Since opening its high school in 2019, Westminster Christian Academy in Lafayette has experienced significant growth.Currently she operates as a kindergarten for grades K3 to 12.th The elementary school has nearly 570 students enrolled on campus. Many families in the Lafayette area consider this school a Christian-based option that offers strong academics along with a growing number of extracurricular and athletic activities.
“I think we have made an extraordinary effort to be flexible and adapt and respond to the needs of the Lafayette community,” said Dr. Ray Casey, president of Westminster Christian Academy. “We are united around our mission, vision, and values. We are also intentional about diversity and how our students find self-expression within our school culture. We feel that we have created a campus in a loving, grace-filled, and supportive environment where students can be part of people with diverse approaches to practicing their faith. That is what sets us apart at Lafayette. I think it's the unique culture that makes it stand out.”
Dr. Casey said the school's Biblical foundation is a strong draw for many families. Some schools in Lafayette cater to specific denominations or church affiliations. But Westminster Christian Academy is superdenominational by design, welcoming families from dozens of area churches.
“Our focus is on Christ and His Word, not doctrinal distinctions,” he said. “We encourage our students to focus on the transformative power of Christ in the educational setting and what we have in common as followers of Christ. We don't ask them to believe in something different. All we ask of them is to respect other points of view.”
Natalie Myers said Westminster Christian Academy's faith-based approach was a key reason she decided to enroll her two sons, now seniors and juniors, at the school. She appreciates being in an environment where they give her a moral compass while also introducing her to different ways that others practice their faith.
“It’s really balanced,” she said. “My kids have friends from all denominations. I think it's been good for them to learn about other belief systems. I love that it's focused on the Bible. In fact, my juniors… recently said that this year was his favorite Bible class ever. It's so fun to hear him say that. For me, it's because they teach students in innovative and engaging ways. Because it means he’s teaching the Bible and he feels it’s meaningful to him.”
Myers said he also appreciates the close-knit atmosphere Westminster maintains in Lafayette as it grows. When she goes to campus, her teachers know whose mother she is. She noticed how coaches would show up at various Westminster athletic events to cheer on her colleagues and students. Teachers and administrators then stepped in to provide learning support in a way that met her child's learning needs.
“It shows they really care about the kids and are paying attention,” she said. “They're not going to let their kids fail.”
Dr Casey believes that an approach to caring for each student individually will help realize Westminster's vision of preparing students for meaningful lives and living the school's core values of love, truth and service. He said that this is the key.
“We often talk about the value of loving God and neighbor and serving Christ and others,” he said. “We work hard to foster opportunities for our students to think critically, challenge themselves academically, and apply their faith in positive ways to today's culture. It’s about joining hands to serve God and our community.”
As the Lafayette campus continues to grow, its leaders are strongly committed to keeping these values at the forefront, Dr. Casey said. The leadership team meets weekly to discuss organizational, business, administrative, and school operations issues. The academic team focuses on academic aspects such as curriculum, teacher evaluation, and how to incorporate technology into various classrooms.
“These conversations don't happen once or twice, but throughout the year. Collaboration is woven into the fabric of what we do,” he said. “We also survey families each year to get feedback on how we can improve. Parents can always schedule an appointment to discuss what they are thinking. We want all families to feel supported and valued as part of the Westminster community.”
Westminster Christian Academy is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and Cognia (formerly AdvanceED/SACS). The school is a member of the High-Performing Independent Schools Record Bureau and approved by the Louisiana Department of Education. The Lafayette campus is located at 111 Goshen Lane. For more information on tour reservations and admission, please visit www.wcala.org.
