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Rocky Bayou Christian School is a Southern Baptist-Affiliated private school in Niceville, which also offers campuses in Crestview, online and internationally. The school offers an education to children from three years old to 12th grade.
According to the school’s website, Rocky Bayou Christian School is “a Christian school that exists to assist parents in their God-given responsibility to train and develop in their children a biblical worldview, Christian character, and the skills necessary to fulfill God’s calling in their lives.”
The school is independently accredited by the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Institute for Learning and Development.
The school’s main campus on Partin Drive in Niceville hosts the high school as well as athletic fields.
Students in grades 1-12 are required to wear a uniform and follow a dress code. You can see the dress code policy here.
Rocky Bayou was founded in 1973 in Niceville and started with 22 students in grades K-6. The school is managed by a coalition of four local churches in the area.
Ten years later, the school had 365 students. Today, the school boasts more than 750 students across all of its campuses.
According to Rocky Bayou Christian School, they receive more applications for students than they are able to admit.
Rocky Bayou takes an $80 application fee as well as a grade placement, enrollment and capital improvement fee. The fees, not including tuition total at about $500.
Tuition also varies by the age and educational needs of the students. Standard tuition is $9,125 for a K-6 student and $10,050 for a 7-12 grade student.
Additional costs are associated with each type of student need. You can see the whole breakdown at rbcs.org/tuition.
Scholarships are available from both the State of Florida and from Rocky Bayou Christian School and vary based on the family situation, the needs of the family and other variables.
Ministers of a Trinitarian Christian denomination are eligible for a 50% tuition discount.
The Rocky Bayou Elementary School program has two campuses, one in Niceville and another in Crestview. The school focuses on the basics of academics. Curriculum includes ABeka, Bob Jones, Saxon Math in Focus and Feuersteins’s Instruments of Enrichment.
Students also participate in physical education, art classes, music courses and a computer class once weekly.
The Rocky Bayou Middle School Campus is located across the street from the Niceville Post Office, less than a quarter mile form the Niceville High and Ruckel Middle School compound.
Students continue toward ultimate academic achievement with honors classes and online classes. Curriculum focuses on a biblical worldview and aims to challenge students.
In addition to standard educational pursuits and bible studies, students are able to participate in small groups for bible study, prayer and fellowship which is led by teachers and faculty at the school. Students can also participate in a Jan Term, which allows them to spend the first two weeks of the second semester in special classes, mission trips, international trips and other pursuits.
The Rocky Bayou Christian School High School is called The Academy. The high school continues with a curriculum from Bob Jones University, Abeka and Saxon to ensure that a student receives inculcation into a biblical worldview daily.
Parents of students with special needs have several options to positively affect learning outcomes with the help of Rocky Bayou Christian School. These services are included with tuition.
This program gives younger children, those aged five to eight years old, with developmental delays additional attention and instruction. By intervening early, the faculty can relieve students of struggles down the academic road and allow for then to attain the future goals.
The program boats a 5:1 student:teacher ratio.
The Talent Development program works to serve students between 5-14 with moderate to mild learning issues. This method of teaching allows children with multiple different learning styles to more easily understand the material they are to learn.
This program boasts a 7:1 student:teacher ratio.
The Intermediate Intervention Development acts as an instruction program for students with various moderate learning issues. The program serves students between the ages of 8-14 and has a 5:1 student to teacher ratio.
Special Services offers secondary school students from grades 7-12 an alternative classroom environment where they can receive additional attention to conquer their mild to moderate learning exceptionalities. After completing their coursework successfully, students will receive a high school diploma.
The RBCS Intensive Program works with students who are two or more years behind in their studies for their age. Students who complete this program will be granted an ACCESS diploma, which is a high school diploma that is granted based on a modified curricula.
Rocky Bayou designed the Vocational Victors program to serve students ages 14-22 who have various intellectual disabilities. The program focuses on students who have Autism, Downs Syndrome or a significant cognitive impairment. The program focuses on teaching biblical principals, daily life skills and focuses on making students independent.
Classes, according to the Rocky Bayou Website, get support from programs and curricula outside of the classroom environment.
Victors students are able to receive a certificate of completion and may be able to participate in a Post Transition Plan until they turn 22.
The plan melds academic coursework with job development skills through the use of internships for students.
Rocky Bayou also offers a variety of educational therapy programs, which are available to students without additional charge.
The Search and Teach test, which is given to all students at Rocky Bayou between the ages of five and six, identifies students who might have learning difficulties or disabilities.
NILD Educational Therapy® gets individualized help for each student who needs it. The program focuses on deficits or weaknesses in a child’s learning portfolios and works to build confidence in that area.
Students at Rocky Bayou have access to speech therapists through the school. The program evaluates, diagnoses and treats speech and other communications issues students may have. Rocky Bayou emlpoys an in-house speech therapist to work with students.
This service is offered at the Niceville campus through an external medical professional. The program evaluates, diagnoses and treats fine motor development, neuromusculoskeletal, or sensory issues a student may have.
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Students are able to participate in several artisitic pursuits. These include:
Boys can participate in football, basketball, soccer, cross country, golf, swim, wrestling, tennis and track and field at the high school level.
Girls are able to participate in volleyball, basketball, soccer, cross country, golf, swim, tennis and track and field at the high school level.
At the middle school level, students are able to participate in football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball.
Rocky Bayou has more than 20 clubs and activities available to students who wish to participate. They include
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