Frequently Asked Questions

Is Port Charlotte Adventist School only for Seventh-day Adventist families?

No. PCAS is a Christian school that welcomes Adventist, Baptist, nondenominational, Catholic, and exploring families alike. Our students come from a wide range of church backgrounds — Adventist, other Christian traditions, and families exploring faith. The school's admissions policy is nondiscriminatory — students of any race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, and sexual orientation are welcome — and families are asked to support the school's mission and campus practices, not to join a church. If you want Jesus, character, and strong academics in your child's school day, you belong in the conversation.

Do we have to attend the Adventist church to enroll?

No church membership is required to attend or enroll at PCAS. Students come from many local churches — and some families attend no church at all when they first walk through our doors. What we ask is partnership: respect for our Christ-centered mission, our Friday-to-Saturday Sabbath rhythm, and our wholesome vegetarian lunch tradition. Faith-sharing happens through relationship and example, never pressure. As part of the welcome process for students new to PCAS, families meet briefly with the senior pastor of the Port Charlotte SDA church.

What kind of Christian school is PCAS?

PCAS is a Seventh-day Adventist school — part of the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventist schools — that educates the whole child: mind, body, and spirit, from a biblical worldview. In practical terms that means Bible and worship woven through the day, small classes where character is taught and caught, wholesome nutrition and wellness habits, outdoor education, service, and academics built on the school's mission: preparing students for positive service to God and humanity through Christian character, development, and academic excellence.

Will my child be taught Adventist beliefs if our family is Baptist, nondenominational, or Catholic?

Your child will be taught from a biblical, Adventist-informed Christian worldview — the school does not require your family to adopt Adventist beliefs. As with any Christian school, the faith instruction carries the school's own tradition; families from other traditions are respected, and students are encouraged to grow in their own relationship with Jesus. If you want a school that prays with and genuinely loves your kids, this is a natural fit.

What families are a good fit for PCAS?

Families who want a safe, small, Bible-shaped school where their child is genuinely known — and who value health, kindness, service, and outdoor learning. PreK–elementary and middle-school families usually connect with our size immediately, and families using — or willing to use — Florida scholarships will find tuition priced near the scholarship line. We are equally honest about the other side: families who need a large athletic high school now, want zero religious content, or need a full special-education (ESE) program are usually better matched at a larger public or private school.

Is PCAS a good private Christian school in Port Charlotte for PreK through 10th grade?

For PreK through 10th grade, PCAS offers one of the smallest, most affordable, and most family-like Christian school environments in Port Charlotte. Average class size is about 15 students and the whole school numbers about 100, so teachers know every name — current parents describe the school as "like family." Field trips, outdoor education, and a genuinely diverse student body are part of the experience, and Florida scholarships cover tuition for approved families. Come tour and feel the difference yourself.

Why do Port Charlotte parents choose a small private Christian school?

Three reasons: faith in the classroom, a child who is known, and a safe, orderly environment. Charlotte County's public schools are solid and improving — the district earned its first A grade in 15 years — so this isn't about fleeing failure; it's about choosing something different. Families also cite the values climate: smaller classes, adults who know every student by name, and a biblical code of conduct. And because Florida school-choice scholarships are now open to every K–12 student regardless of household income, private school is within reach for most Charlotte County families.

How is PCAS different from Family Christian Academy, Genesis, and St. Charles?

In three sentences: Family Christian Academy is Port Charlotte's full K–12 Baptist option with larger classes; Genesis Christian (Nazarene, through 8th) and St. Charles Borromeo (Catholic, through 8th) are respected PK–8 schools; PCAS is the smallest — PreK–10, Adventist, highly diverse, and priced to sit on the Florida scholarship line.

We don't claim to be the biggest school in town. We claim to be the school where your child is truly known, where faith and academics carry equal weight, and where scholarship funds cover most of tuition. The honest way to choose between any of these is a tour of each — start with ours and feel the difference.

Is Charlotte County public school safe, or should I look at private school?

Public schools aren't unsafe — they're bigger, busier places where a child can get lost in the crowd. Recent local headlines — school-threat arrests, social-media threat posts, and reports of bullying at area middle schools — have pushed many families to look at smaller private options. Safety at PCAS is relational: a small campus where every adult knows every student, a structured visitor procedure, and a clear, consistently applied discipline process. We don't claim security measures we don't have; our safety comes from scale and relationship.

What are the class sizes at Port Charlotte Adventist School?

About 15 students per class, with roughly 100 students in the entire school — one of the smallest student bodies in Port Charlotte. Charlotte County's public district averages run closer to 21 students per class, and other area Christian schools frequently sit near 20. Small means teachers know how your child learns, parents reach teachers directly without a ticket system, and no student ever disappears into the middle of a roster. In practical terms, it means your child is seen — daily.

How much is tuition at Port Charlotte Adventist School?

Annual tuition for the 2026–27 school year is $9,500 per student for grades K–10. On top of tuition: a $110 application fee, $325 registration fee, $50 testing fee, and a $250 technology fee (paid by parents before the first day of school). Older directory listings and earlier published rates are outdated — $9,500 is the school's current published rate for 2026–27.

But the number that matters is your net cost. The tuition sheet itself marks tuition, application, registration, and testing fees "Covered under Step Up" — so for approved scholarship families, that's the whole conversation. Ask us for a personalized net-cost estimate for your child's grade.

Does Port Charlotte Adventist School accept Step Up For Students and other Florida scholarships?

Yes — PCAS participates in Florida's school-choice scholarship programs, most commonly the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) and Family Empowerment (FES-EO) scholarships administered by Step Up For Students. Florida makes these available to every K–12 student regardless of household income, with lower-income families prioritized. The school's own 2026–27 tuition sheet shows tuition, application, registration, and testing fees as covered for approved Step Up families.

Families apply directly through Step Up For Students — eligibility is open to all K–12 students regardless of income. The application and enrollment steps are completed at stepupforstudents.org.

Can a Florida scholarship cover private school in Charlotte County?

Yes. Florida private-school scholarships are open to all K–12 students, and award amounts are set by the state each year — in recent tables, Charlotte County awards have run about $8,700 for K–3, $8,200 for grades 4–8, and $8,000 for 9–12. With PCAS's 2026–27 tuition at $9,500, an approved scholarship covers most of the base tuition, and families typically pay the remaining difference plus parent-paid extras (technology fee, aftercare, lunches, uniforms, activity fees).

Scholarship funds left over after tuition and fees can be used for other approved educational expenses through the family's education savings account. Exact award levels change each year — Step Up For Students publishes current amounts and the approved-expense list.

Are there extra fees besides tuition — registration, aftercare, lunch, uniforms?

Yes, and they're all published in the school's Financial Information Sheet for 2026–27: application $110, registration $325, technology $250, testing $50, aftercare $6/hour, school lunch $6 per meal (emergency lunch $10), graduation $50 (kindergarten) or $150 (8th grade), outdoor education $150 (grades 5–6), Festival of the Arts $150 (grades 7–10), and uniforms purchased directly from Buffalo Graphix.

• Guidance fees (outdoor education, Festival of the Arts) are due February 1, with no refunds after the due date.
• Graduation fees are due April 15.
• Student planners/folders: $10 for a replacement.
• Accounts carrying a balance accrue a 2% monthly late fee.

Is private Christian school in Port Charlotte affordable?

Yes — with a Florida scholarship, private Christian school in Port Charlotte is within reach for most families. Scholarships are available to all Florida K–12 students regardless of income, and PCAS prices tuition to sit near the scholarship line — the 2026–27 tuition sheet even marks tuition and core fees as "Covered under Step Up."

That's why local families of every income level now choose private school. The first step for any family is checking eligibility and completing the application online at stepupforstudents.org.

What does the Florida scholarship cover, and what do parents pay?

Per the school's 2026–27 tuition sheet, for approved Step Up families the scholarship covers tuition ($9,500), the application fee ($110), registration ($325), and testing ($50). Parents typically pay the technology fee ($250, due before the first day of school), any tuition difference not reached by the award, and day-to-day costs: aftercare, lunches, uniforms, field trips, and activity fees like outdoor education and the Festival of the Arts.

Every family's picture looks a little different by grade and award level — that's why we build a personalized net-cost estimate at enrollment, before any commitment.

What grades does PCAS offer?

PCAS serves PreK through 10th grade on one campus at 2100 Loveland Blvd. Grades 9 and 10 are taught on-site and may be enriched with online classes — including honors, Advanced Placement, and college-level dual-credit courses — so secondary students get a strong, individualized high-school start.

Because we go through 10th, families get the elementary and middle-school years — where small class size matters most — plus a strong launch into high school, then a planned, supported transition for 11th and 12th grade. It's a real pathway, not a dead end.

What curriculum and testing does PCAS use?

PCAS follows the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventist curriculum and administers MAP Growth assessments (K–10, with MAP Reading K–3) — the 2026–27 calendar shows fall and spring testing windows. MAP data lets teachers track each child's real reading and math growth and adjust instruction accordingly — especially valuable in small classes.

At the secondary level, students can take honors, Advanced Placement, and college-level dual-credit classes, enriched online to individualize each student's education. Ask the principal for the current growth snapshot during your tour.

Is there aftercare? What are the hours and cost?

Yes — aftercare runs to 5:30 p.m. at $6/hour: 3:15–5:30 Monday through Thursday, 2:15–5:30 Friday, and 12:15–5:30 on early-dismissal days (billed in 15-minute increments, with a $1-per-minute late fee after 5:30). VPK wraparound care is available by contract — 5 days/week at $100 weekly, or 3 days/week at $75 weekly.

This matters for working parents across Charlotte County — most schools in the area can't match a 5:30 pickup. On early-dismissal days that fall near vacations, aftercare may not be offered; the school posts that in its weekly parent communication.

What is the dress code?

The uniform is simple and economical: a hunter-green or royal-blue PCAS polo with navy or khaki/tan dress pants, Bermuda shorts, skorts, skirts, or jumpers — nothing shorter than 3 inches above the knee, and no denim, leggings, skinny pants, or sweatpants. Cold weather allows plain hunter-green or royal-blue sweaters and sweatshirts with the PCAS logo.

Uniform polos are ordered through Buffalo Graphix — online at buffalograffix.com or in-store at 17960 Toledo Blvd, Unit H, Port Charlotte, FL 33948 (Step Up families order in-store). The goal is practical: fewer morning battles, no status games, and a clean, respectful campus culture.

What do students eat for lunch? Are meals vegetarian?

Families pack a lunch most days; school lunches are available on Fridays and other announced days for $6 per meal, with $10 emergency lunches if a lunch is forgotten. The handbook asks parents to send wholesome, nutrition-focused lunches, to limit sugary snacks, and to skip sodas entirely — part of the school's whole-child, health-oriented Adventist tradition. Food allergies should be on file with the school office.

Note: the 2026–27 handbook describes the lunch program this way but doesn't use the word "vegetarian" — call the office to confirm this year's menu practice if that matters to your family.

What time does school start and end? What about Fridays?

School runs 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Students arriving after 8:00 a.m. check in at the office, and three tardies count as one absence.

Friday early dismissal protects family time and, for many, the Adventist Sabbath that begins at sundown. Aftercare still runs to 5:30 on Fridays, so working parents are covered.

Does PCAS offer sports, music, field trips, and other activities?

Yes — field trips are planned by teachers in every grade, and older students enjoy Outdoor Education (grades 5–6), the Festival of the Arts (grades 7–10), Music Festival, eighth-grade class trips, and mission trips. Athletics exist on a modest, small-school scale — ask the office for this year's offerings, and we'll be straight with you about what we do and don't have.

Where PCAS shines is experiences a big school can't give everyone: a science fair, FIRST LEGO League for grades 4–8, honor roll parties, school pictures, and trips where your child is a participant, not a spectator. Families who want a Friday-night football program are usually better matched at a larger school — we'd rather you know that before enrolling.

What does a typical school day look like?

A typical day blends academics with faith and movement: morning worship and Bible woven into the day, core subjects taught in intimate small groups, recess, wholesome lunch, and a 3:00 p.m. dismissal (2:00 p.m. Friday). Because the school is small, the day has room for the things big schools drop — outdoor learning, field trips, service, and teachers who know each child's name, family, and strengths.

The 2026–27 calendar also marks whole-school rhythms families plan around: Week of Prayer in September, student leadership conferences for grades 9–10, MAP testing weeks in August and April, parent-teacher conference days, and holiday breaks. Come spend a morning with us and see the rhythm yourself.

Do students have Bible class and worship?

Yes — Bible and worship are part of every week at PCAS, taught from a Christ-centered, Adventist-informed perspective. The school's mission is to prepare students for positive service to God and humanity through Christian character, development, and academic excellence — so faith formation sits beside academics, not behind them. The calendar includes a Week of Prayer, Sabbath vespers, and spiritual emphasis woven through the year.

Adventist education rests on the conviction that every child is a unique creation of God, made for a life of purpose and service. That conviction shows up as character formation and service opportunities as much as in lessons — faith lived, not only taught.

Does PCAS observe Saturday as Sabbath? How does that affect sports and events?

Yes — PCAS observes the Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, and the school calendar honors that rhythm: Friday early dismissal and no scheduled school events on Saturday. Families don't have to be Adventist or attend Sabbath services, but they should be comfortable with the rhythm: no Saturday games or events, a Friday afternoon close to the week, and a school culture that values rest and family time.

For most of our families this is a feature, not a hurdle — the calendar even lists Sabbath vespers events like "Gym night / AY" so you can see the community side of it up close.

Do non-Adventist students have to follow Adventist health or worship practices?

No one is required to convert or to adopt Adventist beliefs — but everyone participates in the school's practices while on campus: daily faith instruction, a biblical code of conduct, and the school's wholesome lunch tradition. This is the same honest agreement any Christian school asks of families from other traditions: support the mission and campus life while your child is here.

Dozens of non-Adventist families flourish at PCAS every year — the school's policy explicitly welcomes students of any race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, and sexual orientation. The key is being comfortable with the rhythm before enrolling; our admissions welcome includes a friendly meeting with the senior pastor of the Port Charlotte church so every family knows exactly what to expect.

How do we apply? Is there a placement test?

The path is: online application → meet-and-greet with the principal and a campus tour → student interview and placement test → records, report cards, and two teacher recommendation forms → admissions committee decision → online enrollment. New students and their families also meet with the senior pastor of the Port Charlotte church, and all new students begin with a four-week probationary period before final placement is confirmed.

Age requirements: Pre-K students must be 4 by September 1, kindergarteners 5 by September 1, and first-graders 6 by September 1 (with a birth certificate on file). Admission is rolling — start with the online application at pcadventistschool.com.

Do you accept mid-year transfers?

Yes — PCAS accepts mid-year transfers when space is available, and mid-year applicants spend a shadow day with their class as part of the process. Rolling admission means families aren't locked to the August calendar. Prior records, report cards, and any IEP/504 documentation go to the admissions committee for review before a decision.

Call (941) 625-5237 to check openings for your child's grade before applying — we'll give you a straight answer.

What happens after 10th grade?

PCAS is a PreK–10 school, so after 10th grade families typically move on to one of three paths: Charlotte County public high schools, Family Christian Academy, or dual-enrollment college programs (such as FSW Collegiate) and other Christian high schools. Your student leaves PCAS with MAP growth data, transferable transcripts, honors/AP/dual-credit progress from grades 9–10, and the maturity and study habits high school demands.

We're honest that we don't have 11th and 12th grade on site — and we're equally honest that no PCAS student leaves without a plan. Families who start the conversation in 8th or 9th grade tell us the transition is genuinely seamless.

Can my child go to a public high school or FCA after PCAS?

Yes — PCAS students transition successfully to public high school, Family Christian Academy, dual-enrollment college programs, and other Christian high schools every year. The school's accreditation means credits and transcripts transfer cleanly, and MAP testing gives the receiving school clear evidence of your child's growth.

Talk to the principal about your target high school when your child is in 8th or 9th grade. (Specific recent placements are confirmed with the office each year.)

Does PCAS accept students with IEPs or learning differences?

PCAS welcomes students with mild learning differences when its small-class model can genuinely support them — and we're honest about our limits. The handbook asks parents of students who need a special education plan to counsel with the administration and staff before enrolling, and admissions reviews any IEP/504 documentation along with the application.

We don't staff a full ESE program like public schools, so flags and accommodations are reviewed case by case. Bring documentation to the first conversation — that's exactly how we protect fit, and it's what a caring school should do.

Is PCAS accredited?

Yes — PCAS is accredited by the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, an approved accrediting association of the Florida Association of Academic Non-public Schools (FAANS), which is recognized by the State of Florida and affiliated with the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).

That accreditation matters for two practical reasons: transcripts and credits transfer cleanly to public and private high schools, and Florida scholarship funds can be used here. It's an independent check that the education is real, not just loving.