General FAQs
Where is the school located?
715 E. 4th Street in Waterloo. Harvest Vineyard Church has graciously agreed to let us use their facility for at least two years. We will transform their existing Sunday school rooms into classrooms.
What does it cost?
We utilize a sliding scale, which ranges from $50-$500 per month (for 10 months) or $500-$5,000 per school year. Tuition responsibility is based on family income. We use a formula that factors income, number of dependents, and number of children enrolled at the school.
How many grade levels do you have?
The 2018-2019 school year offers grades K-6, and our long-term plan is to add a grade each year until we reach 12th grade. We have two classrooms, combining grades 3-6 and Spanish Immersion K-2. We keep class sizes and student-teacher ratios small.
Do you limit class sizes?
We will have a maximum of 15 students per class.
How do I enroll my child?
Please stop by Harvest Vineyard Church 715 E. 4th St., Waterloo during office hours (M-W-F 10a-1p) to pick up enrollment paperwork. Fill out and leave the application at the office, and take the rest of the paperwork home to fill out. Once we receive your application, someone from RLCA will give you a call to set up an interview, where you will bring all completed forms.
Or print your own forms here:
How can I support the school?
In order for children in the Cedar Valley to have access to affordable, Christ-Centered education, the community must say, “YES!” with prayers, finances and volunteering. It is God working through YOU that will sustain a thriving, life-giving school with excellence in education. Please give today!
Please see the “support” page of this website for information.
immersion FAQs
What is language immersion?
In general, immersion refers to teaching in a partner language (such as Spanish) without translating.
What are the goals of an immersion program?
For students to be highly proficient in both English and the partner language in the four areas of usage: reading, writing, speaking and understanding.
What are the benefits of an immersion program?
There are many benefits of an immersion program, especially one that is utilized in the elementary grades: Starting an immersion program at a young age (before adolescence) is the most ideal time and method to learn another language. This will prepare students not only to use the language in an authentic way with native speakers, but it will also equip them to better engage our increasingly global world.
Students will be equipped for the modern, global world–in the workplace and in ministry.
Students will be exposed to, and gain an understanding of, another culture.
Bilingual students have been shown to outperform monolingual students on tasks that require problem-solving, pattern recognition, and creative thinking. Students will gain a more complex awareness of their own native language.
What is RLCA’s plan for immersion?
We offer a separate Spanish immersion track for grades K – 2 (combined class). Students will spend the majority of their day in Spanish during the early elementary grades. During the latter elementary grades, students will incorporate more classes in English. The goal is for both native English and native Spanish speaking students to be equally proficient in both languages by the time they graduate elementary school.
We hope to have an even mix of students who are native speakers of English and of Spanish.
Won’t my native English-speaking child fall behind compared to her/his peers in English-only programs?
The short answer is no. It is important to keep a long-term perspective on the outcomes of immersion program. Studies show that in 4 to 5 years, students enrolled in a dual-language program not only do well, but often outperform their peers in English-only programs.