Denton Calvary Academy

PO BOX 2414

Denton, TX 76202

20 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on November 28, 2023

I graduated from DCA a few years ago & my experience was interesting, to say the least. While I had some great teachers, there were also many who were either underqualified, unpleasant, or both. Many of the teachers didn't have teaching degrees/certifications & were just following the school-approved curriculum, making it incredibly difficult if you were struggling in their classes. I also had many teachers who did very little to hide their favoritism toward certain students. One positive about this school is it prepared me for some aspects of college. From 5th grade (the year I began attending DCA) to 8th grade the writing curriculum was good & I had great experiences with my English teachers. This strong foundation in writing helped me get through high school & has even helped me in college. The M/W/F classes helped me become more academically independent (but, unfortunately, this is largely because I had to teach myself a lot of the subjects due to having so many underqualified teachers). My sister & I first came to DCA in search of a better academic environment for my younger sister who is severely dyslexic. They presented DCA as a good alternative because of the homeschool days & promised proper accommodations for my sister, but homeschooling was definitely detrimental to her education. They also did not always follow through on their promises of accommodations. My sister & I both had to get private tutoring outside of school because of inadequate teaching & my sister frequently had to fight for the accommodations that she was entitled to under the ADA laws. When DCA got a new headmaster, she switched schools because DCA made many policy changes that made learning even harder for students with disabilities.Another issue was the very clear double standard in the dress code & the way it was enforced. The dress codes for the uniforms, as well as school dances, were extensive for the female students & minimal for the male students. DCA was incredibly strict about the length of our skirts, even going as far as to send a staff member into our classrooms with tape measures several times a year. It was incredibly degrading having female students be called out in front of the entire class if our skirts were half an inch too short. The female students would be reprimanded & even sometimes fined if our skirts were too short, while the male students would wear shorts that were too tight & rolled to their mid-thighs & the staff wouldn't bat an eye at it.
Submitted by other on August 24, 2021

It has some wonderful teachers but, the students are very meh. I enjoyed most of my time at the school, it prepared me very well for college and how college works.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2021

The school's leadership has made it abundantly clear that they do not want kids with learning disabilities. The former headmaster stated in a public forum that their goal was to reduce the number of such students due to their being a burden. This staunchly conservative school is permeated with the view among many staff and faculty that learning disabilities are simply an excuse for laziness, a sham, and/or an attempt to gain advantage over others. That's been disastrous for a number of students. Combine that with the fact that the school is exceedingly cliquish (not just among the students but, surprisingly, among parents), and it is clearly NOT a school for any student who is in any way outside the mainstream. We consider ourselves to be conservative Christians, but the lack of diversity (it's almost entirely white), the unwillingness to work with local school districts to share resources (government is evil), the "sink or swim" attitude, and a wholly unjustified overemphasis on sports means that this school is apparently only for a select few. Academically, it is not particularly strong either. Though it claims to be nondenominational, Catholics and denominations other than Bible church members or Baptists are often denigrated in class and even in textbooks assigned from JBU Press. On top of that, the diploma system they use has not been recognized by the State of Texas for at least 5 years now, yet they won't change it. This is a school that badly needs a complete overhaul in leadership, but the board is self-appointing and consists solely of husband-wife teams in terms of membership. (That is, only males serve on the board and their wives--no single people apparently--serve "at their side." Creepy. Stepfordish.) We are a conservative family, but this school really needs some fresh thinking.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2020

Our experience at DCA has been outstanding. Our children have received an excellent education taught by wonderful teachers who care about them.
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2020

Excellent. We have been here 10 years and it's been a great blessing to my kids.
Submitted by other on June 02, 2020

DCA is going through a transition. For the cost, there are alternatives that would provide the same educational experience. There is a big difference in the lower campus experience and upper campus. There is so much tenured love woven through DCA. How the new faces will blend into the teaching style and mission will be telling in coming years.
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2020

Excellent. There are very dedicated teachers and staff at DCA. If you want to spend less time with your kids and pay more, there's a 5 day a week Christian school down the road. If you want to spend more time with your kids and less money, then DCA could be for you.
Submitted by student on February 12, 2020

I was lucky to enjoy a few of DCA's glory days, but my advice to any people who are considering DCA is to be wary, as of right now, the school is struggling. DCA is great for younger children, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty and preparing our students for college, it lacks significantly and does not hold up to what it claims to be. My personal pet-peeve is the fact that they just recently doubled the tuition from $7000 to at least $12000 and for that money you might as well go somewhere else with more structure and better curriculum and staff. I was hoping to finish my high school career strong at DCA but there are too many problems to continue. Please honestly consider this review, save yourself the trouble.
Submitted by other on February 09, 2020

0 out 10 honestly. The tuition is about $10k total, and you receive less than mediocre teachers, a staff who doesn't care about or address issues, and a school body that unfortunately is quite unaccepting and narrow-minded. Many issues at this school remain unsolved, and have for years. Many of the children at this school have literally known each other since they were in diapers, so finding your niche as a new student can be and is incredibly hard. There are some students who never do adjust, unfortunately. The student body is very clique-ish as a whole, and is not exactly the epitome of accepting, especially to students who look or act different to them, especially considering most of the student body comes from the same demographic and have mostly the same interests. I was a student at this school for 3 years, so I KNOW what really went down. Please think twice before sending your child to this school.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2019

Our family has been involved with DCA since the 2nd year it was in existence. We have had 2 students graduate with honors, both of whom were able to enter secular higher education experiences with little adjustment to the rigor, schedule, or social difficulties often faced by high school students moving forward. The University Model School approach is different... and requires a substantial commitment on the parents (co-teachers) in partnership with the school - but for our family, it has been worth the sacrifice. This is not a perfect school, but it is a good school and the faculty and staff love the students very much. Overall, we are pleased with the level of education (life and academics) DCA has provided for our kids.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2019

They will smile and tell you what you want to hear to get your money. Don't fall for it.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2018

We wished we had moved our children sooner. This is school. They do not babysit our children, they hold the kids accountable for their part in the process. They do not condone disrespect. They are building leaders. These kids will leave DCA knowing how to handle a college schedule. They leave knowing how to study. The school is a dynamic of regular like minded families who have decided to educate their entire child.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2018

Wonderful. The school is going through a transition stage. With a growth in student population, the school is working toward creating more dynamic and diverse school experience. New clubs and activities are being added for that purpose.
Submitted by parent on January 24, 2018

This is a school. Like all schools, It has kids who are striving to be the best they can be and kids who aren't. The difference is the school comes alongside Every student and gives them grace when they need it and discipline when they need it. It's small and the parents are loving and supportive of each other, as are the teachers,so not much happens without the parents and school knowing. The kids try to hold each other accountable, bad behavior is confronted by students. There's no perfect school but I've seen so many kids come from public school and just feel relaxed here. Girls don't feel pressure to wear lots of makeup, do hair, etc. Boys don't feel pressure to pursue girls. Most kids are friends with all classmates or at least pleasant towards them. Rare instances of bullying are dealt with swiftly when presented to the admin. Great culture with great teachers and coaches. My student was accepted to all colleges he applied to. Plenty of clubs and extracurriculars if your child isn't in sports. Music and Theatre have expanded and are taught by qualified teachers. New gym and weight room have boosted sports and teammates are supportive and inclusive with all who participate. Kids who have never played before can play and those who are competitive will be challenged.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2017

DCA provides an amazing learning environment for all age groups. Christian based. This school is leading the way. Highly recommend.
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2015

We have been at Calvary for 11years, and loved it! It has grown and overcome early challenges. Our oldest son was accepted into TX A&M's engineering program straight out of Calvary. (2009). He's now completed college & is a very successful construction engineer. However, the positive Christ centered atmosphere is our number one draw. It is amazing! Our second son has three years left, and he's so happy. We wouldn't change a thing.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2013

Our experience at DCA has been outstanding. The staff and board take their positions seriously and do a great job in handling situations. Running a school is every bit as challenging as running a business and they create good balance in all facets of the program. As a product of public school, I am very pleased with the curriculum and focus on character, integrity, relationships as most important. Graduating 8th graders are more prepared than I was coming out of a local public high school. Even though running a school is like running a business, I very much appreciate that the board and staff keep priorities (the children first). A university model is not for everyone as it requires a large commitment from the parents (both financial and time). It was certainly the right choice for our family -- kids love it and do not want to attend anywhere else.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2013

Choosing DCA was a huge decision for us. I was worried about the homeschool part. My son started in 6th grade and did need some help, mostly because he hadn't received the academic skills he needed in public school. In 7th grade he is completely independent, just like college. We started my other son in 4th and he loves it! He attends the PE class and is receiving excellent sports skills training from his soon-to-be football coaches. What a bonus! Superior Admin, Teachers and Coaches. Excellent academics, highly competitive sports. Awesome Christian culture!
Submitted by other on December 24, 2012

DCA has a well run sports program. Education is less than one would expect from a private school.
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2012

DCA is a fantastic school. The principal (Stacey Baxter) is an outstanding leader and hires excellent teachers. Our kids have been there for 2 years and they really love it. The elementary class sizes are small (8 to 12 kids), which allows great teacher/student interaction. The other parents are outstanding, and Christian values are definitely emphasized in this school. This is not for everyone, as parental involvement (co-teaching) is required.