The Heritage Advantage

Our Vision
Heritage Academy and its mission are attractive, accessible, and achievable for every Christian family in greater Columbia who aspires to the values of University-Model® schooling.

"As much as I loved the home schooling of our four children, I have to admit that it was an overwhelming experience for me.  University-Model Schooling gave me the opportunity to stay directly involved with our children without burning out.  What a relief!"

Our Three Distinctives

As a private, Christian school, Heritage strives to integrate a biblical worldview into every course of study assisting students in the development of a robust Christian faith.   Students are encouraged to develop faith and critical thinking skills as they learn to defend their faith without being defensive. 

​Heritage also enjoys a Christian community which supports a shared belief system and provides positive peer pressure for each student to uphold the Honor Code.  Above all, the desire of Heritage Academy and each of our families is to bring glory to God in His Son, Jesus Christ.  While the school is autonomous, and not affiliated with any denomination, it is the aim of our hearts and the purpose of our programs for Christ to be made manifest in the lives of our faculty, our staff, and our families.  
As a school focused on college preparation, recruiting and retaining qualified and passionate teachers is a top priority. In addition to developing and delivering quality courses of study, our teachers strive to prepare students for the ACT test and success in the college of their choosing.  

Stanford Achievement Testing in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th grades help to prepare students for academic success.   Students are encouraged to prepare for the PSAT and ACT tests as well.

​Our Academic Advisor, along with the Head of School, provides guidance for High School graduation and entrance into College. 
The University-Model® provides a unique approach to education that partners teachers and parents to teach students. Students attend classes on campus 1-3 days per week, benefitting from professional instruction and the classroom learning community. On alternate school days, they are at home completing assigned coursework under the guidance and supervision of a parent. 

Compared to home schooling and traditional schooling options, this model combines the best of both worlds.  While the University-Model® requires a high level of parental involvement in each student’s academic progress; it also provides the assistance of a professional teacher.  For parents eager to walk alongside their students during some of life’s most formative years, the University- Model® is a perfect fit.
 

Our University-Model® Philosophy

The University-Model® philosophy combines the best in classroom education with parent-based education in the home.  The intention of the University-Model® is to provide a structure for education that allows students to experience the benefits of focused, on-campus, professional instruction and a vibrant learning community on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, then benefit from life in the home and increased relational time with parents on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

In this way, the model mimics the type of academic structure students experience at the university level – alternating days when students receive classroom instruction and then complete coursework on their own outside of class. It also honors the unique responsibility that parents have to  know and disciple their children and increases time for family members simply to enjoy one another and enjoy learning together.

While the model champions family time and parental involvement, it also relieves parents from the full load of homeschooling, which involves selecting and sequencing curriculum, being the primary teacher, facilitating meaningful assessment, etc.  By the time students in this model graduate from high school, they are ready for productive, independent study and purposeful time management – skills essential for success in college. 

 University-Model education is designed to benefit families in the following ways:
  • Increase the relational time that students and parents may share together;
  • Integrate Home and School;
  • Strengthen Families;
  • Connect Like-Minded Families;
  • Diminish Peer Pressure;
  • Prepare College-Worthy, Character-Witnesses of Christ;
  • Give families the flexibility of enrolling in one to six courses, according to what would serve them best.

University-Model® schooling facilitates students' access to excellent education, increased time with family, and opportunities for growth toward maturity while providing a cost-effective, college-preparatory education.

NAUMS Informational Video -- How did the Univeristy Model Begin?
Heritage Academy is a University-Model® School, certified by the National Association of ​University-Model® Schools (NAUMS).