Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Masters Regional Academy?2. What are the criteria to be accepted into Masters?
3. Because MRA is a regional Christian high school and the student body is comprised of students from different denominations, how are doctrinal issues handled?
4. What is accreditation and is Masters Regional Academy an accredited high school?
5. What is done to make sure that colleges have a clear idea of where my child stands academically?
6. How much is the tuition?
7. Does MRA have a tuition assistance program?
8. What are the school's operating hours?
9. Is there transportation assistance available?
10. Does Masters Regional Academy have a sports program?
11. What type of curriculum does Masters have?
12. Does Masters Regional Academy have a parent-teacher organization?
13. Is there a uniform requirement for students at MRA
1. Who is Masters Regional Academy?
Masters Regional Academy is a Christian high school for Christian students. We believe that we have been raised up to fill a gap in the education of our children. Most of the world, including Christians, have turned their children over to secular high schools that are not just neutral for the Christian, not just devoid of God, but in many cases are hostile and anti-God. It is hard to imagine that our children can become all that God wants them to be when they are bombarded with humanistic ideas on a daily basis in what are probably the most formative years of their life. MRA is a school called to help take back and train our children in the ways of the Lord. We have been called and set apart to help train the next generation of leaders to walk in the path that God would have for each child.
2. What are the criteria to be accepted into Masters?
There are four main criteria that are used to determine a student's acceptance to MRA. First and most importantly, students must have a belief in traditional Judeo-Christian values and a commitment to pursue those beliefs. This is demonstrated through a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ and an active participation in the applicant's local church and Christian youth group. Secondly, students will be evaluated by an entrance exam that will provide a nationally normed percentile ranking. The third evaluation point is an applicant's current performance in school as demonstrated by transcripts and report cards. Teacher and pastoral recommendations will make up the remainder of the application information. Once the application information is complete, parents and the applicant will meet with the school administration to determine acceptance.
3. Because MRA is a regional Christian high school and the student body is comprised of students from different denominations, how are doctrinal issues handled?
MRA is a non-denominational regional high school. We are a school for Christian students who have embraced the universal Christian beliefs. It is not our place as a school to teach doctrine; that is left to the student's local church. Each local church has an important and unique call and we encourage students to faithfully sit under the teaching of their pastor who has the God ordained authority to instruct in matters of faith. MRA is not a church; we are a high school that is designed to teach academics through a Christian world-view and designed to help students walk the perfect plan that God has for them by encouraging a Holy lifestyle that pleases the Lord.
4. What is accreditation and is Masters Regional Academy an accredited high school?
Accreditation is generally given by one of the seven regional accrediting agencies in the United States. The agency that would accredit Masters Regional Academy is the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The main purpose of accreditation is school improvement. This is a noble goal and one that MRA takes seriously. Below you will find answers to many of the frequently asked questions regarding accreditation and Masters Regional Academy.
a. Is MRA accredited?Masters Regional Academy is fully approved and recognized by the Rhode Island Department of Education as a regional secondary school eligible to issue high school diplomas but not currently accredited by NEASC. Masters is currently reviewing the NEASC accreditation standards in anticipation of making application for accreditation by the end of 2007.
b. Will MRA's accreditation status impact my child's chances to get into his or her college of choice?NO! Students who come from private non-accredited schools and home-schools continue to get into the best colleges in the world and are very often highly recruited by colleges. They also continue to remain above the national average for every grade level K-12 (Stanford 9 Achievement Test, Spring 2001).
Consider the following information from the best colleges in the world:
Yale University
"Attendance at a 'non-accredited' school will not impact a child's chances of attending Yale. It is not an issue for us as we evaluate each child individually".Robert Jackson- Yale University Admissions Officer
Harvard University
"We realize that there are many 'non-accredited' schools that are just starting up and that there are students who are home-schooled out there. It will not affect their application and will have no bearing on their acceptance to Harvard. We look at each student individually. They will still go through the exact same application process and fill out the same paperwork and be evaluated like everyone else."
Sybil Huggins- Harvard Admissions Representative
Princeton
Does Princeton favor students from one school or from one type of school?
"No. We have a rule in the Admission Office: Keep Your Eye on the Applicant. We don't favor students from either public or independent schools. We see many fine applicants from both excellent public and excellent independent schools. We also see outstanding applicants from more modest schools, and some less than outstanding applicants from excellent schools. In the end, we just keep our eye on the individual applicants."
Princeton University FAQ's, www.princeton.edu
5. What is done to make sure that colleges have a clear idea of where my child stands academically?
Colleges use a variety of ways to assess students. At MRA, students will be given the Stanford Achievement test yearly. This test will allow colleges to see your child's academic standing and progress as compared to over 1 million other students at his or her grade level. This yearly testing combined with the four years of high school grades, the PSAT and SAT tests, the application writing sample, letters of recommendation, and possibly an entrance interview, will form the basis from which college acceptance will be determined.
6. How much is the tuition?
Tuition at MRA is currently $5800 for grades 9-12 and $4100 for grades 7-8 per year. Parents can opt for a twelve-month payment plan (June through May) which includes a processing fee or can pay the tuition in full with no additional tuition costs. There are also yearly fundraising responsibilities for each family at MRA. The fundraising goals help us maintain our tuition at a reasonable level while still maintaining an excellent school program. A facility fee and registration fee accompanies the yearly tuition.
7. Does MRA have a tuition assistance program?
Yes. Families are encouraged to apply for financial aid through a separate application process. Family Financial Needs Assessment will independently review your financial status to determine if you qualify for aid. The process is completely independent of MRA and all financial records are kept confidential. Approximately 40% of families currently qualify for some financial aid. To assist with tuition there is also a family discount applied to each student that enrolls at MRA after the first.
8. What are the school's operating hours?
Classes run from 7:50-2:45 each day. We have adopted a modified block schedule where once each week core classes will run for a 90 minute block allowing more time for hands-on projects and in-depth study. Students who attend MRA for four years will receive the equivalent of approximately five years of core class instruction as compared to the average public high school. We are serious about educating our students.
9. Is there transportation assistance available?
Yes. Since MRA is a regional high school, many students from surrounding towns qualify for school bus transportation to and from school. Students that reside in Rhode Island's Region Three are eligible for transportation. These towns include: Barrington, Bristol, Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield and Warren. Students that reside outside of these areas very often are able to carpool with other students from their area.
10. Does Masters Regional Academy have a sports program?
Yes. MRA believes that athletics are an important part of a student's high school experience. We are committed to offering sports programs that will give students an opportunity to grow in their athletic ability, teamwork and dedication. The particular sports that we are able to run are determined by student interest.
11. What type of curriculum does Masters have?
MRA uses a variety of resources to make up our curriculum resources. We spent a great deal of time inviting publishers in to show us the best materials that they had available. We then chose what we believed was the best in each subject area, keeping in mind; technology integration, learning styles and differing abilities, ease of use for both teachers and students, containing current and up-to-date information. We currently use materials from a host of publishers including but not limited to: Abeka, Bob Jones University Press, Glencoe, Prentice Hall, ACSI publishers and Riversedge publishers.
Regardless of what textbook materials are used in a particular class, it is the teacher component of the curriculum that ensures that all classes view their subject matter through the Christian worldview lens.
12. Does Masters Regional Academy have a parent-teacher organization?
Yes. A parent teacher organization was recently formed to allow parents another opportunity to be involved in their child's education. The PTA group will be working closely with the teachers and administration at MRA to improve school/home communication, to help with fundraising, to support teachers and what is happening in the classrooms. Get involved!
13. Is there a uniform requirement for students at MRA?
Yes and no. At the beginning of the year MRA students are given a list of clothes from a local uniform company. Students may purchase and wear anything on that list but only items on that list. This is a way to minimize the focus on clothing and to place it back on school and the Lord. It is also a way to allow students some freedom in choosing what they will wear as opposed to requiring all students to wear the exact same uniform everyday. Every student will not look the same everyday, but every student will look good everyday.