Welcome to Wildwood Christian Academy!

History and Background

WILDWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY: FOUNDED IN 2003

Wildwood Christian Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit independent school. Founded in 2003 by Larry and Pamela Ruff, Wildwood opened its doors with fifteen students, kindergarten through fifth grade, three teachers and a headmaster, and was located temporarily in the Big Canoe Scout Hut and a small modular unit. A part-time Spanish teacher and a part-time art teacher were added shortly after school opened. By the end of the 2003-04 school year, three more students had joined the student body. Wildwood was governed by a thirteen member Board of Trustees. In January 2004, Wildwood moved to the present 13.6 acre campus on Whitley Road South, centrally located to Pickens, Cherokee, Forsyth, Gilmer, Lumpkin, and Dawson counties.

 

Wildwood is located in rural North Georgia where football, soccer and cheerleading gather more support than a strong educational experience. Other than two or three closely populated communities such as Big Canoe and Bent Tree, the area is very rural, agricultural and economically depressed. In 2004 private education was not in existence in Pickens County, Georgia - let alone understood or appreciated. Wildwood found itself in a similar position as The Westminster Schools in Atlanta prior to its opening in 1952, “We have no money, no students and private schooling is something unheard of in this area.” This is the same scenario Wildwood found in the North Georgia Mountains when Wildwood Christian Academy opened.

Mr. and Mrs. Ruff had recently moved to the Pickens County, Georgia area from Atlanta when Wildwood was founded. Larry was a practicing attorney and Pamela was the law firm’s Paralegal and Business and Development Director. Accepting that they were called by their faith to open an independent Christian school, Larry and Pamela took the necessary steps to retain a consultant, study accreditation requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, test the political and community waters for feasibility and embark on finding a location to open the doors of the school. The name of the school was selected by Pamela. “Wildwood” represented the rural environment in which the school was to be located; “Christian” was the faith foundation of the school and “Academy” was to represent that Wildwood would be a college preparatory school.

From its inception, the foundation of Wildwood has been clear, distinctive and unwavering. Its Mission remains “Academic Excellence in a Christian Environment.” In addition to its Mission, Wildwood is clear about its educational philosophy --parents and grandparents of the students must “partner their time” in their childrens’ education and in the academic, spiritual, physical and mental growth of each child. This philosophy is emphasized in meeting with parents prior to their child’s admission into Wildwood.

The communities surrounding Wildwood are sparsely populated. It wasn’t until the mid-1990’s that families began to relocate to the area. The school’s location is centrally located to six (6) counties within a driving distance of approximately thirty minutes. The area has no community transportation system and its public schools have been built near the largest concentration of the population. This population is at least ten (10) miles from Wildwood’s campus. Wildwood knew that financial aid would be a necessary component to Wildwood’s growth.

During the next years following its opening, Wildwood has experienced a steady growth in its enrollment. In 2003, Wildwood had 15 students, in 2005, 25 students, 2006, 40 students and by 2010, Wildwood exceeded 100 students. This growth has been incredible considering the environment, financial upheaval and massive unemployment that has hit the nation over the past three years. The growth, we believe, is due primarily to the Mission and Philosophy to which Wildwood has remained allegiant and to Wildwood’s reputation for academic excellence in a Christian environment.

In addition to student growth, Wildwood has grown in the number of faculty and size of facilities. In 2003, Wildwood’s Founding Headmaster and three full-time teachers held the only paid positions at the school. While the school also employed a Director of Non-Academic Affairs and a Director of Finance and Business Affairs, such positions were unpaid and held by the Founders of the school. The faculty and administration today has grown to include a Head of School, a Director of Non-Academic Affairs, a Director of Business and Financial Affairs, a Director of Communications and Marketing, a Director of Development, an Administrative Assistant, 8 full-time faculty members, 8 part-time faculty members, a school counselor, a Chaplain, and a part-time maintenance team.

In 2004, Wildwood moved from its temporary location at the Big Canoe Scout Hut to Wildwood’s present 13.6 acre campus on Whitley Road South in Marble Hill located just outside of Big Canoe, Georgia. At that time, the campus consisted of a library with space for a computer lab, two offices, a teacher workroom and storeroom and four classrooms. During the summer of 2004, the physical size of the school was almost doubled with the additions of two classrooms, a chapel/dining hall, locker rooms and bathrooms, and a kitchen. During the 2004-05 school year, Wildwood installed an eight station computer lab as part of the media center and added computer stations to each classroom. Currently, Wildwood occupies approximately 18,000 square feet of classroom and administrative building space, in addition to an outdoor chapel, ball field, playgrounds and nature trail. The entire campus serves as an educational learning center.