History

Omaha Christian Academy, originally called Temple Christian Academy, was founded in 1972 by Temple Baptist Church, located at 2702 N. 61st Street in the Benson area of Omaha. That first year, the school served 30 elementary students with a faculty of four teachers, covering Kindergarten through fifth grade. Pastor T. Reynolds Hall was the first principal.

The next year, sixth and seventh grades were added and enrollment tripled to 90. By 1977, construction had begun on a new facility at 8345 Crown Point with plans to include a gym and secondary classrooms. The construction was never completed, but enrollment continued to climb. In 1978 there were 178 students, and the first senior was graduating from Temple Christian Academy.

In 1980 the school was scaled back to grades K-8. Five years later, with enrollment at 128, a ninth grade was added. Once again, the secondary school began to grow.

In 1988, Temple Baptist turned administration of the school over to a parent-led organization. The name was changed to Omaha Christian Academy, and the school began to look for a home of its own. In 1991, the interdenominational school moved into the General Motors training facility at 80th and Dodge.

Parents, teachers, students and staff went to heroic lengths to convert the GM facility (with paint bays and engine hoists) into a school building. Enrollment continued to climb and was soon at 220 students. During the next few years, OCA received Nebraska and ACSI accreditations, added a day care, and began graduating seniors again.

By Spring of 1997, enrollment was 265 and classroom space was getting tight. In August, OCA celebrated their 25th year by moving into a "real" school building at 78th and Western. This facility included a gym, a football field, an actual bandroom, and room to grow. Twenty-eight teachers and nine staff members provided a quality learning environment for our students. We grew to over 370 students!

Westside's school district's did some restructuring, we had to vacate our facility by June 1st, 2005. Where did OCA's 340 students go? The Lord took the school and the board on a rollercoaster journey for a facility.  In answer to prayer a facility was acquired that will meet OCA's needs for the coming school year and thereafter for a few more years if needed. It is a facility that will allow us to continue to provide our current academic, athletic, performing arts and extracurricular activities. It is also centrally located with easy access off of I-80, off of 60th & L. We are sharing the original "Ryan High School" with "Liberty Christian Center".  We have access to all of the 3rd floor and some of the 1st & 2nd floors. The third floor was completely renovated for our MS and HS classes. K-4 meet on the 1st and 2nd floors. Renovations and move was completed in time to start school on August 17th mostly due to students and families efforts.

OCA has purchased a new building! We plan on starting our Pre School through Middle School there in the fall if renovations are done in time. We will build a wing on this building for our High School. Lord willing, enough funds will come in so that renovating and building can start soon! We hope to have the High School in the new building late Fall 2008. When funding allows a gymnaium will also be built at this location! This new location is on 10244 Weisman Drive with easy access off of I-680 off of the Fort Street Exit. Our prayer and hope is that OCA will be in the new facility for the next school year! Fund-raising for this project is ongoing and the need is very real. We need the support, through prayer and finances, of the entire OCA family and Omaha community to bring this project to pass. You may contribute to this project online by clicking the "Donations" link to the left. Below is OCA's future plans.