Frequently Asked Questions

Our Lord gives to parents the primary responsibility for the nurture of their children.  The school staff are partners with the parents in nurturing each child spiritually, academically, socially, and physically to be a faithful disciple of Jesus here and in eternity.

For this partnership to succeed, a commitment must exist between Parent and Teacher that will work together to see to it your child’s spiritual, academic, social, and physical well-being are cared for in the best possible way.

At Northdale Christian Academy we feel strongly that communication is key.  We’re committed to having an open line of communication, whether it’s through e-mail, text messages, phone calls, or personal conferences.

No. Northdale Christian Academy was founded in 2000 as a ministry of Northdale Lutheran Church. NCA’s mission is to assist families by providing an excellent education in a safe, Christian environment. We do this by serving families in the church and in the surrounding community. Our diverse student population is comprised of families that are church members and families that are not.

School hours for 3K and 4 year old preschool (VPK) is 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Morning drop-off is 8:30 – 9:00 AM and Afternoon pick-up is 12:00 – 12:15 PM.

School hours for K-8 are 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Morning drop-off is 7:30 – 8:00 AM and Afternoon pick-up is 3:00 – 3:15 PM.

Yes, before school care is available 7:00 – 7:30 AM. After school care is 3:15 – 6:00 PM. There is an hourly charge for before and after school care applied to your child’s TADS account. See the Early Childhood Program FAQ for more information about extended care at that the 3K and 4K level.

Yes, all of our students have at least two outdoor recess breaks per day. We also have physical education classes each week.

Northdale Christian Academy offers organized after school athletic programs including flag football (gr 5-8), basketball (gr 5-8), soccer (gr K-8), and track and field (gr 3-8) to help young, aspiring athletes learn the rules and develop their skills. NCA also offers various after school clubs which vary each year. Extracurricular activities may include a fee for participation.

Students may either bring their own lunches or purchase a commercially prepared hot lunch on scheduled days. Students who bring food from home are encouraged to pack healthy lunches and snacks. Ordering lunches is optional. Soda, carbonated, or caffeinated beverages are not permitted. Neither microwave ovens nor refrigerators will be available for student use. Students bringing lunches from home will be responsible for the safe storage of that lunch.

Yes, students are expected to comply with the uniform dress code found in the school handbook. NCA has uniform shirts. Contact the NCA office to view samples and examine the sizing options. All uniforms are ordered online at http://www.idealschoolapparel.com.

NCA is owned and operated by Northdale Evangelical Lutheran Church and is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). WELS is the fourth largest private school system in the country and has been operating schools of Christian education since 1850. WELS affiliated schools are located in 33 states and Antigua, Grenada, and St. Lucia.

No. Northdale Christian Academy was founded in 2000 as a ministry of Northdale Lutheran Church. NCA’s mission is to assist families by providing an excellent education in a safe, Christian environment. We do this by serving families in the church and in the surrounding community. Our diverse student population consists of families that are church members and families that are not.

Religious instruction is an important part of every student’s day at NCA. 3K through 4th grade has Bible history stories. Grades 5 & 6 alternate between Bible history and introduction to the Catechism. Grades 7 & 8 alternate between Catechism with the Pastor and topical Bible studies. Students who are on campus all day have devotions twice each day. The whole academy joins together once per week for a chapel service in the church. More than just formal Bible and Catechism classes, every aspect of our curriculum as it is taught in light of God’s word by our highly qualified teachers.

Students in K-8 participate in the standardized testing program. NCA uses the results of these standardized tests to determine curricular strengths and weaknesses as well as modify instruction to meet the needs of students. The tests are one of many ways that we assess student progress. Parents receive a report of the test results and a parent-teacher consultation may be scheduled to discuss the results. NCA uses the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test produced by the Northwest Education Association. Testing is conducted three times during the school year. The tests compare our students with national averages using percentiles and other measures.

NCA is a completely autonomous school for making curriculum decisions. Those decisions are informed by high quality research and best practices. Our school’s accreditation requires that we maintain and regularly review our school’s curriculum and its implementation. Our teachers form the curriculum review committee which makes recommendations to the school ministry board. Common Core is one of many curriculum standards our teachers review to develop our curriculum. Our teachers will always make curriculum decisions based on what is best for our academy and students.

Yes. All students’ applications for enrollment are reviewed on a case by case basis. A visit with the principal is required along with a review of the student’s records and placement test results before moving forward with enrollment. The goal is to learn about each applicant and accurately determine if NCA is able to meet the student’s individual needs.

NCA does not offer speech, occupational, or other therapy services. However, NCA does work with speech therapists from Hillsborough Public Schools as well as private pay therapists to meet student’s individual needs. Families can contact the principal for more information about therapy options.

Yes. Placement assessments along with our regular standardized tests are used to determine if students qualify for advanced level classes.

Yes. NCA includes art and music classes each week as part of our curriculum.

Current tuition and fees can be found on our website: NorthdaleChristianAcademy.org > Admissions > Tuition.

Yes. Families with more than one child enrolled at NCA may receive a $1,000 discount for each additional child.

Yes. Northdale Christian Academy participates in the following Florida scholarship programs:
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)
Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC)
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA)

The FES-EO and FTC scholarships were formerly income based but are now universal scholarships for Florida residents. The FES-UA scholarship is for students with health-related or special educational needs. In many cases, having one of these scholarships means that most of the tuition for a student will be covered by the scholarship. Step Up for Students is Northdale Christian Academy’s preferred scholarship funding organization which manages the various Florida scholarship programs. Families interested in learning more or applying for a scholarship may visit https://www.stepupforstudents.org.

Please contact our Principal, Dane Mattes, at dane.mattes@northdalelutheran.org or 813-961-9195 for information on current openings.

Yes, we give tours of our school year-round. Please click on the ‘Schedule a Tour’ link at the top of the website to let us know you would like a tour. You can contact us by phone at 813-961-9195.

VPK stands for Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten. This is a state-funded preschool program for all 4-year olds in the state of Florida.

Click on the Early Childhood Program tab at the top of the landing page to learn more about our various program options.

VPK is free for any child who turns 4 by September 1. Extended care is available on a part-time or full-time basis. Click on the Early Childhood Program tab at the top of the landing page to learn more about our various program options.

Please contact our ECE Director, Joanne Mattes, at joanne.mattes@northdalelutheran.org or 813-961-9195 for information on current openings.