Christian Heritage Academy
By Andie Gibson

 While Franklin County public schools have an enrollment of more than 7,100 students this year, one local private school is thriving with less than 160. Christian Heritage Academy in Rocky Mount has been providing an education alternative to students in grades K-12 for more than 20 years.
 Edward Woodroof, now in his seventh year as Headmaster at the school, said most parents who choose CHA are looking for a biblical-based Christian education and sound academics in a safe, traditional atmosphere.
 “We have high academic standards and high ethical standards attached to that,” Woodroof said. “The atmosphere is very family-like and the students receive personalized attention. Because of sheer numbers we’re able to offer individualized attention that others cannot.”
 Woodroof said the average student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.
 “That’s been one of our hallmarks over time – to keep that ratio low,” he said.
 Mary Poletti said the family atmosphere is one aspect that attracted her to CHA when her children – Michael, now 10, and Laura, 7 – were first starting school. A former attorney, Poletti now teaches history, government and geography at CHA.
 “It’s wholesome living,” Poletti said. “I’ll go weeks without hearing a curse word … The students are well behaved and they respect authority.”
 Poletti’s husband Phil agrees.
 “It’s very traditional. The kids are polite and clean cut and that’s largely because the parents are so involved,” he said.
 From a teaching aspect, Mary Poletti said she enjoys the intertwining of Christian-based teachings with strong education fundamentals.
 “Basically, we’re teaching them from a Biblical perspective – that there’s the truth out there to be found,” she said. “We keep the basics strong – reading, writing and arithmetic – and really work them hard.”
 Phil Poletti added: “What I see is it’s not so much religious indoctrination, it’s education in a spirit-filled atmosphere.”
 Tuition for the school year is $3,200 per student. The school also offers a Pre-K program for 4-year-olds that starts at $610 a year for one day a week and goes up to $2,625 for five days a week. For more information, call 540-483-5855 or visit ChristianHeritageAcademy.org.