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Real Life Christian Academy began as First Christian Church School in 1982 with 6 students meeting in one room. A few parents from First Christian Church of Clermont wanted to provide a safe, biblically based, high quality educational environment for their children as an alternative to public school.
During its second year, the school accepted students from first through eighth grade. By 1985 the school had added a preschool and kindergarten. In 1988 Eddie Jones became the director, followed by Mona Wood in 1989. Throughout the 1980s the school grew steadily and it finished the decade with 75 students.
In the 1990s First Christian Church School continued its path of solid growth. Grade levels were added and subtracted as the need warranted, and by 1995 the school had 139 students in K-3 through twelfth grade.
In 1994 Winnie Kunsman began her 7 year tenure a school principal. Under her leadership, First Christian Church School decided to concentrate on its preschool and elementary programs to ensure they were of the highest quality. The school finished the decade in 2000 with 172 students in K3 through fifth grade.
In 2002 the school changed its name to South Lake Christian Academy. By 2004 the school grew to over 210 students and added middle school grade levels under the leadership of Ben Harper, Truman Whitaker and Daryl Pratt. Dr. Steven A. Long became school administrator in 2005 and continues his tenure with the school.
Starting in spring of 2006 the school name became Real Life Christian Academy. This name change represents a renewed commitment of Real Life Christian Church (formerly First Christian Church) to private Christian education as part of its ministry to the community.
In August of 2008 Real Life Christian Academy moved to a new 42,000 square foot facility at our beautiful 22 acre campus on Steve's Road in Clermont. Student enrollment increased to over 300 students and we added high school and an athletic program.
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