Academic Support
We are committed to a holistic approach to education, nurturing the whole child. We believe in providing comprehensive support that addresses not only the academic needs of our students but also their spiritual, emotional, and social well-being. Recognizing the unique individuality of each student, we prioritize building relationships of trust. We are intentional in providing a level of personalized attention and care that fully supports each student throughout their four-year journey at DCA.
We offer a robust network of support services designed to promote academic success, including: academic support staff in our Discovery Center, a full-time College & Career Coordinator, and a partnership with Emmaus Road Counseling Services. Additionally, we provide a dedicated Academic Resource Center (ARC) for supplemental learning, regular teacher office hours, a thriving peer tutoring program, and a freshman development program focused on strengthening math, English, and study skills. This all-encompassing approach provides a level of support that is exceptional for the high school experience.
Academic Resource Center
The Academic Resource Center (or ARC) serves as a dedicated hub for student learning support, rejecting a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. Instead, it focuses on identifying and addressing the specific learning needs of each student to foster their success. The goal is to empower students to assess, identify, and advocate for their individual needs while developing essential practical and academic skills for college readiness. This welcoming, comfortable, and safe environment for intellectual exploration is operated by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. All students are encouraged to utilize the ARC for forming study groups, working on homework assignments, and receiving personalized assistance
Tutoring
DCA offers a comprehensive range of support and tutorial opportunities for students. The Academic Resource Center facilitates peer tutoring, conducted by our CSF students, to provide individualized academic support. CSF students, comprised of Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, have demonstrated both academic excellence and strong leadership capabilities. Students can access tutoring services by scheduling an appointment in advance or by utilizing the ARC’s drop-in hours after school, Monday through Thursday.
Students are encouraged to utilize after-school teacher office hours and extended classroom block times for optimal instruction and support. Students without a 7th period are advised to schedule meetings with teachers whenever possible.
Homework/Study Space
Spaces in the ARC are available after school to students who require a quiet supervised setting to successfully complete school assignments.
Testing
To streamline testing for our teachers, the ARC also serves as a testing center throughout the day for any make-up testing that needs to be administered outside the classroom.