". The New York Times.
- ^ "Wes Clarke Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
