God has given parents the high and noble calling of raising their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Every family will practice this in their own distinct way, but the responsibility to provide a Christian education is at the core of the calling of all Christian parents.
NCA exists to help families provide their children with a virtuous, rigorous, Christ-centered. The cost of this rare kind of education will necessarily be carried by those who believe in the value of Classical Christian education, not by disinterested taxpayers, as we have been conditioned to assume over the past several generations of the public-school system. Scripture is opposed to the prevailing cultural assumptions that education is free, that we are entitled to the services we want, and that it is someone else’s responsibility to provide for our desires. The responsibility falls on us as parents, requiring both commitment and sacrifice on our part. We believe that a Classical Christian education is worthy of this cost.
The following principles guide our tuition rates:
Excellence
Whatever we do ought to be done to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31) with all of our hearts, as for the Lord (Col. 3:23). From the character and competence of our teachers, to the quality of our curriculum and learning environment, we will pursue excellence.
Prudence
We want to be wise and thoughtful in preparing and sticking to our budget, prioritizing the essential components of a classical Christian education, and avoiding the superfluous costs which plague many institutions. For the sake of faithfully functioning in a manner that allows for sustained dedication to the task of classical Christian education, consideration must not only be given to today, but also to tomorrow.
Sacrificial Responsibility
Public, state-sponsored education is not free; it is simply paid for by others. While shared responsibility is a source of many benefits and blessings, we must always guard against an attitude that our children’s education is someone else’s financial responsibility. Instead, we want to joyfully assume the responsibility given to parents, viewing our children’s education as worthy of the necessary sacrifices.
Affordability
Our goal is to make Niagara Classical Academy accessible to as many as possible. It is our desire that financial costs would not be an obstacle to admittance, and we have implemented several strategies to assist families to manage the cost. It is important to note that tuition costs at NCA are comparable to, and in most cases lower than, other such schools.
Generosity
While we must first take responsibility for ourselves, we must also look to the needs of others, and do our best to provide for those with greater needs. The free grace of God in Jesus Christ results in an explosion of joyful generosity (Matt. 10:8), which pleases our God, who loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). A classical Christian education is only made possible through the generous giving of God’s people.