Diverse School Project 2
Introduction
CDO Christian Academy will be an inclusive, culturally diverse, Christian school located in
southern Durham County, North Carolina, at the conjunction of Chatham, Durham, and Orange
Counties. The academy will serve the community as an inclusive, evangelical, Christ-centered
college preparatory school. CDO will offer classes for students from pre-school, ages 6-weeks to
4 years, Transitional Kindergarten, and Kindergarten through 12th grade traditional classes.
Chatham, Durham, and Orange counties include a population base of more than 500,000
encompassing two major universities, UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University, as well as the
corporations comprising the Research Triangle (US Census, 2020). This location is also situated
conveniently on Interstate 40, the primary commuter highway to Durham, Chapel Hill, and
Raleigh. 2020 census records indicate that this region’s population is expanding at a rate of
more than 15% per year. The population of this area is culturally diverse, with more than 48% of
the population being comprised of minorities.
Located within 25 miles of this location are 11 private and state charter schools as well as
the public-school systems. However, there are no other inclusive college preparatory schools
within the three-county area. More than 48% of the adult population holds a higher education
degree, indicating education is a priority. Combine this with an estimated 13% of the school-age
population having some form of learning disability, and CDO will fill a very specific niche,
while providing a greatly needed service, in the communities surround the academy (Tippett,
2014). The academy will offer full pre-school child-care services, as more than 4000 children
under the age of 5 live in the immediate area, as well as transitional kindergarten for ages 4-5
(US Census, 2020). The children will be exposed to reading and reasoning from a very early
age, with learning through play methods being utilized. Kindergarten through 12th grade will
Diverse School Project 3
offer a challenging core curriculum from a Biblical worldview meeting North Carolina state
standards as well as offering honors and AP courses in the high school, while providing inclusive
learning support to all students with challenges. CDO Christian Academy will be a place where
all can learn, grow, and thrive in a family environment, where Christ is Lord and academic
excellence is a priority.
Mission and Vision of the School
Our mission at CDO Christian Academy will be to provide a Christ-centered, inclusive,
college-preparatory education, focused on developing academic excellence and a Biblical
worldview for each student as the leaders of tomorrow. Our vision is to fulfill the great
commission by making disciples, preparing each student to be a light in the community while
providing the academic rigor which will prepare them to live out their God-given potential in
their chosen mission field.
Marketing and Community Outreach
Community outreach and marketing for the school will be a multifaceted campaign. An
outreach team of investors and administrators will partner with local churches to present the
CDO mission and vision to their congregations. The marketing team will create a media
campaign to be shared on all social media platforms, local TV and radio stations, as well as
scrolling advertising banners to reach as many as possible in the area. Partnerships with local
sports clubs and youth athletic organizations will be designed to make our school visible in the
athletic community.
The school learning support team, comprised of administrators and the learning support
coordinator, will make contact with organizations in the area which provide services for students
with learning disabilities to provide our school with as much visibility to the community as
Diverse School Project 4
possible. The Hill Center, NC Autism Society, and Sylvan Learning Center are just three of
these such organizations within 5 miles of the school location.
Program Description
A facility located within the area of the planned school has been located as a future home
for the school. This facility has served for several years as a charter school and has been vacated
as the school located to a newly built facility. Gym and pool facilities are already on site, as well
as the option to purchase all school equipment used by the charter school. The initial estimate
shows a capacity of two hundred students. A plan will be implemented to convert the first floor
classrooms into rooms for the preschool population. Outdoor playground facilities will need to
be added. Negotiations with the city of Durham to use sports facilities will need take place
before outdoor athletics can be added to the offerings for the school, as no soccer or baseball
facilities exist on-site.
One-to-one devices will be provided for students in grades 6-12, using virtual textbooks
to ensure students have the most up to date versions of curriculum available. Technology for the
school will be leased through JourneyEd Inc., until such time as funds is available to purchase
the equipment (JourneyEd, 2021). Textbooks will be purchased along with the accompanying
consumables for kindergarten through 5th grade. The school will follow North Carolina state
standards for curriculum and instruction.
Curriculum Plan for K-12th Grade
Science Purposeful Design (all grades)
Mathematics Eureka by Great Minds (all grades)
Reading/ELA Abeka (k-5th Grade) BJU Press (6-12th Grade)
Bible Summit Ministries (k-5th Grade) Positive Action (6-12th Grade)
History BJU Press (all grades)
Spanish Viva el espanol! (k-5th Grade) Como te va? (6-12th Grade)
Diverse School Project 5
The instructional methodology will be a hybrid of differentiated learning and direct
instruction. Each student will be evaluated for their individual learning style prior to admission.
This information will be provided to their teacher for use in the lesson planning process.
Learning support services (LSP) will be provided for students with diagnosed learning
disabilities. Tutoring, small group pull-out, and limited in-class assistance will be provided by
the LSP staff.
Individualized learning plans and behavior contracts for students with disabilities as well
as those who have failed to maintain grade-level progress will be assessed and provided through
the LSP program. Intensives will be required after school one day per week for students failing
to maintain a passing grade in their core classes. These will be provided by the teaching staff at
an additional cost to the parents.
Governance
A board of directors will be utilized to provide direction and organization for the school
as well as governance over school policies and procedures. The board will be comprised of 3
parents, 3 members from active business partnerships, 3 educational leaders from the
community, 3 church leaders from the active church partnerships, the head of school, and one
teacher in an advisory role as a non-voting member. Board members will serve 2-4 year initial
terms before rotating off the board. Successive members will serve 3-year terms. Retiring
members must wait 3 years before petitioning for a seat on the board again. Existing members
will nominate successors for the vacated seats on the board. The head of school may also
propose new members.
All school policies and procedures will be developed by this initial board of directors.
The head of school will be responsible for implementation of these policies and procedures.
Diverse School Project 6
Within the board, subcommittees will be formed to oversee finance, facilities, personnel, and
community/church outreach. Fundraising and annual auditing will fall under the auspices of the
finance committee. The head of school and curriculum and instruction coordinator will be
responsible for managing state-required documentation for the school. The chairperson of the
board of directors will be the signing party on all outside contracts and agreements with vendors.
The finance committee chairperson will be the signer of record on all financial transactions and
co-signer on all written checks along with the director of finance for the school.
The head of school will be responsible for hiring of all staff and faculty. An
administrative team consisting of curriculum and instruction coordinator, guidance counselor,
LSP coordinator, admissions coordinator, testing coordinator, marketing and events coordinator,
and athletic director will assist the head of school in the day-to-day operations of the school.
Initially, lead teachers will be assigned to coordinate discipline and instruction within the school
divisions: preschool, elementary school, middle school, and high school. As the school grows,
these positions will evolve into principal positions under the direction of the administrative team.
Accountability
Academic accountability will be under the supervision of Academics Standards Team
(AST), consisting of the curriculum and instruction coordinator, guidance counselor, testing
coordinator, and learning support coordinator. FACTS SIS will be used to collect all testing data
to be used in monitoring benchmark and standardized testing scores for each student. Teachers
will be required to administer benchmark assessments at the beginning of each semester, as well
as the annual standardized testing for all students in 1st – 9th grade at the end of the second
semester. These scores, along with student class grades, will provide the AST with a complete
academic profile for each student.
Diverse School Project 7
Achievement will be monitored by grade level, but also as part of the teacher evaluation
process. Teachers will be evaluated twice (2) annually through classroom observations, self-
assessments, and artifactual evidence provided to the curriculum and instruction coordinator.
Student achievement will factor into teacher evaluation annually, with a minimum of 10 months
of progress being expected for each student. Deviations from this will require documentation of
interventions and referrals for intensives and learning support services.
Ongoing student progress will be accessible to parents via the FACTS system. Parents
will be able to view their students progress, grades, and behavior information at any time.
Standardized testing information at year end and benchmark assessments will be available upon
request. Attendance and discipline documentation will also be maintained in the FACTS system
as part of the student’s permanent record. The FACTS system will be utilized to analyze the
aggregate data to identify gaps or patterns in learning for the students.
Budget
The school budget will be based on tuition for the students, graduated by grade level, as
well as community partnerships, and participating church donor support. Tuition values are
based on an expected enrollment of 75 preschool students at an average tuition cost of $850 per
student per month for 12 months, 70 lower school students at a cost of $1400 per month, and 100
upper school students at a cost of $2000 per month, both upper and lower school paying for 10
months. These tuition and fees are on par with other college preparatory schools in the area.
Additional funds will be required for students enrolling into the LSP program, at a rate of $400
per month for the additional services provided. Intensives for failing students will be billed as
necessary, at a charge of $50 per hour. These monies will not be included in the initial budget
Diverse School Project 8
but will be used to supplement faculty expenses as necessary, depending upon need for these
services.
CDO Christian Academy Operating Budget
Income: Pre-School
6 wk – 5yrs
Lower School
(Grades k-5)
Upper School
(Grades 6-12)
Annual Total:
Tuition $765,000 $980,000 $2,000,000 $3,745,000
Community Partners $100,000
Church
Partnerships
$60,000
Total Revenue: $3,905,000
Expenditures:
Faculty Salaries $430,000 $400,000 $760,000 $1,590,000
Admin Salaries $800,000
Rent $180,000
Utilities $125,000
Supplies $300,000
Professional
Development
$200,000
Technology $130,000
Transportation $50,000
Athletics $60,000
Curriculum $15,000 $40,000 $25,000 $80,000
Total Expenditures: $3,015,000
Net Difference: +$490,000
An accounting firm will be contracted to work with the finance committee and the
financial director of the school to handle all accounting services and verify receipts. An annual
audit will be conducted at the end of each fiscal year, on or about July 31st. The school will be
registered as a non-profit organization and an annual 501-C filing with the IRS on a 990 form
will be completed and submitted per state and federal regulations. Monthly budget reports will
be provided by the accounting firm to the finance director and will be presented to the full board
at each monthly meeting. Annual revenues in excess of expenditures will be allotted to staff
training and development as well as technology and facilities improvements for staff.
Diverse School Project 9
Conclusion
CDO Christian Academy, when fully developed, will be the only inclusive, college
preparatory academy in the research triangle area. Students will have an opportunity to learn
based on their preferred learning style, with the advantage of on-site learning support staff
dedicated to seeing each student reach their full potential, both academically and personally.
Students from different walks of life, culturally diverse backgrounds, and gifts and abilities will
be able to blend together into one Christ-centered community, offering them an opportunity to
develop relationships and learn interpersonal skills which will serve them well for a lifetime.
These students will be surrounded by a caring, Christ-serving staff and faculty that will
continually model the love of Christ while challenging each student to become their very best,
the young man or woman God has called them to become. Nowhere else in the greater Durham
area can an academy such as this one be found. Cultural and academic inclusion, the love of
Christ, and a world-class education – an opportunity like no other.
Diverse School Project 10
References
JourneyEd – The Edu-Tech Store (2021). Retrieved from
https://schools.journeyed.com/technology-leasing-for-schools/
Tippett, R. (2014). Disability in North Carolina. Retrieved from
https://www.ncdemography.org/2014/07/21/disability-in-north-carolina/
US Census Bureau: North Carolina 2020 Census (2020). Retrieved from
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/north-carolina-population-change-
between-census-decade.html
