Omaha Christian Academy

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 (GM) 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 its 25th year by moving into a "real" school building at 78th and Western. This facility included a gym, a football field, and an actual band room with space to grow. Twenty-eight teachers and nine staff members provided a quality learning environment for our students. The school grew to over 370 students! Westside's school district did some restructuring and OCA had to vacate their facility ...