Looking Back on our 30-Year History

By Doug Schwartz | September 3, 2021 |
September 3, 1991 was a momentous day. It was a pleasant 81° outside, the sun was shining, and the first classes of 3- and 4-year-olds and Kindergarteners joined us as Columbia Academy opened its doors for the first time. What started with only our preschool at Thunder Hill has since grown to include the Elementary and Middle School and three new preschools in the years that followed at Kings Contrivance, Kendall Ridge, and Maple Lawn, expanding the ages of children we serve along with our number of campuses. Some of our families may even remember an additional preschool at Deepage Drive prior to the opening of Maple Lawn in 2008.As we embark on the 2021-2022 school year, we reflect on our past, celebrate our present, and look forward to our future with a renewed commitment to living our core values in everything we do. We honor our history of excellence in education and continue to be inspired by the difference-makers who have marked our first three decades by being passionate and authentic in their desire to educate students, build character, and shape tomorrow’s leaders.

Pursuing excellence is not a one-time task. It’s a constant series of choices, events, and commitments that become a habit, then a collection of habits that become a culture. Providing a safe, nurturing, supportive, and challenging learning environment for our students and staff while being true to our core values shapes our culture.

We have watched countless nervous parents drop children off on the first day of school, hopeful but disbelieving of how quickly their children are growing up. We have watched your children grow into more confident versions of themselves. We have watched them struggle with challenging concepts and congratulated them for grades they worked so diligently to earn. We have seen them cry over hurt feelings then work out their differences and forgive. We have watched with pride as they applied critical thinking skills and discovered creative ideas to solve problems. We have nurtured, educated, and loved your children as they blossomed before our eyes into the truly unique, remarkable people they are today.

We have treasured every moment of the past 30 years and are excited to see what awaits us over the next 30! Thank you for sharing your children with us.
Learn more about our company’s culture and job openings and join a team where teachers are valued, supported, and celebrated for their successes.
For more information about our academic programs, please call our Admissions team at 410-312-5233.

Stay informed. Here are questions to ask when choosing a private school while you consider enrollment at Columbia Academy.

Columbia Academy offers a variety of programs including infant care, toddler program, preschool, pre-K or kindergarten, after school care, summer programs, and enrichment classes. Families are welcome to visit our campuses across the region, including Kendall Ridge, Kings Contrivance, Maple Lawn, and others. For a full overview, check out our location map.

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