Real Stories | DCA Testimonials

"I feel I have grown as a person this sprint by learning how to go out of my comfort zone whether it’s speaking or running a business. I think I grew as a student because I learned how to just buckle down and do my academics and try again and again if I fail a quiz. I think I grew as a peer by having the choice to help others if they need it. Usually, at [my previous school], you just ask the teacher and leave others alone even if they struggle, but I’ve ended up helping others rather than just sitting back and watching them struggle."

"I believe that I have grown this sprint as a person, student, and peer. I think that I have grown as a person by just being nicer and also by trying long to help my body. As a student, I’ve grown by just doing better in school than I did last year. And I think I’ve grown as a peer by being able to be more helpful. I have grown in all of them but I have noticed the most change in myself as a student, there has been growth in my liking for subjects I have never enjoyed and I have also enjoyed helping other students in math and science.

"As a person, I have made better habits at home. I am using all the free time I have to either spend with siblings or do work. I have also made better sleeping habits. As a student, I have gotten better at getting into my work and making it clear to classmates that I don’t want them to distract me unless they have something really important. As a peer, I have gotten more serious about keeping others accountable. When I see people wasting time, I like to remind them that they are paying lots of money to be here."

“I feel I have grown as a person this sprint by learning how to go out of my comfort zone whether it’s speaking or running a business. I think I grew as a student because I learned how to just buckle down and do my academics and try again and again if I fail a quiz. I think I grew as a peer by having the choice to help others if they need it. Usually [at my last school] you just ask the teacher and leave others alone even if they struggle, but I’ve ended up helping others rather than just sitting back and watching them struggle.”

"I've changed in a lot of ways, Physically, spiritually and mentally. I've lost weight and have had motivation from other classmates to keep going and get stronger. I've mentally changed with this new way of doing school work. It's been difficult for me with the freedom. But I started to understand how to work with it towards the last couple sprints. But most importantly I changed spiritually, my relationship with God has improved so much. I've enjoyed reading the Bible everyday. Praying doesn't seem so scary or weird to do anymore. And I have a sense of schedule and what I need to do after school."

"Our daughter, Hailee, has been at DCA for one month and she is becoming more confident in building friendships with other kids and also showing more independence. She is really enjoying school. It’s been really wonderful being apart of DCA. We are all very grateful! The school is so special and great because of the the amazing staff and leadership. Her teacher Miss Laura is wonderful with all the kids and it shows that Hailee feels loved and cared for, which is very important to us. The other families have been so welcoming which I also appreciate . It’s nice to see our daughter making great friends and having fun while learning. She looks forward to school every day."

TESTIMONIALS

"I had a feeling she would like her experience at DCA, but I was surprised at how much she loved it! It seemed to really resonate with her heart and I could see the joy in her eyes when I picked her up.

Her feedback was: 'We were learning but it was really fun, the students were all SO nice and seemed very happy to be at school.' She loved being outside and the relaxed atmosphere. She likes the idea of a self paced education and to be able to explore what she is interested in."

“This is the coolest school in the world.”

“I really feel so happy and excited that DCA is in our community! ”

"As far as my girls and DCA...they love it - absolutely love it."

“As a parent, their happiness and passion for life, faith, kindness, and learning is paramount. And I feel like they are checking all those boxes in spades.”

"I believe and have faith in the vision you all have. My kids are right where they are supposed to be."

"She is challenged and required to think, but outside the box. In a traditional classroom you are required to "know" how to do bookwork and the like. DCA allows my child to tap into her creativity and think outside the box which I so appreciate."

“He has been happier, more outgoing and talkative. He seems excited! He calls his grandmother almost nightly to tell her about his day.”

“Our student was reflecting on morals recently after engaging in a Socratic discussion at school. It was interesting hearing her thoughts on morals and where they come from and how it impacts her life.”

"I believe I have grown more as a student because I have been using my time more efficiently. I also think that I have become a better person because I have been surrounding myself with better people."

"I think I have grown because I’ve been more focused in work and more consistent in my physical therapy. I have grown by getting better at time management and being able to get more done faster. I have also gotten better at deep reading."

"He has had zero anxiety about school now and it’s been so much easier for our family that he does not have homework."

"I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to go to DCA. It has taught me so much already and I am not even two sprints in. DCA is a whole new world of learning as you have probably realized at some of the meetings. I feel so grateful that I get to go, THANK YOU!"

"I like the camaraderie and parent participation."

"I believe I have grown, mostly as a person. With that being physically, through my challenges. And I've also grown as a student, I've been getting better (still not good but better) at managing my time. I have gained more patience and accountability in work and time management ability."

"He is able to speak his thoughts with confidence and courage."

"She is learning there are consequences for actions/decisions. She's evaluating her freedoms and making choices based on previous ones and accepting ownership for things she otherwise wasn't before."

"Just in the small amount of time that she has been there, she is changing her way of thinking. She is growing more confident amongst her peers and I feel she is becoming more of a leader."

"I love the flexibility and freedom at DCA."

"He is excited to go to school! He has formed a wonderful bond with the lead guide and respects him so much. He is a much happier young man since DCA opened."

"I like the freedom of DCA. I like how when we do our work we can go outside. I love how close I have become with my classmates. Overall I love this school and would recommend it to anyone."

"I feel like my perspective has widened. I know what I want my future to look like, but now I'm starting to figure out how I'm going to get there. I've learned to manage my time well too. I've also learned to be comfortable with change and sharing my writing."

"I think that I have grown because I have become I better friend to my peers and I'm becoming a better leader."

"She is more positive in her outlook in school and talks about school all the time. She also says she is developing a better work model."

"Almost immediately after starting at DCA he started helping me around the house and his little siblings without being asked. He also loves being at school. He wants me to drop him off early and pick him up late."

"I notice he is trying new experiences, meeting eye contact more, and challenging himself more."

"I learned how to be myself because before I moved schools I was really self-conscious about how I dressed and how I acted because I didn't want to be judged or made fun of. But at DCA I don't have to worry about what people think because I feel comfortable enough to be myself."

"I like that it's not all boring work."

"I cant just say one thing I love everything about it."

"I like that I am not being held back anymore. I also like that I am able to access necessary things, which public schools lack."

"He has his passion for life back, he is getting his mind and body healthy and he is making great friends."

"They are empowered to make adult-like decisions about their future."

"I'm pleased with his spiritual growth, his ability to set goals and challenge himself, and the community experience."

"When I pick them up from school, they are always smiling, running, and playing with confidence. They ask if they can help with anything at home. I see them taking lead on many things I used to have to beg them to do."

"I learned that I can work at my own pace and that I learn better on my own rather than having someone teach in front of the class."

"He has had the opportunity to grow in critical thinking and his "voice".

"I love how we have freedom and we don't have to wear masks. I also love we create time because we get to create lots of amazing stuff."

"I like that the high schoolers are right next door to help."

"Something that I like the most about DCA is the people around me because they're all so kind. I also like that our learning guide is so nice and cares about how I feel. If something is too difficult, they try their best to help."

"They come home happy and want to go to school each day."

"I learned how to work with other people way better than I ever did before."

"I learned that if you don't focus on your work, you will fall behind."

"I believe I have grown because I have started getting better at getting my work done in the courses, I've started praying more and I've been inspired by my peers and want to get better at every aspect of my life."

"I love that DCA has Christian values blended with functional education."

"He is getting his work done and actually mastering curriculum. We were (pleasantly but very) surprised at how well he is doing, considering the state things were in when we left traditional (private) school."

"My student is showing greater leadership qualities and enthusiasm to learn."

"I have learned a lot mostly towards the end of this sprint about priorities and managing time. As a student I have learned a lot in all three of the classes I am taking."

"He’s developing real-world life skills that foster empowered learning, accountability, goal setting, and service.."

"I have grown through drawing inspiration from other peers, seeing their success, commitment, and strength, and modeling that for myself. I have grown by working under pressure, and seeing how much work can be done in 4 weeks is surprising."

"He is stretching himself with his passions by showing self discipline and constantly moving the goal posts for more challenging ambitions"

"My student’s leadership abilities are being refined in his group projects and his desire to live with integrity is evident in his interactions with his friends and fellow students."

"Our son's confidence level regarding school has gotten much higher, as well as his confidence socially. He encountered many challenges with his schoolwork towards the end of the year, and in the past he would have just given up, but he chose to persevere."

"She’s confident in who she is now with public speaking and engaging with other students without fear. She’s stronger in her values and holds herself to a high standard outside the school and around others."

"He has refined some of his strengths and is realizing that he is capable of things he didn’t believe he was before, and in return I think that has grown his confidence."

"I feel like when I stared at DCA I wasn’t strong in my faith. But now I feel like I have created a better relationship with God. I also feel like my work ethic has gotten better.."

"School is no longer a battle or a struggle. He loves going to school rather than dreading it."

"I'm seeing excitement about learning, spiritual development, confidence to pursue that learning and reaching for higher goals, and opportunities in taking new leadership roles."

"He is an encouragement and support to his classmates and adults in his life. He is actively engaging with his classmates to pray and give helpful feedback to their work."

"She's excited to wake up and embrace the day, actually enjoys reading and openly talks about her day at school with laughter and her plans to further grow."

"Both my son and daughter have shown pride in their education"

"He is still growing his confidence but realizing that he’s capable of doing the hard work. It was really awesome to see him push through and finish his grammar goals early."

"Our guide really did an amazing job in guiding our son with leading devotion, understanding the challenge of some friendships, and giving him the tools he needed to chose good character with his interactions with friendships."

"He's like a different kid. He is really thriving, not just surviving."

"Faith is back in the classroom."

"He likes going to school now. No more fights over getting out of bed, no more homework battles."

"She is not floundering and wanting to give up like she was at public school."

"The ability to extract what the child's passion is and help them flourish. I’m impressed at their ability to really showcase what and how each child is made differently than others and what their purpose is."

"I can say that mentally I have grown as a person. There have been a lot of challenges and hardships during this sprint that I have had to face with relationships in DCA but I feel we have all grown from them in the end."

"I’ve grown as a person this sprint because I’ve started reading my Bible more consistently, and I’m trying prayer for the first time in 2 years."

"I feel that coming into DCA, I already had the qualities of a leader but what the school did for me was it gave me confidence in my leadership. This is the result of the great mentors available at the school. I’m grateful for my time with District and I will stay connected as much as I can"

"I found God while at DCA and maybe even because of DCA. I feel I am more stable and happy than I even was just 3 months ago."

"I'm in control of my learning when I do my weekly goal setting. I'm growing as a student and a person because I am in control of my outcome of my school day."

"The DCA culture is one of my favorite parts of this school. It is very different because you get the freedom to work at your own pace which I have not seen before."

"My whole mentality changed, and I feel like I have to be productive now and I “can do” academics better than before. Just my whole outlook on a lot of things changed."

"For sure I have changed! I used to not want to present in front of people, but now I'm excited to share, even if it means stepping outside of my comfort zone."

"I've changed in many ways from when I began at DCA to now, but some of the biggest ones are that I am more aware of the fact that I am a really bad procrastinator and I need to learn time management. Also, I feel more self driven to excel and rise above other kids my age."

"The positive environment and that we actually talk about God. I like that if someone is wrong anyone can challenge them even if they are older. I like the freedom, even though I was having trouble with it earlier in the year but I changed and now I can use the freedom to the best of my ability."

"Love the freedom we have which creates more of a home-like environment, and the prayers and talks and Christian church feel that makes it feel like God is always present, because He is."