A Cape Coral school broke ground last Friday on an expansion facility that will serve more youth while providing a state-of-the-art environment for faith-based education.

Christian Life Academy will add a new, 18,000-square-foot campus at 1150 S.W. 20th Ave., projecting it to become the largest private Christian school in Cape Coral upon its completion.

CLA officials said the day marked a significant milestone, as they aim to provide a high caliber of faith-based, college-preparatory education to families in the Cape. The new campus will also see an extension of years students can stay within CLA, as it will serve students until the 12th grade level.

This most recent groundbreaking was for the first of three phases, with Phase 1 expected to be completed by August of 2025.

Phase 1 will entail an 18-classroom building that will allow CLA to serve students from infancy through 12th grade, having previously been providing education through ninth grade.

“It was extremely exciting,” said CLA Head of School, Aaron Quaintance. “This has been a year of planning in the making. We’re extremely excited to be able to use this ministry to serve our community.

“We’re just so honored that God has allowed us and entrusted us to (further local youth’s education).”

The new CLA campus, when fully completed, will feature: state-of-the-art classrooms, advanced science and technology labs, multipurpose spaces for community events, and modern athletic facilities.

“We’ll be able to host community events, church events, as well as school events,” Quaintance said.

CLA started in 2011 as a daycare, serving children from 6 weeks to 4 years old. Eventually, CLA expanded into elementary school and then to middle school, and will now take the step into four years of high school.

As for why CLA wanted to further its educational opportunity for students, Quaintance said, “We’re a ministry of our church; Christian Life Fellowship, and our church operates with the conviction that we believe that God has called us to reach a tenth of our city. And part of the process to do that is through our school as a ministry to serve our community.”

Quaintance said CLA’s faith-based education teaches students “how to live and function with a biblical worldview and how God has called us to live within our community and love our neighbor and spread the Gospel.”

“Our teachers maximize learning by bringing together the strength of technology, community partnerships, problem solving, and interdisciplinary instruction in a student-centered, collaborative, project-based community. Every morning our students begin their day with devotions including a Bible story, verse and prayer,” CLA’s website states.

CLA utilizes a combination of Abeka, Apologia (science only), and BJU Press curriculums for its core academic areas.

“This combination provides our students with comprehensive, quality curriculum content with materials written from a Christian perspective and developed with the understanding that each child needs a strong foundation in both academics and character,” CLA’s website states.

Quaintance said there is no timetable set in stone for when Phase 2 and 3 will start.

His message to the community for what families can expect sending their student to CLA?

“We focus and partner with parents to raise up and develop the whole child,” Quaintance said. “Academically, behaviorally, and spiritually.”

Funds raised for the expansion came via a $1 million from a donor, as well as funds raised by the school, as well as a loan.

For more information on CLA, including enrollment, visit CLAWarriors.com, or call 239-283-1022.