About BCA

The Providence region's only accredited K-12 Christian school.

Building a Foundation for Life

Learn more about who we are and how we have been able to serve the Providence area for more than 40 years.

To nurture, equip, and encourage students in the development of their God-given potential.

Students and graduates leading by serving in every arena of society with passion, skill, integrity and faith.

BCA has HEART! BCA_has_heart

  • Honor God
  • Embrace Excellence
  • Actively Engage in Service
  • Relish Relationships
  • Treasure Teamwork

Barrington Christian Academy (BCA) is a private, independent, college-preparatory day school serving students in grades K–12. As a nondenominational Christian school community, we welcome students from all faith backgrounds.

Barrington Christian Academy was founded in 1979 by the Barrington Baptist Church. The school began with fifty students in grades 1–8.  Since 1985 we have been governed by an independent school board of thirteen members representing several area churches.

BCA first received accreditation from the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) in 1998. In 2005 BCA earned accreditation renewal from ACSI and also earned initial accreditation from the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) for the K-8 program. In 2010, our new high school program received full accreditation from both NEASC and ACSI. We had our decennial visit from ACSI and NEASC in April of 2015 and have received renewal of our accreditation for another ten years.

The first wing of the school building with ten classrooms was built in 1981. In those early years, some of the classes were held at Barrington Baptist Church, and some in the main classroom building. PE classes have been held at Cedar Hall since the beginning. As the Academy flourished, the school expanded a grade level at a time, and by 1983 was a K-12 school. But financial challenges and other growing pains led to the closing of BCA’s original high school back in 1985. There was always a plan to re-start the high school, or develop a regional Christian high school when the time was right. When the high school was discontinued in 1985, BCA also became an independent school, now an affiliated ministry that is no longer governed by the Barrington Baptist Church.

After BCA was accredited and the middle school enlarged with a 1999 building addition, the need to add a Christian high school became increasingly apparent. In 2004 the Board of Trustees voted to expand the mission of BCA to include grades 9-12. In September of 2006, that commitment became a reality as 11 students began in the ninth grade class. A success from the start, the high school development continued in earnest, and a capital campaign was launched in the fall of 2007 to raise the funds necessary to add a third wing onto the building and hire the best faculty available for the high school. That first high school class graduated in 2010 with twelve students, including a national merit scholar and many others who have impacted their college campuses through leadership in Intervarsity, Campus Crusade, the arts, service projects and academic arenas.

BCA is active in the Christian School movement and has been blessed by the leadership of the following people:

  • Ray Antocicco, founding headmaster (1979 - 1982)
  • Wayne Curtis, headmaster (1982 - 1984)
  • Shirley Tucker, principal (1984 - 1988)
  • Tom Sherlock, principal (1988 - 1989)
  • Elsie Wright, principal (1989 - 2002) and head of school (2002 - 2016)
  • Sean Hunley, head of school (2016 - 2019)
  • Mike Skazinski, head of school (2019 - present)

Accreditation Matters

Learn more about why BCA values its accreditations.

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New England Association of Schools & Colleges

New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) is a globally recognized standard of excellence. NEASC Accreditation attests to a school’s high quality and integrity.

It's why colleges take our students seriously.

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Association of Christian Schools International

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) accreditation assesses a school's performance in foundational areas of Christian education.

ACSI ensures that we are teaching with a Biblical worldview.

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Rhode Island Department of Education

All Rhode Island non-public schools that serve children in grades K-12 must be approved annually by RIDE. Non-public schools must follow the same legislative requirements as public schools.

Statement of Faith

THE BIBLE

We affirm that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, was supernaturally inspired by God, and written by man, so that all its words are the true revelation of God; it is therefore inerrant in the originals and infallible — the final authority in all matters of doctrine, faith, and Christian living. It is to be understood by all through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, its meaning determined by the historical, grammatical, and literary use of the author’s language, comparing Scripture with Scripture. Any discrepancies seemingly found therein are the result of human fallibility, interpretation, and translation.

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Mark 12:26,36, 13:11; Acts 1:16, 2:4

 

GOD

We believe that there is one God, creator of all things, who eternally exists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that these three, having the same nature, attributes, and perfections, are worthy of all worship, confidence, and obedience.

Mark 12:29; John 1:1-4; Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 5:3,4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6

 

JESUS

We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ; in his virgin birth; in his sinless humanity; in his miracles; in his perfect substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all people through the shedding of His blood and death on the cross; in his bodily resurrection; in his ascension to the right hand of the Father; in his personal return in power and glory; and in his eternal reign.

Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:14, 8:40,58, 11:33; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 5:8-10; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:8

 

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe in the Holy Spirit, a divine Person whose indwelling is the source and power of all acceptable worship and service. He is our Comforter, Helper, and Teacher, and is always present to testify of Christ.
In addition to the initial conviction of sin, revelation of righteousness in Christ, and indwelling of the believer, the Holy Spirit’s work is a distinct and ongoing ministry in which the believer is supernaturally empowered for life, holiness, and service with the bestowment of spiritual gifts for the work of the ministry.

John 7:38-39, 14:16-17, 15:26, 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:9; Philippians 3:3

 

HUMANKIND

We believe that men and women were created in the image and likeness of God, but that through Adam’s sin, all of humankind has fallen and inherited a sin nature; thus, people in their natural state are lost, alienated from God and incapable of attaining salvation by any personal effort or merit.

Genesis 1:26; Romans 3, 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1-3, 4:18-19

 

SALVATION

We believe that salvation is a free gift of God offered to all humanity by grace, through repentance, and received solely through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This faith is expressed in works pleasing to God.

John 3:16, 14:6; Romans 3:28, 8:31-39; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:26-27,36-39; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6

 

UNITY OF BELIEVERS

We believe that faith in Christ is to be lived in local community with God’s people, and that together these local communities comprise of the one, holy, universal Church, the body of Christ, called by God to journey together in worship and mission.

John 17:20-23; Ephesians 4:1-6; Philippians 2:1-13; Colossians 4:12-17

 

RESURRECTION TO ETERNAL LIFE AND JUDGEMENT

We affirm that the return of Christ for all believers is imminent. The unsaved will then be raised and judged according to their works and separated forever from God in hell. The saved, having been raised, will live forever in the presence of God.

Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15; Psalm 90:3-4; Revelation 20:12-15; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:26-29