Academics at PCA Plano
Top-Tier Education Grounded in Biblical Truth
PCA Plano is ACSI Exemplary and Cognia accredited. We provide a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and a nationally recognized Christian education program that places great value on students' spiritual development in addition to academic and cocurricular excellence. Our holistic, individualized approach to education enables students to reach their highest level of achievement and become all that God has created them to be and accomplish all He has planned for their lives.
Equipping the Next Generation to live strong and empowered lives that glorify God
We partner with Christian families to provide a quality, Christ-centered education to train the next generation of leaders— doctors, lawyers, business owners, executives, teachers, pastors, politicians, moms and dads— to impact their families' culture as well as that of their church and community for Christ.
Integrating Academic Excellence and Spiritual Development to Nurture Holistic Development
At Prestonwood Christian Academy Plano, we are committed to diligently training students to have depth in their belief system that transfers over into their daily lives. What could be more important than the spiritual and scholastic formation of your child's heart and mind?
Our Academic Distinctives
Academic Excellence
- Duke Talent Search
- Writing across the curriculum
- Multiple Academic Opportunities
- AP Test Scores
- Scholarships
- National Merit Scholars
- AP Scholar Awards
- Socratic Method
Duke Talent Search
Writing across the curriculum
The Collins Thinking and Writing Program helps teachers and students use common vocabulary as well as set levels of expectations on writing across the curriculum and writing in every course, whether it is Music, Science or English. The by-product is to develop good communication skills while emphasizing higher order thinking processes.
Multiple Academic Opportunities
We reach many types of learners. PCA offers a Learning Lab program for those with learning differences. We start ability grouping in Math and Reading in 4th grade through 8th. In 9th -12th grade, on-level, honors/PreAP and AP classes are offered. In addition teachers use a variety of teaching strategies to differentiate content for all learners.
AP Test Scores
Advanced Placement classes are nationally-recognized, college-level courses. Highly qualified Upper School students gain college credit and recognition in the college admission process when they pass each AP course exam.
PCA Upper School students have an 84 percent Advanced Placement exam pass rate versus the national average of 56 percent. PCA offers 18 AP courses, and in 2020, PCA students had a 100 percent passing rate in 10 out of 18 subjects.Scholarships
Prestonwood Christian Academy’s Class of 2021 was offered $14.5 million in scholarships for achievement in scholastics, athletics and the arts. Since the first graduating class in 2002, PCA graduates have been offered more than $154 million in scholarships and have matriculated to universities near and far.
National Merit Scholars
AP Scholar Awards
Socratic Method
PCA is continuing to train teachers on how to integrate higher order thinking skills throughout the curriculum. One means is through Socratic Seminars where students learn to clearly express their opinions with supporting evidence from a text; to question or defend the accuracy of what they read; to challenge the ideas of the author by noting bias, distortion or lack of information; to contrast the accuracy of one text with other sources to form defensible critiques; and to make solid judgments about a text derived from interpretation and inferential information.
College Placement
- Ivy League Universities
- Selective Universities
- Major Universities
- Christian Universities
- Matriculation of PCA Grads from 2002-2021
Ivy League Universities
Selective Universities
Belmont University, Colgate University, Colorado School of Mines, Duke University, Emory University, Purdue University, Hillsdale College, Marquette University, Tulane University, Vanderbilt University, Rhodes College, Rice University, Wheaton College, University of Southern California, Wake Forest and Washington University.
Major Universities
Texas A&M University, Baylor University, The University of Oklahoma, Texas Tech University, Oklahoma State University, University of Kansas, University of Missouri, Texas Christian University, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Southern Methodist University, Louisiana State University.
Christian Universities
Abilene Christian University, Baylor University, Cedarville University, Dallas Baptist University, Dordt College, Furman University, Hardin-Simmons University, Howard Payne University, John Brown University, Liberty University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Ouachita Baptist University, Palm Beach Atlantic, Samford University, Union University, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, Wheaton College and The King's College
Matriculation of PCA Grads from 2002-2021
A-K
Abilene Christian University
Air Force Academy Prep School
Albany College of Pharmacy
Alderson-Broaddus College
American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York
American University
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
American University of Paris
Anderson University
Angelo State University
Arizona State University
Arkansas State University
Arkansas Tech University
Art Center College of Design
Art Institute of Boston
Art Institute of Colorado
Art Institute of Dallas
Asbury College
Auburn University
Augustana University
Austin College
Austin Peay State University
Azusa Pacific University
Babson College
Baker University
Ball State University
Baptist College of Florida
Barton College
Barry University
Baylor University
Belhaven College
Belmont University
Beloit College
Bennington College
Bentley University
Berklee College of Music
Berry College
Bethany College
Bethel University
Binghamton University
Biola University
Birmingham Southern College
Black Hills State University
Blinn College
Boise State University
Boston College – Honors Program
Boston Conservatory of Music
Boston University
Boston University Honors Science
Bradley University
Brandeis University
Brookhaven College
Brown University
Bucknell University
Buffalo State College of SUNY
Butler University
California Baptist University
California College of the Arts
California Lutheran University
California Polytechnic State University
California State University
California State University, Los Angeles
Calvin University
Campbell University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carroll University
Case Western Reserve University
Cedarville University
Centenary College of Louisiana
Central Christian College
Centre College
Chadron State University
Chapman University
Charleston Southern University
Chicago College of Performing Arts
Christian Brothers University
Cisco College
Clearwater Christian College
Clemson University
Coastal Carolina University
Coker College
Colgate University
College of Charleston
College of the Canyons
College of Santa Fe
College of William and Mary
Collin College
Colorado Christian University
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia University
Concordia University
Cornell College
Cornell University
Creighton University
Culver-Stockton College
Dallas Baptist University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Dean College
DePaul University
DePaul University (The Theatre School)
DePauw University
Dillard University
Dordt College
Drake University
Drexel University
Duke University
Eastfield College
East Carolina University
East Texas Baptist University
Eastern University
Eckerd College
El Centro College
Elon University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Emerson College
Emmanuel College
Emory University
Evangel University
Fashion Institute of Technology
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Southern University
Florida State University
Fordham University
Fort Lewis College
Franklin College Switzerland
Friends University
Furman University
Gardner-Webb University
George Mason University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia State University
Gordon College
Grace College and Theological Seminary
Grace University
Grand Canyon University
Greenville College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hamilton College
Hampton University
Hanover College
Hannibal Grange University
Hardin-Simmons University
Harding University
Hargrave Military Academy
Harvard University
Hawaii Pacific University
Henderson State University
Hendrix College
High Point University
Hillsdale College
Hofstra University
Hope College
Houston Baptist University
Howard Payne University
Howard University
Huntington University
Idaho State University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University, Bloomington
Indiana University, Fort Wayne
Indiana State University
Indiana Tech University
Indiana Wesleyan University
Iowa State University
Jacksonville University
James Madison University
John Brown University
Johns Hopkins University
Johnson & Wales
Kansas State University
Kennesaw State University
Kettering College
Knox College
L-S
LaGrange College
Lamar University
Lee University
Lehigh University
LeTourneau University
Liberty University
Linden Wood University
Lipscomb University
LISSA School of Applied Arts
Long Island University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana Technical University
Loyola University
Loyola Marymount University
Lubbock Christian University
Lynn University
Lyon College
Manhattan College
Marshall University
Marquette University
Marietta College
Mary Baldwin College
Maryland Institute College of Art
Marymount Manhattan College
Maryville University of St. Louis
Massachusetts College of Art
McKendree University
McMurry University
McPherson University
Miami University
Michigan State University
Middle Tennessee State University
Midwestern State University
Milligan College
Millikin University
Millsaps College
Mississippi College
Mississippi State University
Missouri Baptist University
Missouri State University
Missouri University of Science & Tech
Molloy College
Monmouth University
Montana State University
Montclair State University
Moody Bible Institute
Morehouse College
Morningside College
Muhlenberg College
Murray State University
Musician’s Institute of Los Angeles
Natural University of Ireland
Navarro College
Nebraska Wesleyan University
New Mexico Military Institute
New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
New York University
New York University-Tisch School of Arts
Niagara University
North Carolina A&T University
North Carolina State University
North Dakota State University
North Lake College
Northeastern University
Northern Arizona University
North Greenville University
Northwest Missouri State University
Northwestern College
Northwestern University
Northwood University
Nova Southeastern University
Oberlin College
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
Oglethorpe University
Ohio Northern University
Ohio State University
Ohio University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Oklahoma Christian University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Old Dominion University
Olivet Nazarene University
Oral Roberts University
Otis College of Art and Design
Otterbein University
Ouachita Baptist University
Oxford College @ Emory University
Pace University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Paul Mitchell School
Pennsylvania State University
Pepperdine University
Philadelphia Biblical University
Piedmont College
Point Loma Nazarene University
Pratt Institute
Princeton University
Providence College
Purdue University
Queens University of Charlotte
Ranger College
Regent University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhodes College
Rice University
Rice University (School of Engineering)
Richland College
Richmond, The American International College
Rider University
Ringling College of Art and Design
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rollins College
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Royal Holloway-University of London
Rutgers University
Saint Edward's University
Saint Leo University
Saint Mary’s of California
Sam Houston State University
Samford University
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
Santa Clara University
Santa Fe College
Savannah College of Art & Design
School for Film & Television – NYC
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
School of Visual Arts - NYC
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle University
Seton Hall University
Sewanee: The University of the South
Shenandoah University
Simpson University
Southeastern University
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University Honors
Southern Nazarene University
Southern University & A&M College
Southern Utah University
Southwest Baptist University
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern College
Southwestern University
Spelman College
St. Edwards University
St. Gregory’s University
St. John’s University-Queens Campus
St. Joseph’s University
St. Louis University
St. Lawrence University
St. Mary’s University
St. Thomas University
State University of New York-Albany
State University of New York - Buffalo
State University of New York-Stony Brook
Stephen F. Austin State University
Sterling College
Stetson University
Stony Brook University
Suffolk University
Syracuse University
T - Z
Tarleton State University
Taylor University
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Texas Christian University
Texas Southern University
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
Texas Wesleyan University
Texas Woman’s University
Tiffin University
The American University in Paris
The College of Idaho
The Citadel
The College of New Jersey
The College of the Ozarks
The College of Wooster
The Criswell College
The George Washington University
The King’s College
The Ohio State University
The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
The School for Film & Television (NYC)
Towson University
Trinity Christian College
Trinity University
Tulane University
Union University
United States Air Force Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Military Academy-West Point
United States Naval Academy
Universita Bocconi
University of Alabama
University of Alabama, Birmingham
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas
University at Buffalo
University of California-Berkley
University of California-Davis
University of California-Irvine
University of California-Los Angeles
University of California-Santa Cruz
University of California-San Diego
University of California-Santa Barbara
University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Florida
University of Central Oklahoma
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati-Claremont
University of Colorado-Boulder
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
University of Colorado-Denver
University of Connecticut
University of Dallas
University of Dayton
University of Denver
University of Edinburgh
University of Evansville
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Hawaii-Manoa
University of Hartford
University of Houston
University of Idaho
University of Illinois-Champaign
University of Illinois- Chicago
University of Illinois – Urbana
University of Indianapolis
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of LaVerne
University of Louisiana – Monroe
University of Maine
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
University of Maryland, Boston
University of Memphis
University of Miami
University of Miami – Ohio
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of Mississippi
University of Missouri – Columbia
University of Mobile
University of Montana, Missoula
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
University of Nevada – Las Vegas
University of Nevada – Reno
University of New Mexico
University of Northern Colorado
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina-Greensboro
University of North Dakota
University of North Florida
University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Iowa
University of Northwestern
University of North Dakota
University of North Texas
University of Notre Dame
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Redlands
University of Rhode Island
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
University of St. Andrews, Scotland
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of South Carolina
University of Southern California
University of Southern Maine
University of Tampa
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Texas - Arlington
University of Texas – Austin
University of Texas – Dallas
University of Texas – Dallas-McDermott Scholar
University of Texas – El Paso
University of Texas – San Antonio
University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley
University of Texas – Tyler
University of the Ozarks
University of Tulsa
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of West Florida
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wyoming
Valdosta State University
Valencia College
Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Tech University
Viterbo University
Wagner College
Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee University
Washington University, St. Louis
Wayland Baptist University
Webber International University
Webster University
Westminster College
Westmont College
West Texas A&M University
West Virginia University
Western Michigan University
Wheaton College-IL
Wheaton College-MA
Whittier College
Wichita State University
Wilbraham & Monson Academy
William Jewell College
William Penn University
William Woods University
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Wofford College
Wright State University
Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of St. Louis
Yale University
Student Centered
Kingdom Education
Academic Balance
Small Groups
Following the example of Jesus and His twelve disciples, PCA is taking steps to increase small group training opportunities in every grade level.
Lower School students benefit from programs designed to meet their needs and have dedicated small group discipleship and weekly Bible study. Students in grades 5-6 have small group opportunities throughout the year. Students in grades 7-12 have Advisory Groups during weekly chapel.
Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance* is based on qualified needs determined by a third party source and is distributed as available from year to year. In any given year, almost one-third of PCA students receive tuition assistance with an average grant of over $6,000.
*Full-time students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade are eligible for tuition assistance. Students must complete the admissions process before a financial aid decision is offered.
We know that our children are being stretched, nurtured and prepared for success in this earthly life, and more importantly for eternal life with Jesus Christ. I can think of no greater investment that my husband and I can make in the lives of our children.
PCA Mom
The Prestonwood Christian Academy Plano 2024 graduating class of 149 received more than $17.1 million in college scholarship offers and have matriculated to universities near and far. Total scholarship offers from 2002 to 2024 amount to a total of $202.6 million. Our Alumni community is now 2,519 strong, each one equipped to shine brightly for Christ.
