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Santiago Christian Academy

Chile, Santiago

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees CLP 3,612,000 - 4,604,000
Ages 4 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 130
Type Co-educational
Opened 1968
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, Christian Curriculum
Taught languages Spanish
Strengths Sport, STEM, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Santiago Christian Academy (SCA) is a private Christian school in Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile, offering Pre-K through 12th grade under an American North American curriculum. It is owned by the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) and governed by the ABWE Chile Field Council, with a School Board managing policy and operations. English is the language of instruction for all grades, while Spanish is a required subject from Kindergarten through 12th, with a Chilean-history–driven curriculum designed to develop conversational ability. The school awards a High School Diploma upon earning 22 credits (24 credits recommended for college admission), and high school courses meet typical college entrance requirements, with additional options by correspondence. The campus has separate Elementary and Middle/High buildings, a soccer field, and a covered court, and is located near the foothills of the Andes about 30 minutes from downtown Santiago. The academic year runs two semesters, with a December–February summer break. After-school activities have included STEM, Dance, Soccer, and Piano. Graduates have gained admission to West Point, Georgia Tech, and Seoul National University.

Cruz Almeyda 1389, 7910502 Peñalolén, Región Metropolitana, Chile

The Essentials

Santiago Christian Academy has 130 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
The school is located at Cruz Almeyda 1389, Peñalolén, Santiago, Chile. It is approximately 30 minutes from downtown Santiago and sits in the Peñalolén district near the foothills of the Andes.

Stages
Pre-Kinder through 12th grade; Elementary (PreK-6) and Middle/High School (7-12) are housed in separate buildings.

Type
Private Christian school

Pupil Nationality Mix
Student body includes multiple nationalities, including the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Korea, Panama, South Africa, Venezuela, and Chile.

Country affiliation
Chile; owned by the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) and governed by ABWE Chile Field Council.

Religious affiliation
Christian

School day structure
School day runs 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are required for all students.

Food Options
No school lunch service; students bring lunch from home. An occasional fundraising lunch option may be offered by 11th–12th grade classes.

Governance and Ownership
The school is owned by the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) and governed by the ABWE Chile Field Council; administration is run by appointed members of the school board.
Fees

Annual tuition at Santiago Christian Academy ranges from CLP 3,612,000 to CLP 4,604,000 for 2026/27.

Registration & application fees
- Registration fee (new students; includes school insurance): CLP 206,000 for the first child in a family.
- Additional new-child registration (each additional child entering SCA for the first time): CLP 111,000.
- Re-registration fee (returning students; includes school insurance): CLP 111,000 per student, charged annually. Registration and re-registration fees are non-refundable.

Annual tuition — by year group (amounts listed Per Year / Per Semester / Per 12‑month plan monthly)
- Pre-K & Kindergarten: CLP 3,612,000 per year / CLP 1,806,000 per semester / CLP 301,000 per month (12‑month plan).
- Grades 1–8: CLP 4,104,000 per year / CLP 2,052,000 per semester / CLP 342,000 per month (12‑month plan).
- Grades 9–12: CLP 4,608,000 per year / CLP 2,304,000 per semester / CLP 384,000 per month (12‑month plan).

Other mandatory student fees
- Student fee (annual, per student): CLP 282,000. Payment may be made in one or two payments.
- Senior fee (Grade 12 students): CLP 80,000 (annual).

Family and ministry discounts (applied to tuition only)
- 2nd child: 5% discount on tuition.
- 3rd child: 10% discount on tuition.
- 4th and subsequent children: 15% discount on tuition.
- Students of missionaries and pastors: 30% discount on tuition.
- Pastors funded exclusively through their local church: 50% discount on tuition.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Families agree to make timely monthly payments according to deadlines set by the school; monthly payment plans are accepted.
- Payments can be made by authorized methods including bank transfers, debit or credit card, cash, or paycheck. The school supplies amounts, deadlines, and bank/payment details to families.
- If a family misses two consecutive months of payment, the school issues written warnings by email and provides deadlines and finance contact details. A student may not enroll for a new semester if the family is four months or more behind on payments. Extended non-payment (four or more months) without an agreed repayment plan may result in referral to financial institutions and legal authorities in accordance with the family's signed financial contract.

Boarding
- Boarding is not offered. SCA operates as a day school.

Other costs and typical extras
- School supplies: Grade-level supply lists are published and supply items are required per grade; costs for supplies vary by grade and family choice.
- Uniform/insignia: Official SCA insignias and uniform guidelines are required; insignias must be official (purchased through SCA or embroidered by the approved vendor). Families should budget separately for uniforms and insignia purchase/embroidery.
- Insurance: The registration/re-registration fee is listed as including school insurance; the Academy does not provide accident insurance for students and parents are expected to maintain personal student insurance if desired.
- Potential activity or program fees: Some activities, trips, or optional programs may carry additional fees; these are charged separately when applicable.

Refunds and withdrawals
- Enrollment signifies the family's financial obligation for tuition and fees; no tuition or fees will be returned except by explicit approval of the SCA Board. All financial accounts must be settled and closed when a student withdraws.

Fee payment options and administrative details
- Accepted payment methods include bank transfer, debit card, credit card, cash, or paycheck. The finance office provides bank details or card payment instructions and the exact amounts and deadlines for the chosen payment plan.
- The school requires a signed financial contract at enrollment (Contrato de Aporte Económico y Convenio de Servicios Educacionales) which governs billing, arrears procedures, and collection measures.
Academics

Santiago Christian Academy teaches American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, Christian Curriculum for students aged 4 to 18.

Curriculum
The educational program is a traditional United States school. The language of instruction is English; all grades are taught in English except the Spanish language class, which is a requirement for Kindergarten-12th. Instruction is offered Pre-Kinder through 12th grade, following a North American curriculum; high school courses meet normal college entrance requirements, with additional courses available by correspondence or electronic media. Spanish is taught as a required subject for Kindergarten-12th, with a curriculum centered on Chilean history, literature, geography, and customs, emphasizing conversational ability. The school issues a High School Diploma upon completing 22 credits (English 4; Social Studies 4; Mathematics 2; Science 2; Bible 4; Physical Ed 2; Spanish 2; Electives 2); 24 credits is recommended for college-bound students. Graduates have been admitted to universities including the United States Military Academy at West Point, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Seoul National University.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates are prepared for entrance to United States colleges and universities; some graduates are admitted to universities in other English-speaking countries or countries of origin. Notable destinations include the United States Military Academy at West Point, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Seoul National University.
Parent Experience

History
Founded in 1968 by the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) in Santiago, Chile, Santiago Christian Academy provides a Christ-centered, English-language education. ABWE is a mission organization headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In the early years, parents taught at the school, and in 1971 two licensed teachers joined to expand services to other English-speaking families. In the early 1980s, secondary grades were added, and the first high school senior graduated in 1985. Today, SCA serves Pre-K through 12th grade and is owned by ABWE and governed by the ABWE Chile Field Council, with the School Board responsible for policy and operation.

Community
An international student body includes students from the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Korea, Panama, South Africa, Venezuela, and Chile. The instructional staff includes native English-speaking teachers, and all classes are taught in English, with Spanish language instruction required from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Entrance is open to the children of evangelical missionaries and the non-missionary Christian community who meet language and admission requirements.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Elementary and Middle/High School are housed in separate buildings. Classrooms are located within these buildings. The campus includes a soccer field and a covered court for sports activities. The address is Cruz Almeyda 1389, Peñalolen, Santiago, Chile, and the school operates Monday–Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. The campus is located near the foothills of the Andes Mountains, about 30 minutes from downtown Santiago.

Sports Facilities
A soccer field is available on campus and there is a covered court for indoor sports activities. These spaces are part of the same Peñalolén campus as the classrooms. They support on-site physical education and sports-related activities.

Academic Facilities
Elementary and Middle/High School are housed in separate buildings. There are classrooms on campus. The program follows a traditional United States school model with English as the language of instruction. Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade are offered, following a North American curriculum, with high school courses and electives to meet college entrance requirements. Spanish language instruction is required for Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Extra Curricular Facilities
After-school activities vary from year to year. Past activities include Dance, Soccer, Phonics Fun, STEM, Volleyball, Piano, and Ultimate Frisbee. SCA does not have an athletics program as part of the regular curriculum; students participate in PE classes two times per week. After-school activities are not included in the standard student fees.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Academy has a traditional United States curriculum with English instruction for Pre-K through 12th grade. The language of instruction is English; Spanish is required Kindergarten-12, with a Spanish curriculum developed around Chilean history, literature, geography, and customs and an emphasis on conversational ability. The school issues a High School Diploma (22 credits) with required courses including English (4), Social Studies (4), Mathematics (2), Science (2), Bible (4), Physical Education (2), Spanish (2), and Electives (2); many graduates are encouraged to pursue at least 24 credits for college admission. Standardized testing is administered: annual standardized achievement tests for Kinder–8th grades and the PSAT for 10th–11th grades; SAT or ACT may be taken at other local settings. The academic year runs in two semesters (August–December and March–June), with a Southern Hemisphere summer vacation from mid-December through February and a 3–4 week winter break in July. The campus comprises separate Elementary and Middle/High School buildings and includes a soccer field and a covered court for sports activities.

Cultural & Language
The school teaches in English and requires Spanish language instruction for Kindergarten–12; the Spanish curriculum is developed around Chilean history, literature, geography, and customs, with an emphasis on conversational ability. The student body includes learners from the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Korea, Panama, South Africa, Venezuela, and host Chile.

Leadership & Professional
Academic Director: Austin Bowden; Head of Administration and Finances: Ignacio Atenas C.; High School Principal: Jim Hurley.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The campus includes a soccer field and a covered court for sports activities. Physical Education (2 credits) is required as part of the high school graduation. The academic year is organized into two semesters (August–December and March–June) with a December–February summer break and a 3–4 week winter break in July.
Languages

Language Provision
All instruction is conducted in English, and textbooks are in English. The Spanish language class is part of the curriculum and is a requirement for Kindergarten through 12th grade. Pre-K and Kindergarten do not require English, while Grades 1-12 require fluent English at grade level. The school provides a Christ-centered English education.
Admissions

Admissions
SCA considers students who agree to abide by the academic, attendance, conduct, and financial requirements in the Student Handbook, pledge cooperation with school policies and standards, and whose parents believe and hold to the mission's Biblical teachings. Applications from students who meet the above criteria and the age and language requirements are welcome, provided the school can meet the student's needs. SCA is limited in its capability of accepting students with special needs. All instruction and textbooks are in English; applicants for Grades 1-12 must be fluent in English. MINEDUC recognition is not in place, and convalidación (grade validation) from 1st through 8th grade is offered through an umbrella school program. Age requirements are: Pre-K 4 by September 1, Kinder 5 by September 1, Grade 1 6 by September 1, and Grades 2-12 are evaluated for placement. Language requirements are: Pre-K & Kindergarten English not required; Grades 1-12 require fluent English. The application process includes contacting the school, submitting the electronic Application for Enrollment, requesting an interview with the School Director, and, if required, English and Math diagnostic tests. After all evaluations and documents are complete, the Director, Principal, and School Board review the completed application to make an admissions decision, which is communicated by email. If accepted, the student must confirm registration-related items (Registration fee, Student Handbook Acknowledgement Form, and School Financial Contract) before registration. Documents required for admission are listed by grade, including birth certificates, school reports, recommendations, standardized test results, and other evaluations as applicable.
School Events
The school has not added events
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