Why NLA?

We offer flexible child care options to fit your family’s needs. Our Early Education day runs from 8:05 a.m. to 2:40 p.m., with enrollment available for 2-day, 3-day, or 5-day options. For additional care, the Eaglet Club provides morning care starting at 7:00 a.m. and afternoon care until 5:30 p.m. at a small additional fee of $0.22 per minute. Please note Preschool Prep must be picked up by 5:00 p.m. Kindergarten through 5th grade students have access to free before-school care, and can join Academy Adventures for after-school care until 5:30 p.m. for an additional fee. Learn more about our Early Education programs.

Children can start in our Preschool Prep program at 31 months. For Preschool, children should be potty-trained and have turned 3 by September 1 of the enrollment year. Pre-K is for children who are 4 or 5 by September 1. We focus on each child’s overall development—physical, emotional, social, and academic readiness—so age is considered along with maturity. Our Early Education program offers a nurturing, play-based environment with small class sizes and caring teachers who help every child thrive. Learn more about our Preschool and Pre-K programs.

Children need to be 5 years old by September 1 of the year they start Kindergarten. We also consider your child’s overall development, including physical, emotional, social, and academic readiness to ensure they thrive. Our Kindergarten program offers a full day of engaging, play-based learning that builds a strong foundation for their academic and social growth. For more details about our Kindergarten program and enrollment, you can explore our Kindergarten overview.

Families can arrange a shadow day for their child after touring the school and completing the admissions application. Shadow days are designed for students entering 4th grade, though 3rd graders may also participate. Students from elementary through high school can spend a half or full day shadowing a current student in the same grade. This visit includes a complimentary lunch to help your child connect with classmates and experience our community. To schedule, simply email our admissions team at admissions@newlifeacademy.org. For more details or to schedule a tour and meet with our admissions team, we’re happy to help!

New Life Academy serves students from Early Education through 12th grade, welcoming children as young as 31 months in Preschool Prep. Here’s a quick guide by age and grade:

• Early Education: Preschool Prep starts at 31 months. Preschool requires children to be potty trained and 3 years old by September 1. Pre-K is for 4- and 5-year-olds.
• Kindergarten: Children must be 5 by September 1.
• Lower School: Kindergarten through 5th grade.
• Middle School: Grades 6-8.
• Upper School: Grades 9-12.

Each stage offers a nurturing, faith-centered environment tailored to your child’s growth. Learn more about our Early Education, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School programs.

New Life Academy offers three main admissions periods:

• Priority Enrollment (Oct 1-end of December): Apply early for first-round acceptance letters.
• Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – June 30): Applications accepted while space lasts; qualified applicants may be enrolled or placed in a wait pool.
• Late Application (July 1 – Aug 1): Considered individually based on space and timing.

If you miss these deadlines, your application may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, or you can roll your application forward to the next year without extra fees, though admission is not guaranteed. For details, visit our admissions timeline.

There is a non-refundable application fee for each child applying: $150 per application. This fee helps cover the processing of your application and is required when you submit your online application through our admissions portal. If your child is placed in the wait pool and space doesn’t open during the current year, you can roll the application forward to the next year without paying another fee. Learn more about the application process and fees.

To apply, please create an admissions account and complete an application for each child. Required documents vary by age and grade:
– Preschool Prep to Kindergarten: Birth certificate and early childhood screening
– Grades 1-12: School records or report cards, standardized testing results
– If applicable: Updated IEP or 504 plan, teacher referral contact, and a photo of your child

A non-refundable $150 application fee is required per application. If you are applying for Variable Tuition, your previous tax forms from two years ago will be used. You may begin both the admissions and Variable Tuition applications at the same time to help streamline the process.

Learn more about the application process.

New students may be asked to take an entrance assessment if their academic records are missing or incomplete. This helps us understand their current level and ensure the best fit. For Elementary through High School applicants, providing academic records is required, and assessments supplement those records when needed. For Kindergarten and younger, assessments are less common, focusing more on screenings and observations. This process helps us support each child’s learning journey confidently and with care. Learn more about our admissions process.

Admissions decision timelines vary based on several factors. During the priority enrollment period, which runs from October 1 to the end of December, families can receive a decision soon after applying if they meet admissions standards, space is available, and required steps like the interview are complete. During open enrollment, from January through June 30, decisions are made after the interview and depend on available space. If accepted, you will receive an email with next steps. If a grade is full, your student may be placed in a wait pool and we will contact you if a spot opens.

Siblings of current students receive priority consideration during admissions to help keep families together. This means qualified siblings are given preference, but all applicants must still meet our admissions standards. Priority applies across all grades—from Preschool through High School—and supports families by valuing their ongoing connection to our community. While priority helps, it does not guarantee admission.

To confirm your child’s enrollment, you will need to:

1. Pay a non-refundable $150 application fee.
2. Sign the enrollment contract and submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit ($450 for K-12 or $200 for Early Education). This deposit applies toward tuition.
3. Complete all steps on the enrollment contract within 7 days of acceptance to secure your child’s spot.

Additional fees may include before/after school care, activity fees, and others depending on your child’s grade and activities. Learn more about tuition and fees as you prepare..

During registration, prospective families can expect a welcoming, Christ-centered community that partners closely with families. To learn about the full admissions process and upcoming opportunities, we encourage you to visit our admissions visit page, where you can find details on campus tours and Preview Events to experience classrooms and meet staff. Once officially accepted, new families will be invited to a new family orientation night to learn about the start of school and tour the building. We also host a back-to-school Eagle Kickoff day where students take school photos and bring in their school supplies. Communication is ongoing throughout to support families every step of the way.

New students should meet these key standards to thrive at every stage:

Academic: Provide records showing grade-level performance, consistent effort, and minimal absences. If records are missing or incomplete, an entrance assessment may be required. Students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will have their needs reviewed to ensure proper support.

Behavior: Students and parents must be in good standing with their current school and demonstrate respectful, responsible conduct aligned with our Christian values. Disruptive behavior may affect admission.

Spiritual & Family Commitment: At least one parent must be a believer in Jesus Christ, actively involved in a Christ-centered church, and supportive of the school’s faith and social positions, as outlined in our statement of faith and covenant partnership commitments detailed on our About Page.

Learn more about our Admissions Standards.

Admissions decisions include three possible outcomes:

• Acceptance: Your family has been accepted to New Life Academy! This means your student meets our admissions standards and aligns with our mission and values. We look forward to partnering with you, and next steps for enrollment will be provided.

• Wait Pool: If your student’s grade level is full, qualified students may be placed in an unranked wait pool. This means your student meets admissions standards, but space is currently unavailable. If space does not open during the school year, you may roll your application forward to the next academic year without paying an additional application fee. However, you must complete the full admissions process again, including updated materials and any required interviews or assessments. Rolling forward does not guarantee admission. For full details, see our wait pool policy.

• Denial: Some applicants may not be admitted due to academic readiness, available space, or the school’s ability to provide needed support. All applications are carefully reviewed. Reapplication is welcome. For more information, see our denial policy.

Priority Consideration: Siblings of current NLA students receive priority consideration but must still meet admissions standards. Priority does not guarantee admission. Learn more about our admissions process.

We decide who gets accepted through a thoughtful and prayerful review by our Admissions Committee, focusing on how well each family aligns with our mission and values. Key factors include:

• Spiritual commitment: Active involvement in a Christ-centered church and support of our Statement of Faith.
• Academic readiness: Grade-level performance and assessments if needed.
• Behavior: Respectful and responsible conduct from both students and parents.
• Available space: Admission depends on openings in each grade.
• Support needs: Our ability to provide necessary accommodations or services.

Siblings receive priority but must meet the same standards. While we strive to welcome all families who share our mission, not all applicants are accepted due to space and readiness. Families will be notified of all decisions, but to maintain confidentiality, we do not provide specific reasons or discuss individual outcomes. Learn more about our admissions standards.

Our current enrollment is over 820 students, spanning Early Education through Grade 12. This includes Preschool Prep, Kindergarten, Lower School (Elementary), Middle School, and Upper School (High School). Each level provides a nurturing, faith-centered environment with small class sizes designed to support your child’s individual growth and success. For more details on specific programs, please visit our Early Education, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School pages.

New Life Academy welcomes students of every race, color, national, and ethnic origin, providing equal access to all programs and activities without discrimination. Our student body includes about 17–18% students of color, reflecting the diversity of the surrounding community. As an independent Christian school, our families come from more than 66 different churches, creating a rich, faith-centered environment where students grow together in learning and community. This diversity fosters a welcoming and supportive culture across all grade levels, from Early Education through High School. Learn more about our Admissions.