For families in the Bryson City area seeking an alternative to traditional public schooling, Haywood Christian Academy offers a compelling option that combines academic excellence with biblical values. Located just a short drive away in Waynesville, our independent Christian school has been serving Western North Carolina families since 2007, providing students from kindergarten through 12th grade with an education grounded in faith and committed to developing the whole child.
Private education offers distinct advantages for students and families who value a Christ-centered learning environment. At Haywood Christian Academy, we understand that parents from the Bryson City area are looking for more than just academic instruction—they want a school that partners with them in raising children who love God, pursue truth, and are equipped to make a difference in the world.
Our mission focuses on developing students into Christian leaders by providing an excellent educational experience on a foundation of biblical truth. This approach means that faith isn't compartmentalized into a single class or chapel service; instead, it permeates every aspect of our curriculum and campus culture.
Haywood Christian Academy has earned dual accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to maintaining the highest educational standards. Since our founding, we've graduated 110 students who have gone on to attend respected colleges and universities including Pepperdine University, NC State University, University of Tennessee, Liberty University, and UNC-Asheville, among many others.
Our faculty consists of 18 dedicated teachers, 100% of whom hold bachelor's degrees and 22% holding master's degrees. These educators bring not only professional credentials but also a genuine love for children and a commitment to teaching from a Christian worldview. Small class sizes ensure that each student receives individualized attention while building meaningful relationships with teachers and peers.
Everything we do at Haywood Christian Academy flows from our eight core values, which guide how we teach, interact, and build community:
These values aren't merely posted on our walls—they're woven into daily interactions, classroom instruction, and the way we approach every challenge and opportunity.
We model our student development on Luke 2:52: "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." This holistic approach focuses on three key areas:
Spiritual Formation: Serve with a Heart for God
Students participate in daily classroom Bible lessons and weekly chapel services. Our goal extends beyond biblical literacy to genuine spiritual formation, helping young people develop a personal relationship with Christ and learn to apply scriptural principles to every area of life. Over our 17 years of operation, we've been blessed to see many students come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
Academic Excellence: Learn with a Mind for Truth
We challenge students to pursue excellence in all academic subjects, teaching them to think critically and approach learning from a biblical worldview. Through our HCAplus program, introduced in 2020, high school students can expand their elective options through affiliation with Liberty University Online Academy and dual enrollment opportunities with Haywood Community College. This enables students to earn college credits while still in high school, better preparing them for post-secondary success.
Worldview Orientation: Lead with a Passion for the World
We don't simply want students to succeed academically—we want them to understand how to apply their faith to every area of life. By teaching a biblical worldview, we help students develop the discernment needed to navigate culture thoughtfully and the courage to stand for truth in a changing world.
For families with 4 and 5-year-olds, our Kinder Prep Program provides a nurturing yet challenging learning environment. Faculty use hands-on, multi-sensory approaches to learning, and small class sizes ensure children receive individualized attention. The program prepares children for kindergarten success while beginning the process of developing lifetime learners.
Our Elementary program (kindergarten through 5th grade) provides a stimulating and encouraging learning environment where training the whole child remains the focus. Teachers employ hands-on, multi-sensory approaches to instruction, and small class sizes enable individualized attention. In addition to rigorous academic courses, students enjoy daily Bible lessons and weekly chapel services.
Middle and High School students benefit from blended learning opportunities, using technology to research, compile, and share information. Math instruction includes multi-sensory activities, interactive journaling, and problem-solving exercises. Students also participate in enrichment classes in fine arts, technology, and study skills.
The high school program develops mature skills in reasoning, expression, research, and problem-solving, preparing students to succeed in collegiate environments. Through partnerships with Haywood Community College, juniors and seniors can dual enroll to simultaneously earn high school and college credits. Local business partnerships provide internship opportunities for participating seniors.
Haywood Christian Academy welcomes homeschooled students into our Athletics program, providing opportunities for community connection and character development. We offer competitive sports including basketball, volleyball, soccer, and cheerleading at various levels. Our new gymnasium, completed in 2021, serves as a testimony to God's provision and enables us to host games and events on campus.
While varsity teams emphasize winning, our middle school program focuses on preparing athletes for varsity competition while teaching team commitment and developing a winning attitude alongside individual athletic skills.
Students can explore creativity through the Fine Arts programs in visual arts, music, and drama. Our K-12 visual arts education allows creative exploration through understanding and mastery of design elements and principles. Recent drama productions have included The Sound of Music, Into the Woods Jr., The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Seussical, Jr.
Recognizing that all students are uniquely gifted by God, we founded The Bridge Learning Center in 2015 to provide academic support for students with language-based learning differences. This program offers highly effective language therapy using the Orton-Gillingham approach, and has since expanded to offer tutoring and support in most subject areas. The Bridge serves both HCA students and those in the wider community.
We believe financial constraints shouldn't prevent families from accessing quality Christian education. Haywood Christian Academy offers several options to make private education more affordable:
Kingdom Partner Scholarship Opportunity
Funded by local churches, organizations, and individuals, this scholarship program provides tuition assistance for eligible students. Strong consideration is given to larger families and those with demonstrated financial need. 100% of funds from this program go directly to families pursuing education at HCA for grades kindergarten through 12th.
NC Opportunity Scholarship
North Carolina families may qualify for state-funded scholarships that can be applied toward private school tuition. Contact our admissions team for information about eligibility and application processes.
Visit our Tuition and Financial Aid page to learn more about making Christian education affordable for your family.
While Haywood Christian Academy is located in Waynesville, we're easily accessible for families throughout Western North Carolina, including those in the Bryson City area. Our current student body represents 8 neighboring towns, and families from 42 different churches and 8 denominations have chosen HCA for their children's education.
The drive from Bryson City to our campus typically takes about 30 minutes, making it a reasonable commute for families who prioritize faith-based education. Many families find that the investment in travel time is well worth the benefits their children receive from our Christ-centered environment.
Education at Haywood Christian Academy extends beyond academic achievement to developing servant hearts. Students participate in various community outreach projects throughout the year, including:
These experiences teach students to look beyond themselves and use their gifts and resources to serve others, embodying Christ's command to love our neighbors.
Beyond the obvious integration of faith throughout our curriculum, HCA offers smaller class sizes, a cohesive community united by shared values, and an educational approach that sees parents as partners rather than obstacles. We teach from a biblical worldview in every subject, helping students understand how faith applies to mathematics, science, literature, and history.
While we welcome students from Christian families of various denominations, we require that families understand and support our mission and statement of faith. Students participate in daily Bible instruction and weekly chapel services, and our entire approach to education flows from biblical principles.
HCA maintains high academic standards and has earned dual accreditation. Students should perform at or above grade level to be admitted, and we expect all students to pursue excellence. Our partnership with Liberty University Online Academy and Haywood Community College provides advanced students with opportunities to take college-level courses while still in high school.
The Bridge Learning Center offers specialized support for students with language-based learning differences using the Orton-Gillingham approach. We can also develop 504 plans for students who qualify, providing appropriate classroom accommodations. Our small class sizes enable teachers to provide more individualized attention than is typically possible in larger school settings.
Yes! We welcome homeschooled students into our athletics program, providing opportunities to compete in basketball, volleyball, soccer, and cheerleading.
For Bryson City area families seeking an alternative to public education, Haywood Christian Academy offers a proven track record of academic excellence, spiritual formation, and community engagement.
We invite you to Contact us today and schedule a campus tour to see our facilities, meet our faculty, and experience the HCA difference firsthand. Our admissions team can answer questions about the enrollment process, discuss tuition assistance options, and help you determine whether our school is the right fit for your family.