Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ACE program?

The ACE program was first established in 1970 and has since grown into a world-renown curriculum used by thousands of schools around the world. The ACE curriculum completely rethinks the way Christian education works. In a traditional classroom, time is the constant, and learning is the variable; however, in the ACE classroom, learning is the constant, and time is the variable. Trained supervisors diagnose each student individually and then prescribe the necessary curriculum for their individualized needs. In a traditional classroom, teachers must teach to the middle of the class leaving the bright students bored and the slower students struggling. With the ACE curriculum, however, each student, with the assistance of the supervisor, sets goals for the day and works at his own pace in each subject, allowing the brighter student to move more quickly and the slower student to take his time. In this environment, true, individualized learning takes place for every student.

Lighthouse Christian School uses the ACE curriculum for grades 2nd-12th. Grades Kindergarten and 1st use the Abeka Books curriculum. Each 2nd-12th grade student is given his own “office” where he has his own quiet place to work. PACEs (Packets of Accelerated Christian Education) are the curriculum used in the ACE program. Each student will read the information and answer the corresponding questions. Upon reaching a checkup or a self-test, the student must receive permission to take the “quiz” and then receive additional permission to score it. When a student needs to score something, he simply gets permission and goes to the scoring table where the answer key is kept (this is a different answer key than the final test). There are a series of checks and balances that keeps the student from cheating. This process has proven extremely effective over the past several decades. Interactive computer courses are also available for additional practice and for some of the more advanced subjects and foreign languages. For more information, visit www.aceministries.com to see more about this excellent curriculum.

What curriculum does K4, K5, and 1st grade use?

Lighthouse Christian School uses the Abeka Books curriculum for grades K4, K5, and 1st grade. This curriculum has been proven over the years as one of the premier Christian curriculums for teaching reading. Students in Kindergarten and 1st grade will be immersed in a phonics-based reading and writing program. These students will also learn basic math skills and engage in social studies and science concepts as well. Students who participate in this program will emerge as strong readers which will greatly impact the rest of their education.

Are the teachers trained?

Each learning center and K4-1st grade classroom is equipped with a professionally trained supervisor/teacher to answer the students’ questions and help with new material if needed. The supervisors have a college degree accompanied by professional training from ACE. Each learning center (classroom) may also have a monitor (aid), who simply helps students with basic needs such as dismissing them to the restroom or approving them to take a checkup. Monitors are not necessarily professionally trained and may not have a college degree, but they will not be involved in the actual teaching process of the child.

Does my child have to wear a uniform?

Lighthouse Christian school uses uniforms to help create a structured and efficient learning environment as well as to promote modesty. LCS uses the uniform provider French Toast^©. We have done our best to search for the best prices and keep them reasonable. For more information, log on to www.frenchtoast.com and type in the source code: QS5PKLH. If you have any additional questions, please contact the school office.

Will my child have time to socialize?

The ACE program is specifically designed to give each student plenty of social time each day. The students have multiple breaks throughout the day. During these times, students have the chance to build lasting, Christian relationships with their peers.

Will my child be able to get into college?

While LCS can make no promises that any individual child will get into college, the ACE program provides more than adequate opportunities for each student to prepare for college work. Graduates from schools that use the ACE program have gone on to be accepted to thousands of colleges around the world including Penn State, Harvard, and the University of Maryland. The ACE program actually has three different types of diplomas available to students: Honors, College Preparatory, and General. All students will be put on the College Preparatory course of study until accumulated evidence indicates otherwise. The Honors course of study would be for extremely bright students who are looking to attain their college degree from a prestigious college or pursuing other advanced courses of study. The College Preparatory course of study is more than sufficient for those students looking to pursue a normal college degree. Finally, the General Education course of study is for those students who may work a bit slower and are not planning to attend college. A Lighthouse Christian School graduate will meet and exceed all of Pennsylvania’s graduation requirements.

Is there transportation available for my child?

The following local school districts are required to provide transportation to Lighthouse Christian School: Central, Dallastown, Dover, Northern, Northeastern, Spring Grove, and West York. If you live in Dover and are interested in taking advantage of this system, please stop by the school office to fill out a Dover School District Transportation Request Form. If you live in one of the other above-mentioned districts, please contact your school district for transportation information.

What if I have to work late or bring my child early to school?

Lighthouse Christian School provides before and after school care for your child. This service is for parents who begin work prior to the school’s starting time or work late and have no other means of transportation for their child. “Before School Care” begins at 7:30 AM each day and “After School Care” ends at 4:30 PM each day. Students arriving within thirty minutes prior to the school’s start time or leaving within fifteen minutes after school dismissal will not be charged for the service. During this time, students will work on homework, read, play quiet games, and other activities. Please fill out an extended care form in the school office for each child that needs this service. LCS charges $2 per hour per child until 4:30pm. After 4:30, it becomes $10 per hour. For example, if a child needs to stay for an hour before school and an hour after school, it would be just $4 for the day.

Do I have to wait until the beginning of the school year to enroll?

Because of the unique structure of the ACE program, students grade 2nd-12th can enroll year round. Kindergarten and 1st grade follow a more traditional approach to teaching so year round enrollment is more difficult, but possible. Before enrollment, each student in grades 2nd-12th must come to the school to take a diagnostic test that prescribes the curriculum for the student. As soon as the curriculum arrives, the student will be ready to enroll. This is one of the many advantages of the ACE curriculum.