Meet Our

Head of School Superintendant

Welcome to Riverside Christian Academy, a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

From our Head of School

Thank you for taking the time to visit our Riverside Christian Academy website! We are delighted that you are exploring what makes RCA a unique and vibrant Christian school community.

At Riverside Christian Academy, our mission is to partner with families in providing a Christ-centered education that cultivates academic excellence, spiritual growth, and a heart for service. Our vision is to see students not only excel in their studies but also develop the character and faith needed to impact the world for Christ.

When you walk through our doors, you will find more than just a school—you will discover a family dedicated to nurturing each student’s unique gifts and helping them reach their God-given potential. Our dedicated teachers and staff are committed to providing an environment where students can grow spiritually, academically, and socially. We focus on cultivating a love for learning while integrating biblical principles into every aspect of education.

If you are considering enrolling your child at RCA, I encourage you to explore our website, attend one of our Open Houses, and connect with us directly. We would love the opportunity to show you firsthand what makes our school special.

Riverside Christian Academy is more than just a place to learn—it’s a place where students are prepared to live lives of purpose and service. We invite you to become part of our growing community and experience the difference a Christian education can make.

Thank you again for visiting us online. We look forward to meeting you and helping you discover all that RCA has to offer!

Dr. Lin Wheeler
Head of School

Our Story

In October 2014, Riverside Christian Academy was established with the support of Fayetteville Community Church. In March of 2015, the first class was opened, beginning with a combination 3 and 4-year-old preschool class.

In the fall of 2015, RCA added the academy with grades kindergarten through 8th grade. RCA had 71 students enrolled during the 2015-16 school year.

In the fall of 2016, RCA added the ninth grade and had an enrollment of 91 for the 2016-17 school year. During the winter of 2018, RCA was granted the status of being a sole entity and as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational and religious organization through the state of NC and the federal government of the United States of America.

In the fall of 2017, RCA added the tenth grade and had an enrollment of 128 for the 2017-18 school year.

In the fall of 2018, RCA added the eleventh grade and had an enrollment

of 149 for the 2018-19 school year.

In the fall of 2019, RCA added the twelfth grade and had an enrollment of 161 for the 2019-2020 school year. The seven seniors (Sarah Edge (valedictorian), Katie Ohler (salutatorian), Andrew Prentice, Matthew Lee, Tristan Plesser, Anthony MCNeill, and Kaleb Sessoms) of the class of 2020, was the first graduating class of Riverside.

In the fall of 2020, RCA had an enrollment of 294 for the 2020-21 school year. The four seniors (Sarah Lee (valedictorian), Reagan Kinlaw (salutatorian), Mason Donahue, and Trinity Hood) of the class of 2021 were the second graduating class of Riverside.

In the fall of 2021, RCA had an enrollment of 281 students for the 2021-22 school year. The five seniors (Amelia Edge (valedictorian), Aunisty Belcher (salutatorian), Abigail Lewis, Nicholas Shambach, and Adam Schell) of the class of 2022 were our third graduating class.

In the fall of 2022, RCA had an enrollment of 275 students for the 2022-23 school year. The ten seniors (Hayes Wheeler (valedictorian), Zachary Barbour (salutatorian), Will Lee, Tristan Browarek, Gracie Draughon, Hayden Kelly, Codie Sessoms, Logan Rockwell, Angel Antonio-Escatel, and Madison Ivansek) were our fourth graduating class.

In the fall of 2023, RCA had an enrollment of 275 students for the 2023-24 school year. The nine seniors (Kassidy Edge (valedictorian), Raegyn Paul (salutatorian), Nicole Avignone, Angel Buie, Christian Morley, Ana Paro, Shannon Scogin, Chri Houghton, and Tim Machado) were our fifth graduating class.