Admissions Policies & Pathway

Pre-K - 2nd Grade

• As part of the admissions process, students participate in a Developmental Assessment designed to better understand their developmental readiness, learning strengths, and areas where they may benefit from additional support. Our desire is to ensure that each student is well-positioned to thrive and be successful at MCA. 

Grades 3rd–12th

• As part of the admissions process, students participate in an academic assessment administered by our Admissions Office. This assessment provides an understanding of each student's current academic readiness with the purpose of ensuring MCA is the appropriate academic fit and student may be successful.
• State and local standardized testing results cannot be used in place of the MCA assessment.
• A score at or above the 50th percentile is required to demonstrate preparedness.
• Students should be performing at or above their current grade-level expectations.
• Students must complete all core classes with a final grade of 70 or higher.

Grade Reclassification:

McKinney Christian Academy does not promote or encourage reclassification and retention beyond Lower School. It may be reviewed on an individual, case-by-case basis with the Principal, Academic Counselor and the Head of School. Any retention or reclassification must align with the academic and extracurricular regulations established by TAPPS and strong consideration will only be provided for health and academic reasons.

Academic Standing: We are committed to helping each student begin their educational journey at MCA in an environment where they have the greatest opportunity for success. Because of this, students who are currently earning failing grades at their present school are not considered for admission.

High School Transfer Requirements

• Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited school or have documented homeschool coursework meeting academic requirements.
• Transfer credits from non-accredited schools (TEA, SACS, or regional agencies) or home-based instruction must be evaluated and admission is not guaranteed.
• Applicants must have attended a traditional school or homeschool for at least one year prior to applying.
• A grade of 70 or higher is required to receive credit for transferred courses.
• Applications for 12th grade are considered on a case-by-case basis and require approval from the Head of School. To be considered for admission, all senior applications must be submitted by April 1. Please note that McKinney Christian Academy requires four years of Bible coursework to fulfill graduation requirements. Because of this requirement, as well as the individualized review process for senior applicants, admission to the 12th grade is limited. In addition, McKinney Christian Academy does not accept mid-year transfers. If you have questions regarding senior admissions or graduation requirements, please contact the Admissions Office. 

Learning Support Program

While MCA does not provide special education, the Learning Support Program assists students with mild learning differences who perform at or above grade level (additional fees apply).

• Diagnostic testing is required for enrollment; spots are limited.
• Provided evaluations must be no older than three years.

Spiritual Commitment

Because MCA is a Christ-centered school, we desire to partner with families who share our biblical mission and values.

• At least one parent must provide both a written and verbal testimony of their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and affirm agreement with MCA's Statement of Faith.
• Applicants entering grades 6–12 must provide both a written and verbal testimony of their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and affirm agreement with MCA's Statement of Faith.
• Families are expected to be actively involved in and regularly/consistently attending a local Bible-believing local church.
• A pastoral recommendation from your local church is required as part of the admissions process. The recommendation may be completed by a pastor or another church leader that is a member of the church staff.

Behavior/Social Expectations

• MCA seeks to partner with families whose students demonstrate a pattern of respectful behavior and a willingness to contribute positively to the school community. As part of the admissions process, applicants must have a record of good conduct at their previous school(s).
• Students with a history of significant or ongoing disciplinary concerns—including In-School Suspensions (ISS), Out-of-School Suspensions (OSS), placement in an alternative school setting, or expulsion—will not be considered for admission.
• Admission is granted based on the information provided during the application process. If it is discovered that a student's disciplinary history was not fully disclosed or if significant disciplinary concerns arise after enrollment, MCA reserves the right to revoke admission or dismiss the student.
• Pre-K through Kinder applicants must be fully potty trained and able to independently use the restroom.

Admissions Wait Pool

As God continues to bless our school community with strong enrollment, we remain committed to providing an excellent educational experience for every student. To preserve the quality of our learning environment, each grade level has a carefully established enrollment capacity based on class size, student-to-teacher ratios, and available resources. Because of these intentional limits, there are times when the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available openings.

When a grade level reaches enrollment capacity, qualified applicants may be placed in our admissions wait pool. Each completed application is carefully reviewed by our Admissions Committee through a holistic process that considers the student's academic readiness, required recommendations, and overall fit with our school community. Throughout this process, the committee prayerfully seeks God's wisdom as each application is considered individually. The admissions wait pool is not a ranked list. Rather, it consists of qualified applicants who have successfully completed the admissions process and may be offered enrollment if space becomes available.

Applicants who have been selected for admission should expect to receive enrollment offers beginning in early February. Admissions decisions are made carefully and prayerfully by the Admissions Committee and are considered final. Due to the individualized nature of the admissions process, decisions are communicated without additional explanation or comment. Families whose students are not offered admission are welcome to apply again for consideration in a future school year.