Jason Rachels, President, Calvary Christian Academy

May 2026 — Invest: spoke with Jason Rachels, president of Calvary Christian Academy, about rising demand for private Christian education in South Florida, how the school is responding to record interest, and the ways CCA is preparing students to lead in a changing world. “We really believe we have something great to offer kids, and we’ve seen it have such a beautiful impact on them,” said Rachels.

What are some of the most meaningful developments or shifts you’ve seen at CCA recently?

We’ve seen a strong and growing desire for private school education. At our Fort Lauderdale campus alone, we had more than 1,000 applicants, not counting our other campuses. That level of interest, combined with a solid local economy and families’ willingness to invest in their children’s education, has been a major shift for us.

That demand shapes how I lead because it raises questions of stewardship. We want to respond to families seeking what we offer, but we also have to grow in ways that protect our culture, mission, and the quality of the student experience.

How is CCA positioned within the greater Fort Lauderdale education landscape?

We’re in a strong position because we represent a compelling value. As a ministry of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, we benefit from a church partnership that invested in 70 acres and much of the campus infrastructure we use.

That has allowed us to provide high-quality Christian education at a reasonable cost. Families often feel they are getting more than they pay for because of the facilities, programs, and sense of community that the church-school partnership makes possible.

In your view, what draws families to choose CCA over other education options in South Florida?

Our size enables us to offer a breadth of opportunities that many private schools can’t match. We provide a wide range of advanced coursework for students who need to be pushed further, and we also have support for students who may be struggling and need additional help. Being large enough to create the right track for each student is a real advantage.

What I hear again and again from parents and students, though, goes beyond programs. They talk about the culture — seeing teachers and staff who love what they do, who are energized and who genuinely love the kids. Our focus on making disciples shapes everything and combines strong academics with a Christ-centered environment.

What role do you believe a Christian education should play in preparing students to thrive in today’s complex and diverse world?

It’s a twofold responsibility. On one hand, we prepare students to be excellent academically so they’re ready for college, vocational pathways, the military, or whatever God may call them to. That means developing sharp critical thinkers who can discern wisely as they encounter all kinds of messages, information, and worldviews.

On the other hand, we want them to have a genuine relationship with God that shapes their priorities and purpose. Our hope is that they go out ready to change the world for Christ — not just asking, “What’s in it for me?” but, “How can I serve others?” A Christian education, at its best, prepares students to do excellent work, love people well, and make a lasting impact in any field.

How are you preparing students not just for college, but for the demands of the future economy?

The pace of change is faster than ever. Some jobs are disappearing, new ones are emerging, and technologies like AI are reshaping how work gets done. Rather than trying to predict every job that will exist, we focus on the core skills that travel with students into any environment.

We emphasize critical thinking, communication, analysis, teamwork, and people skills — the building blocks that employers value across industries. We work on those in the classroom and through extracurriculars, clubs, and other experiences that require students to collaborate, lead, and solve real problems, so they’re better able to adapt as the landscape shifts.

How are broader trends in K–12 education shaping your approach at CCA?

AI is probably the biggest emerging topic right now. We’ve been one-to-one with devices for years, so our students are already used to working with laptops and digital tools. The question now is how to help them use AI effectively and ethically.

We’re intentional about teaching students to see AI as something that can enhance good work, not replace the hard thinking and writing they need to do themselves. So we want our students to be able to make the most of technology, and to also be able to put the technology aside and engage with others in deep ways. There’s real value in a class debate, a deep discussion, or a face-to-face conversation where they’re practicing interpersonal skills without a screen.

What steps are you taking to support students not just academically, but emotionally and socially?

We talk about three pillars as a school: spiritually, academically, and socially. One of the most impactful parts of our culture is that every student from seventh through 12th grade is part of a small group that meets weekly. It’s not an academic class — it’s a space where a teacher and a small group of students can check in on life, pray together, and focus on spiritual growth and community.

That rhythm dramatically reduces the likelihood that a struggling student slips through the cracks. In a dedicated weekly time where grades are off the table and relationships are the focus, students are more likely to open up about real struggles. We also have more school counselors than a typical school our size, and we run a peer-support initiative called PALS (Peer Active Listener Support) to train students to be a resource for their classmates.

How is your leadership team thinking about growth, whether campus expansion, new programs, or deepening what already exists?

We have a growth mindset, but it’s rooted in mission. We really believe we have something great to offer kids, and we’ve seen it have such a beautiful impact on them, so naturally we want more students to have access to that.

Physically, our campuses continue to grow. Over the past year, we added about 300 seats through additional building space, and we’re in the silent phase of a capital campaign for an 80,000-square-foot building that will accommodate up to 750 additional students. We’re also in conversations with schools that might join our network and with our church’s campuses on potential preschool and elementary expansions.

What kinds of partnerships are you looking to deepen across the community in the years ahead?

Partnerships are a big part of our vision. Academically, we partner with Covenant College to offer dual enrollment courses so our high school students can earn college credit while still at CCA.

We also launched Schools United, an initiative that brings Christian schools together through profession-specific peer networks. Leaders meet regularly, in person or via Zoom, to share ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and encourage one another. One outcome has been a professional development day that now serves thousands of educators on campus and online, with additional host sites in Florida extending that impact.

Is there anything else you’d like local business leaders and community stakeholders to understand about CCA?

One thing that connects closely with the business community is how we’re investing in parents who are leaders. I host a monthly breakfast called CCA Business Leader Dads, where fathers who are CEOs, presidents, and business owners gather to talk about what it looks like to lead their businesses in ways that honor God and advance His kingdom, and we have a similar group for moms who are business leaders.

Out of that has grown a Convene team on campus — a peer advisory board where leaders spend a full day together each month working on real opportunities and challenges in their businesses. Ultimately, we see CCA not just as a place that educates children, but as a community that supports families and equips leaders, which in turn benefits our students and the broader community we all share.