Eagles Nest Academy opened its doors in August 1993 as Eagles Nest Preschool.  It represented the efforts and convictions of Rev. and Mrs. Van Gorden in conjunction with the desires of Heritage Covenant Church. Their goal was to provide a high quality, affordable, CHRISTIAN preschool and kindergarten to the community.

Eagles Nest Preschool began with three students in rented facilities on Alpha Drive in Franklin.  Through word of mouth the school grew quickly and already had a flourishing kindergarten.  However, after 15 months of operation Heritage Covenant lost its lease and decided to simply shut down. Parents pleaded with the Van Gorden’s not to shut the preschool down.  The Lord provide a new location at 810 Del Rio Pike with the Freewill Baptist Church which had previously run a preschool and were delighted to open their door.

So after just one week, Eagles Nest Preschool re-opened its doors as Eagles Nest Academy in March 1995 under Dominion Education Ministries, Inc. out of Harrisonburg, VA.  As the school expanded in size and an elementary program commenced much thought was given to curricular, and staff development and improvement.  The benefits of a classical Christian approach to education presented themselves and were carefully explored resulting in the formation of the EduCare Ministries Board with the desire to develop a classical Christian preschool and elementary school.

In January 1998 EduCare Ministries took over the operation of Eagles Nest Academy with Rev. and Mrs. Van Gorden as its founding directors. In 1999 after much prayer Rev. and Mrs. Van Gorden purchased the property at 810 Del Rio Pike and began upgrading the facility to better accommodate the school and bring it into compliance with local and state regulations.  In August 2001 Rev. & Mrs. Van Gorden opened a second facility in Centerville.  On September 7, 2001 our facilities were destroyed by fire, God in His providence then provide a temporary facility in Franklin Elementary School while 810 was being rebuilt. On March 21, 2002 Rev. Van Gorden was struck down with a stroke and the school in Centerville had to be closed. During the time of his hospitalization and convalescence the building was finished and re-opened in July 2003.

In May 2005 Eagles Nest Academy joined the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (A.C.C.S.) an organization developed to assist schools as they attempted to follow the classical Trivium model , as described first by Dorothy Sayers in her 1940’s article, “The Lost Tools of Learning” and fleshed out by Doug Wilson’s book Recovering The Lost Tools of Learning. This organization continues  to offer annual national conferences and practical assistance to forming and growing A.C.C.S. schools.

The EduCare Ministries Board and administration continue to plan and pray for further growth of the school, both in facilities and scope of the program. At both the preschool and elementary level, all areas of the program are continuously reviewed and upgraded  to qualitatively increase the learning of the students.

Consistently, Eagles Nest Academy elementary students score in the top 20 percent, or better, of national norms on national standardized tests given annually to all ENA students.  While parents are pleased with the high academic standards provided they still say they are most pleased with the dedicated, loving staff members, the smaller class sizes, and the biblical encouragement their children receive.

Eagles Nest Academy is governed primarily by the Word of God, as understood and applied by the school’s Board of Directors and administration. The School Board of Directors is comprised of seven individuals, four permanent members, and three elected, 3-year term members. The board operates under the school’s adopted by-laws, vision and goals statements,  and provides policies to the administrator for implementation in the school. More details on the board’s operation and policies may be obtained from the school office.