ABOUT THE ACADEMY
Dr. Cassandra C. Lewis
CPBCCA Founding Chair
Founding Academy Chair Welcome
Founded in 2010 as an educational mission of Clifton Park Baptist church, the Academy (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization), launched its inaugural Higher Ground program in October 2012.
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The Clifton Park Academy offers innovative and inspiring academic enrichment programs for students in the DC Metro area.
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Most students are served in the Academy’s weekend enrichment classes and annual STEAM summer camps. Over the years, these student achievers have:
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Developed academic and critical thinking skills in varies courses - e.g. math, science, writing, chess, technology
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Defended their ideas in debates and oratorical contests
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Competed in the Baltimore Urban Debate League and the Air Force Cyber Patriots Cybersecurity contest
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Honed their leadership skills in the Academy’s signature Higher Ground leadership development program; conferences on Capitol Hill; and in volunteer opportunities and service field trips.
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Learned about the law, their rights, and positive relationships with law enforcement through community forums featuring law enforcement and legal professionals (panel featured: police, judge, lawyer, community activist, parole officer, etc), as well as government officials
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Engaged with My Brother’s Keepers for a community resource day
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Service learning mission trips – The Academy took students abroad to organize and host free STEAM camps for students in the Gambia, West Africa (2017) and Belize (2019). This served as the culminating service learning and mission trip for Middle and High School students in our Higher Ground Leadership Development Program.
Our Mission Statement
Clifton Park Baptist Church Academy (CPBCCA) proudly presents Higher Ground, a dynamic enrichment program that helps shape and elevate highly motivated and committed middle and high school students to strive for "higher ground." Higher Ground will provide opportunities that assist students in reaching the "Promise Land" of their full spiritual, academic, and leadership potential.
Core Values
Higher Ground is purposed to create a college and life-ready student, characterized by six indispensable core values:
Excellence High Ground students are marked by high expectations to achieve their personal best in all that they commit to do .
Faith Higher Ground encourages students to live a life of committed discipline through personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Leadership Higher Ground develops leaders who are able to inspire and guide others with boldness and thoughtfulness.
Respect Higher Ground encourages students to be compassionate and considerate members of the community.
Responsibility Higher Ground students are motivated by personal responsibility and exemplify initiative, focus and self-control.
