EAGLE RIDGE TO EXPAND AGAIN

Administrators at Eagle Ridge Christian School are considering expansion just two years after moving into a new building.

"It's a good problem," said Principal Janice Margrabe. "We anticipated it would be five years before we'd need new facilities. This will be our third year in this building."

The current enrollment, at 205, is up 40 students from the previous year but well short of the building's capacity of 300 students. Margrabe said the school, situated just inside Cape Girardeau city limits along Route K a mile west of the I-55 interchange, has reached maximum capacity in several grade levels.

"We're out of space in our elementary program," she said. "We've had to incorporate some other rooms in our building that we'd used for other purposes in the past. As an example, our bookstore became a classroom this year."

Margrabe said she tries to keep all classes at a maximum ratio of 25 students to one teacher at the 30,000-square-foot school, which serves students from preschool through 12th grade. The week before school started, one class was divided and another teacher hired to accommodate a grade level that exceeded the maximum student-teacher ratio.

"Our class for 2-year olds have waiting lists several years down the road," she said. "We're looking at building an addition to the preschool in the near future, and down the road, another wing."

The school's acquirement of full accreditation from the International Christian Accrediting Process over the summer should also be a drawing card for parents considering parochial education for their children. Full accreditation demonstrates the school's curriculum and administrative practices are sound, said Margrabe.

"It was desirable because it brings integrity to our program," said Margrabe of the three-year accreditation process. "Being a private school, we do not have state guidelines that necessarily all apply to us. We meet all the state guidelines as far as days and classes and graduation requirements and all that. It's just that we also get into biblical teachings."

To maintain full ICAP accreditation, must meet strict educational guidelines. In addition the school must provide daily Bible instruction for students. Teachers and students also are required to complete spiritual assessments in which they set goals for the year.

Eagle Ridge, originally named the Christian Faith Academy, was opened in Scott City in 1982 by the Christian Faith Fellowship Church. The school was moved to Cape Girardeau in 1994 to be more centrally located, and enrollment increased following that move.

Enrollment eventually outgrew the small classrooms in the church basement and high school students were moved to another building. All classes were again held in one building after the high school closed last year, and the decision to build the $1 million school was made.

Students from numerous religious denominations and about 30 different churches attend Eagle Ridge, which teaches basic Bible courses and uses the A Beka Christian curriculum. Preschool students attending the Little Eagles' Learning Center learn phonics, math and social studies using the same curriculum.

Students are required to wear school uniforms..