Draft:Decatur Heritage Christian Academy

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Decatur Heritage Christian Academy (DHCA) is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory school for grades kindergarten through 12 in Decatur, Alabama. DHCA provides Christian education through a non-denominational Biblical worldview. Decatur Heritage’s campus is on 50 acres.

Academics
Decatur Heritage enrolls over 375 students grades K5-12. The student to faculty ratio is 8 to 1. The average class size is 13 for Upper School and 14 for Lower School.

Decatur Heritage offers academic, honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) programs, as well as Dual Enrollment classes through the John C. Calhoun Community College System.

Decatur Heritage is characterized by rigorous academics presented from a Christian worldview in a way that accommodates all learning styles. DHCA students are taught a transformational worldview, one that seeks to bring biblical principles to bear on every aspect of life. The school's goal is for students to engage the culture, not run from it or accommodate it.

Organization and administration
The Head of School and administrative team handle the day-to-day operations of the school, while a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees provides accountability and oversight with respect to the mission and policies of the school.

Under the governance of the board of trustees, Decatur Heritage is led by Head of School, Steve Hall. Hall is the fourth head of school of Decatur Heritage. Robin Varwig and Jeffrey Myers serve as principals of the lower and upper school respectivily.

Teachers and faculty have development days weekly to promote innovation and growth, and prevent static teaching.

Athletics
Decatur Heritage Christian Academy is a member of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA). Decatur Heritage competes in AHSAA's 3A classification for Baseball, 2A classification for Basketball, and the 1A classification for other sports. The DHCA athletics program claims 2 State Titles, 7 State Runners Up, and over 55 Section/Area Titles among various sports. Decatur Heritage has sent student/athletes to multiple power five schools including The University of Alabama and Clemson University. Decatur Heritage claims multiple athletic records including the AHSAA all-time state record for total yards in a single game (9th nationally), the AHSAA all-time state record for touchdowns in a single game (both set by Brayden Kyle in 2021),  the AHSAA all-time 1A state record for high jump in 2019 and reset in 2022 (both set by Elizabeth Wilson). Decatur Heritage offers a wide variety of varsity sports including:

Varsity Sports
• Fall athletic offerings

• Cross country

• Cheerleading

• Football

• Swimming

• Volleyball (girls)

• Winter athletic offerings

• Basketball (boys)

• Basketball (girls)

• Cheerleading

• Indoor Track & Field

• Swimming

• Spring athletic offerings

• Baseball

• Fishing

• Golf

• Outdoor Track & Field

• Softball

• Tennis

Arts
Decatur Heritage offers several art classes to both lower and upper school students involving the three main art types. These include: visual arts, performing arts, and literary arts. Lower school student participate in weekly music and visual arts classes while learning language arts daily. Lower school student are given the opportunity to participate in muscials and preformances throughout the year. Upper school students are able to take art classes as electives and AP classes. Grades five through 12 are able to participate in the DHCA marching band, the DHCA concert band, and the DHCA jazz band. The Decatur Heritage drama department hoast an annual, all-grades school musical with 75-100 participants. Additionally, students have the opportunity to display their tallents on stages outside the school. Several notable accomplishments for Decatur Heritage arts include:
 * 2 finalists in River Clay Fine Arts Festival Student Competition
 * Numerous Youth Art Month Finalist, including first place awards consecutively since 2019
 * Grant Gill, alumni
 * Seven DHCA band students performed in the North Alabama Private School Honor Band

Spiritual life and service
Inside the classroom and student/faculty led clubs, orginsations, and activities; DHCA students are taught though a biblical worldview. Students are given the opportunity to particiapte in service opportunities several different ways. Some of DHCA's most popular service clubs include Anchor Club, Key Club, and Ambassadors.

Campus
In the fall of 2009, DHCA moved into new facilities on the current campus located on Spring Avenue in south Decatur, Alabama. In the fall of 2015, DHCA oppened the first addition to the Upper School wing, nearly doubling its size. The campus is a total of 50 acres.

Academic facilities

 * Art Center The spacious art center allows for an expanded curricular offering in art and enhanced music programs.


 * Media Center The Media Center/Library is fully stocked with computer equipment and our growing collection of books and publications.


 * Administration Centrally located administrative and financial offices for both the upper and lower schools help streamline operations and offer convenience to our visitors, students and parents.


 * Cafetorium More than a cafeteria, a cafetorium allows for comfortable student gatherings and presentations. Seats up to 560 comfortably and is complete with a stage with theater lighting.


 * Design Lab In the 2021–22 school year, Decatur Heritage oppened the "Design Lab" to futher students' education by working creatively with technology. This is a creative space for students to be able to learn by hands-on experience with industry standard, high tech film and podcasting equipment and iMac (Apple silicon) computers. The design lab can be found by its classroom number B103.


 * Computer Labs
 * Upper School Computer Lab: Decatur Heritage's upper school computer lab is a space for upper school students to learn with hands-on technology. This lab hosts coding classes at Decatur Heritage. Equipped with high tech Dell OptiPlex desktop computers. Classroom A105.
 * Lower School Computer Lab:


 * Science Labs
 * Chemistry Lab: Decatur Heritage's (upper school) physical science lab, classroom A104, is covered with modern technology to help DHCA students to understand their biblical worldview by studying chemistry, physical science, engineering, earth and space science.
 * Biology Lab: Decatur Heritage's (upper school) life science lab, classroom A106, is covered with modern technology to help DHCA students to understand their biblical worldview by studying biology, forensics, anatomy and physiology.
 * Middle School Science Lab: Classroom A107 is a science lab dedicated to DHCA's middle school students as they study science through a biblical worldview.

Student facilities

 * Full-Sized Gymnasium The Decatur Heritage Christian Academy gymnasium is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose, basketball gymnasium features a college size playing surface that is equipped with two full size, regulation volleyball courts. With a seating capacity of over 1,000, the DHCA gymnasium often hosts other large events. Ticket gate and concessions are located on the east end and locker room facilities & storage are located on the west end.
 * Football Practice Field Full-sized football field used for practice, equipped with irrigation solutions and field goal posts.


 * Baseball & Softball Field State-of-the-art high school baseball field equipped with heated dugouts and spacious team locker rooms connected to the dugout along with storage space and a garage for mowers and smaller tractor vehicles. The baseball field is equipped with LED lights for night play.


 * Athletics Several acres have been devoted to DHCA's growing athletic department. Future planned expansion includes: Field House Facilities, Football Stadium, Tennis Courts, and Ticketing and Concessions Facilities.

Notable alumni

 * Arthur Orr, member of the Alabama Senate

Notable faculty

 * Nikita Stover, former Receiver Alabama Crimson Tide Football (DHCA Head Football Coach)