Sound Christian Academy Announces Sudden Closure

Tacoma Schools Face Sudden Closure of Sound Christian Academy

Tacoma, Washington — Sound Christian Academy, which was formerly known as Tacoma Baptist Schools, announced its sudden closure on August 29, just days before the anticipated start of the school year on September 3. The announcement has left families scrambling to find new educational arrangements for their children.

The decision to close stemmed from persistent financial difficulties that the school had been facing for several months. Earlier in the year, the academy was on the verge of closing and launched a fundraising campaign that successfully raised over $213,000. This money was primarily designated to pay teachers and cover essential bills. However, despite these efforts, the academy was unable to stabilize its finances in time to open for the upcoming school year.

In an email sent to families the same day as the announcement, it was made clear that the school could not continue as planned, causing significant distress among parents, particularly those who had children enrolled in grades ranging from Pre-K to 8th grade for the new year. Enrollment had previously been limited to these grades following a “back to school night” held the day before the closure.

The situation took a more complex turn when an outside group came forward to assist with refinancing. In July, this group provided a $500,000 earnest money payment, with expectations of reopening by fall. However, those plans fell through in August, precipitating the final decision to close the academy.

The sudden closure was surprising, even for the school board, who acknowledged feeling caught off-guard. They expressed sorrow over the fact that families now had to seek alternative educational options. The board affirmed their commitment to refunding prepaid tuition and pledged assistance to families and staff as they navigate the fallout from this abrupt closure.

Sound Christian Academy reported that it had 284 students enrolled for the previous school year, but the current enrollment numbers for the new year remain unclear. The institution had struggled with previous legal challenges, including at least two lawsuits filed against it earlier in the year. Despite these challenges, the Washington State Board of Education renewed the academy’s status on June 26, showing a lack of awareness of the financial troubles that would soon lead to its closure.

Many families, like those of Isaac and Taylar Miller, who had their fourth grader set to begin a fifth year at the school, are now left uncertain about their next steps. They are exploring options such as homeschooling but face the additional challenge of many local private schools reaching full capacity.

This unexpected closure of Sound Christian Academy highlights the ongoing financial struggles faced by educational institutions in today’s environment, drawing attention to the broader implications for families who rely on these schools for their children’s education.