About Eagle Ridge

Eagle Ridge Christian School (formerly Christian Faith Academy) was founded in 1982 under the direction of Dr. Mark Carbaugh (Pastor at Rock of Cape). The Lord directed Dr. Carbaugh to establish a Christian school to train young people in the service of the Lord.

After visiting several schools and reviewing the curriculum available, it was decided that A Beka curriculum and the traditional classroom approach were the best suited. The school officially opened in August of 1982 in Scott City, Missouri.

In the first year, the school employed three teachers and had approximately 32 students in 4-year-old kindergarten through eighth grade. In 1989, the need for a high school was revealed and the A Beka video program was introduced for the high-school students.

In 1994, the school removed the video program and began a traditional classroom approach for high school. That same year, the school also had its first high school graduate and transitioned from Scott City, Missouri, to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where it leased facilities. The school grew to 69 students in 1995 and 98 students in the fall of 1997.

In the fall of 1995, interscholastic athletics was added to the program. Sports offered included a boys’ basketball, girls’ volleyball, and cheerleading. In the fall of 1996, girls’ basketball was added to the schedule. Since that time, boys’ and girls’ soccer, track and baseball have been added to the athletic offerings. The school has also become a member of MCSAA and an affiliate member of the MSHSAA, which enables the school to compete with both Christian and public schools across the state.

In May 1996, Christian Faith Academy graduated its charter class. The next month, the school name was officially changed to Eagle Ridge Christian School and it was incorporated as a separate entity from the church. The following June (1997) construction began on a new 30,000 square foot facility.

The school occupied the building in the fall of 1998. At that time, a 2- and 3-year-old preschool program was added as well as a before and after-care program. In 1999, Eagle Ridge began offering food service including breakfast, lunch, and an afterschool snack.

In 1998 Eagle Ridge Christian school began the accreditation process with ICAA receiving full accreditation in 2000. The following year, Eagle Ridge applied for and received accreditation from the NCA. Today Eagle Ridge maintains accreditation through ICAA and AdvancEd.

Today, Eagle Ridge has a student population of over 200 students and accommodates 6-week-old infant care through twelfth grade while employing over 40 full and part-time staff.

Contact Pastor Mark Carbaugh at mcarbaugh@eagleridgechristian.org

Faith Statement

We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible source of all truth. (II Timothy 3:16)
We believe in one God, the omniscient, omnipresent, and all-powerful creator and sustainer of the universe. (Genesis 1:1, II Kings 19:15)
We believe that Jesus Christ came into the word as God Incarnate, took upon Himself our sins, was crucified, died, and resurrected. Through Him salvation has come to all that believe and profess Him as their Savior. (I Corinthians 15:3, I Peter 2: 21-30, John 3:16)
We believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is essential for the salvation of lost and sinful man. (Romans 3:21-30, Gal. 4:4-7)
We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing for the body, mind, and spirit in answer to believing prayer. (Isaiah 53:5, I Peter 2:24, James 5:14-16)
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of the life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:24, 28, and 29)
We believe that the church is the body of Christ serving as a source of instruction, edification, and fellowship for all believers. (Ephesians 4:4, II Timothy 2:15, Hebrews 10:25)
We believe that Jesus Christ through the Great Commission, has challenged all believers to spread the good news of salvation and regeneration. (Matthew 28:19)
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27.)
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1Cor. 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb. 13:.4).
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, or the use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matt 15:18-20; I Cor. 6:9-10).
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimension, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps. 139)
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; I Cor. 6:9-11.)
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Eagle Ridge Christian School.

Vision and Mission

Vision Statement

Eagle Ridge Christian School endeavors to raise and equip graduates who are academically qualified, spiritually equipped and physically fit. We aspire to produce graduates that are life-long learners and leaders in their fields of endeavor, valuable members of society, who love, honor, respect and serve God, their country and their fellow man.

Mission Statement

The mission of Eagle Ridge Christian School is to provide a quality Christian education upon the Word of God in an environment where students can achieve maximum success academically, spiritually, and physically and pursue the call of God upon their lives.

Eagle Ridge Christian School’s mission is to:

EDUCATE our students academically, spiritually and physically to be leaders in their world.
REINFORCE our students’ God-given talents and abilities as they pursue success in all areas of their lives.
COUNSEL our students to understand and pursue the call of God upon their lives.
SUPPORT our students as they show the love of God daily through their words, actions and service.

Values and Beliefs

Shared Values and Beliefs

All students are at Eagle Ridge Christian School by divine appointment.
All students have a distinct call of God upon their lives.
All students can learn.
Student learning is the priority of Eagle Ridge Christian School.
Student learning is the driving force for all decisions made.
Challenging expectations increase student performance.
Students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process.
Students learn best when they are given appropriate opportunities for success.
Student learning must go beyond knowledge to application in meaningful contexts.
Students must be able to utilize the knowledge learned to problem solve and produce quality pieces of work.
Each student is a valued member of the school with unique physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual gifts and needs.
Assessment of student learning should be varied, giving each student a variety of opportunities to demonstrate their achievement of the learning goals.
The school is a safe and comfortable learning environment where students can flourish in learning and grow in character.
Teachers, students, and parents are responsible for furthering the mission of the school
The school is committed to continuous improvement to assure that students appreciate the value of continuous learning and develop a commitment to life-long learning.
A Christ-centered environment is essential for the student to become Christ-like.
God’s Word is the guide for all learning, development, and behavior.
Students at Eagle Ridge are expected to live by the Word of God, be led by the Word of God, and demonstrate the love of God when dealing with others.

Other

Educational Philosophy

History of Eagle Ridge

Facilities

Educational Philosophy

The Word of God instructs us to "train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). As Christian educators we endeavor to train the whole child: academically, physically, and most importantly spiritually, with all the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill God's purpose for their lives.

At Eagle Ridge Christian School, we believe that quality education includes the acceptance of learners as they have been created: mentally, spiritually, physically and academically. It also includes adapting teaching so that students are instructed at their level of understanding and at a pace at which they can succeed to their highest potential.

We realize that Christian education begins in the home where God requires parents to properly train and formally instruct their children utilizing the Bible as their guide (Ephesians 6:4). Eagle Ridge Christian School serves as an extension of the home, working under the delegated authority of the parents in unison with the local church to provide a total Christian education.

Although Biblical principles and Godly character training are core to our educational program at Eagle Ridge, we realize that children learn best by example. Therefore, we strive to employ Godly men and women skilled in their specific academic areas to teach and train our students and serve as Christian role models. Our teachers challenge students to think deeply and reason and evaluate situations. Teachers also encourage students to challenge each other mentally as they investigate and debate ideas, concepts and theories.

We pursue excellence in all areas of the educational process. We are constantly monitoring and evaluating our curriculum, staff, and students to ensure that we are meeting the academic, physical, and spiritual goals set before us. Scripture instructs that anything our hands find to do, we should do it as unto the Lord. Therefore, the pursuit of excellence is our guiding principle.

The Word of God tells us that children are a heritage of the Lord (Psalms 128:6). At Eagle Ridge Christian School, we realize that we have been entrusted with the world's most important natural resource: our children. Therefore, we endeavor to produce future leaders: valuable members of society who love, honor, respect, and serve God, their country, and mankind.

History of Eagle Ridge

Eagle Ridge Christian School is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, a community of approximately 38,000 people located on Interstate 55 about 150 miles south of St. Louis. The median age of the population of Cape Girardeau is 33.6 years, the median income is $40,000, and the median home price is $135,000. Cape Girardeau is 84 percent Caucasian, 10 percent African American and 6 percent Asian and Hispanic.

Cape Girardeau is situated on the Mississippi River and is a major center for health care, having two major hospitals and over 200 medical doctors. It is also an educational hub for the tri-state area. It is home to Southeast Missouri State University that serves more than 10,000 students. It also has branch campuses for Mineral Area College and Three Rivers Junior College as well as two Catholic grade schools, one Catholic high school, one Lutheran elementary, one Lutheran high school, and three private Christian schools including Eagle Ridge.

The first year the school employed three teachers and had approximately 32 students in 4-year-old kindergarten through eighth grade. In 1989 the need for a high school was revealed and the A Beka video program was utilized for the high school students.

In 1994 the school dispensed with the video program and began a traditional classroom approach for high school. In 1994 the school also had its first high school graduate as well as transitioning from Scott City, Missouri, to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where it leased facilities. The school grew to 69 students in 1995 and 98 students in the fall of 1997.

In the fall of 1995, interscholastic athletics were added to the program. The sports included boys’ basketball, girls’ volleyball, and cheerleading. In the fall of 1996 girls’ basketball was added to the schedule. Since that time, boys’ and girls’ soccer, track and baseball have been added to the athletic offerings. The school has also become a member of MCSAA and an affiliate member of the MSHSAA which enables the school to compete with both Christian and public schools across the state.

In May 1996, Christian Faith Academy graduated its charter class. The next month, the school name was officially changed to Eagle Ridge Christian School and it was incorporated as a separate entity from the church. The following June (1997), construction began on a new 30,000 square foot facility at 4210 State Highway K in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

The school occupied the building in the fall of 1998. At that time a 2- and 3-year-old preschool program was added as well as a before- and after-care program. In 1999 Eagle Ridge began offering food service including breakfast, lunch and an after-school snack.

In 1998, Eagle Ridge Christian School began the accreditation process with ICAA, receiving full accreditation in 2000. The following year, Eagle Ridge applied for and received accreditation from the NCA. Today Eagle Ridge maintains accreditation through ICAA and AdvancEd.

Eagle Ridge now has a student population of approximately 175 students and accommodates 6-week old infant care through twelfth grade while employing more than 25 full and part-time teachers as well as almost 10 support staff.

Facilities

Eagle Ridge Christian School and Little Eagles Learning Center share a beautiful 30,000 square foot facility at 4210 State Highway K in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, with Rock of Cape Church. The school houses 17 classrooms, a full-size gymnasium, a chapel, a cafeteria, an esports computer lab, and a science lab as well as offices for both the school and church.

The building is set on 20 acres that provide for a full-size soccer field, a large open elementary playground, a spacious enclosed preschool play area, and ample parking. Constructed in 1998, it is a clean and modern facility with acreage available for expansion as the need arises.