FCS School Profile

•  DESCRIPTION: Friendship Christian School is a ministry of Friendship Baptist Church. It is located in the beautiful capital city of Raleigh, North Carolina. FCS is a private, college preparatory, co-educational Christian school. Pre-school, Kindergarten for four and five year olds, and grades 1-12 are offered.

•  PURPOSE: The primary goals of FCS are to provide a spiritual and academic complement to the Christian home, to assist the fundamental local church in reaching youth with the gospel, and to encourage young people toward fruitful service for the Lord Jesus Christ.

•  HISTORY: FCS was organized in 1970 by Friendship Baptist Church. The first senior class graduated in 1980. Since the first graduation class of eight students, Friendship Christian School has graduated more than 500 students.

•  AFFILIATIONS: FCS is affiliated with the American Association of Christian Schools, North Carolina Christian School Association, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Honor Society, and National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.

•  ACADEMICS: FCS desires to provide a college preparatory education within a structured but loving Christian environment. FCS offers advanced classes like Chemistry, Physics, Honors English, Pre Calculus, Computer Applications II, and Spanish III. In addition, FCS offers Advanced Placement classes in courses (ex. AP Calculus, AP European History) for which students can receive college credit.

•  GRADUATE PROFILE: More than 95% of all FCS graduates have enrolled in colleges and universities. Of this number, many attend Christian colleges, such as Bob Jones, Pensacola Christian, Tennessee Temple University, and Liberty University. Graduates also attended schools such as West Point Academy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, East Carolina University, UNC-Wilmington, and Campbell University. Many of our graduates receive partial or full scholarships. Scholarships have been received for academics and athletics.

•  STANDARDIZED TESTING: Each Spring, FCS administers the Stanford Achievement Test to five-year-old Kindergarten through 9 th grade. The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test is given to Grades 2, 5, and 8. The PLAN test is required for 10 th grade. The PSAT is required for 11 th grade. Students in Grades 11 and 12 are encouraged to take the SAT. Seniors are required to take the ACT as a competency test. Our students in K-5 through 9 th grade average one to one and a half years above the national average.

•  SCHOOL YEAR: The school year usually begins the third week in August and ends the first week in June. It is divided into four nine weeks grading periods. The school day runs from 7:50-2:45 for middle and high school and from 8:00-2:45 for kindergarten and elementary.

•  GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: In order to graduate, students must earn the required units of credit for their academic track and obtain a minimum composite score of 14 on the ACT.

A student who graduates in the Honors Track must have a minimum of 24 credits which include 4 Bible (or one for each year at FCS), 4 English, 3 Social Studies (includes Geography or Government and Economics, World History, American History), 4 Math (includes Algebra I and II, Geometry, Pre Calculus, AP Calculus), 4 Science (includes Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Biology II or Physics), 1 Physical Education/Health, 1 Fine Arts, Spanish I and II, and 1 credit of either Computer Applications or Honors Spanish III.

A student who graduates in the College Preparatory Track must have a minimum of 23 credits which include 4 Bible (or one for each year at FCS), 4 English, 3 Social Studies (includes Geography, Government and Economics, World History, American History), 4 Math (includes Algebra I and II, Geometry, Pre Calculus), 3 Science (includes Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry), 1 Physical Education/Health, 1 Fine Arts, Spanish I and II, and 1 credit of either Computer Applications or Honors Spanish III.

A student who graduates in General Track must have a minimum of 22 credits which include 4 Bible (or one for each year at FCS), 4 English, 3 Social Studies (includes Geography, Government and Economics, World History, American History), 3 Math (includes Algebra I), 3 Science (includes Physical Science, Biology), 1 Physical Education/Health, 1 Fine Arts, and 1 Computer Applications.

•  GRADING SCALE:

•  ADMINISTRATION: Reverend Bob Vradenburgh is Friendship Baptist Church's pastor and president of Friendship Christian School. Mr. Ric Nelson is the school administrator and high school/middle school principal. Mr. Michael Cole is the elementary principal.