Frequently Asked Questions
SMALL PRIVATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL · COCOA, FL · K–8
Christian School in Cocoa, FL — Your K–8 Questions, Answered
Cocoa Adventist Christian School (CACS) is a small private Christian school in Cocoa, Florida — Kindergarten through 8th grade on one campus at 1500 Cox Rd, with about two dozen students and a roughly 6:1 student–teacher ratio. We teach the Bible, run robotics, and learn outdoors, and we welcome families of every church background: you do not have to be Adventist for your child to belong here. Brevard Adventist Christian Academy is now Cocoa Adventist Christian School — same campus, same promise to know every child by name, new name.
We serve families throughout Cocoa, Cocoa West, Rockledge, Port St. John, Canaveral Groves, Merritt Island, and north Brevard County — from 1500 Cox Rd, Cocoa, FL 32926 · (321) 636-2551.
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Fit, Faith & Denomination
Is Cocoa Adventist Christian School only for Seventh-day Adventist families?
No. CACS welcomes families from Baptist, nondenominational, Catholic, and other Christian — or still-exploring — backgrounds. Our teaching is Christ-centered and Adventist-informed, and families support the school’s mission and campus practices. No family is asked to join the Seventh-day Adventist church.
As our website puts it, Adventist education is for your child “regardless of your religious affiliation.” Faith shapes the school day; church membership stays a family decision.
Do we have to go to the Adventist church on Cox Road to enroll?
No — attending the Cocoa Seventh-day Adventist Church is not a condition of enrollment. You enroll in the school, not the church. Families of any church background (or none at all yet) apply for the same thing: a Christ-centered education in a small, safe community where their child is known.
What kind of Christian school is CACS?
Cocoa Adventist Christian School is a small private Christian elementary and middle school in Cocoa, Florida, operated with the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. We teach Kindergarten through 8th grade (PreK appears in some directories — call to confirm for the coming year) to roughly two dozen students at about a 6:1 ratio.
Faith, academics, robotics, and outdoor learning share one campus at 1500 Cox Rd.
Will my Baptist, nondenominational, or Catholic child be pressured to become Adventist?
No — and we’re glad you asked. Students learn about Adventist beliefs as part of a Christ-centered education, but no child or family is pressured to convert, join, or change churches. Respect for each family’s own faith journey is part of our culture.
Many CACS families are not Adventist, and that has always been true of Adventist schools.
Is CACS a good small private Christian school in Cocoa, FL?
For the right family, yes — and “right family” means wanting your child known. With about two dozen students, a 6:1 ratio, daily worship, robotics, outdoor education, and scholarship-friendly tuition, CACS is the smallest private Christian school in the Cocoa area.
The honest way to test the fit: schedule a tour of 1500 Cox Rd and meet the teachers.
How is CACS different from Space Coast Christian Academy?
Space Coast Christian Academy is a larger PK–12 Baptist school in Cocoa with many programs; CACS is a K–8 micro-school of about two dozen students. We don’t sell a program catalog — we offer a family-size campus where adults know every child, with robotics, outdoor education, and daily worship.
If you want a complete K–12 with varsity athletics, SCCA is likely the better fit; if you want a child who cannot get lost, small is the point here. Visit both and feel the difference.
How is CACS different from Merritt Island Christian School?
Merritt Island Christian School is a large PK–12 Baptist school across the causeway with strong sports and arts — an excellent choice for families who want that full package. CACS is the opposite product: a tiny K–8 campus at 1500 Cox Rd with a 6:1 ratio, robotics, outdoor education, and daily worship.
Families choose us when they want their child deeply known from day one.
Why choose a small Christian school in Cocoa instead of Brevard Public Schools?
Brevard Public Schools is a large, generally strong district — and most CACS families come from it. Families leave for personal reasons: class size, safety concerns, or wanting faith and values woven into the school day.
A campus of about two dozen students, where teachers pray with and know every child, is a different experience — and Florida scholarships often close the price gap.
What are class sizes at Cocoa Adventist Christian School?
CACS runs about six students per teacher across roughly two dozen students in K–8. That’s the whole product: teachers who know every child’s name, learning style, and prayer requests.
Compare that with the 20–30-student classrooms typical of larger public and private schools in Brevard County.
How much is tuition at Cocoa Adventist Christian School?
Current tuition is published by the school office and kept on our tuition information page.
When you call, ask for the complete picture — tuition, application and registration fees, aftercare, lunch, and uniform costs — so there are no surprises.
And before comparing prices, ask about Florida scholarships: for many Cocoa families, the scholarship covers most or all of tuition.
Does CACS accept Step Up For Students / Florida scholarships?
CACS walks families through Florida’s school-choice scholarships — FTC, FES-EO, FES-UA, and VPK where applicable — which are managed through providers like Step Up For Students.
Brevard’s 2025–26 award amounts were about $8,248 for K–3 and $7,668 for grades 4–8, with lower-income families receiving priority.
Call (321) 636-2551 to confirm this year’s participation and get free help with the scholarship application.
Can a Brevard County scholarship cover private elementary school?
Yes — that is exactly what Florida school-choice scholarships are for. A family living in Brevard County applies through StepUpForStudents.org; eligibility is income-based (lower-income families get priority), and the award follows the student to an eligible private school.
At 2025–26 levels, the award can cover most or all of a small-school tuition. Start the application, or let our office walk you through it.
What extra fees are there (registration, aftercare, lunch, uniforms)?
Beyond tuition, CACS families typically see modest fees for application/registration, aftercare (when used), lunch, and uniform or dress-code items.
The school office provides one complete, current fee list — no surprises at enrollment.
Tuition assistance and scholarship guidance are part of the conversation from the very first call.
What grades does CACS offer? Is there PreK / VPK?
Kindergarten through 8th grade, on one campus at 1500 Cox Rd.
Our current site lists K–8, and some directories also list PreK — please call to confirm PreK/VPK for the coming year.
One small campus from reading readiness to 8th-grade graduation means your child is known by the same teachers for years — and we help you plan 9th grade afterward.
Do you have robotics, outdoor education, sports, and aftercare?
Robotics and outdoor education are part of CACS today — robotics builds teamwork and problem-solving, and outdoor learning takes faith and science beyond the classroom. Sports and aftercare depend on the current year: ask the office what is available now.
Transparency note: the school has announced plans to launch a sports team; the moment it is official, we will publish it. We would rather be honest than oversell.
What is a typical school day at CACS?
A typical day opens with worship and prayer, then moves through core academics — reading, math, science, social studies, and Bible — in small groups.
With six students per teacher, help comes the moment it is needed; students describe a teacher who is patient with math, and classrooms where “God and science” go together.
Robotics, outdoor learning, and hands-on projects are woven through the week, and families receive daily communication through ClassDojo.
What do students eat for lunch?
CACS follows the Adventist tradition of healthy, simple eating: lunches commonly include vegetarian and plant-based options plus fruits and vegetables.
We accommodate allergies and dietary needs as we are able, and on a campus this size lunch has a warm, family-style feel.
Ask the office for the current weekly menu.
What is the dress code?
CACS keeps a modest, practical dress code so attention stays on learning rather than outfits.
Dress-code details — colors, pieces, and where to buy — are in the parent handbook and shared at enrollment.
Contact the school office for the current year’s specifics.
Do students have Bible class and worship every day?
Yes. Bible and worship are part of every school day at CACS.
Students describe it best: “I love that we talk about Jesus and God and have worship.”
Faith is not a once-a-week subject here — it shapes morning worship, classroom discussion, character lessons, and service projects all week long.
Does the school observe Saturday as Sabbath?
As a Seventh-day Adventist school, CACS honors Saturday as the Sabbath — a day of rest and worship observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
Practically, that means no Saturday classes, and school calendars and events are planned around the Sabbath.
Families of other traditions find the rhythm easy to plan around; ask the office for the current calendar.
Do non-Adventist families have to follow Adventist health practices?
Families support our campus practices — including healthy, vegetarian-friendly lunches — while home life stays the family’s choice. No one is required to adopt Adventist beliefs or health practices at home to enroll.
We simply ask families to support the school handbook and mission while their child is in our care.
How do I apply to CACS?
Start at our Apply Now page or call (321) 636-2551.The path is simple: schedule a tour, submit an application with records, complete a placement or readiness conversation, then finish enrollment plus scholarship paperwork.
Admissions are rolling — most families apply in spring for fall, and mid-year openings happen too.
Do you take mid-year transfers?
Yes, mid-year transfers are welcome when space allows — and a school this size usually has room.
Transferring in from a public, charter, or private school is common: we gather records, meet your child, and help them settle in quickly.
Call the office to check current openings.
What happens after 8th grade?
CACS graduates head to a range of excellent Brevard options: public high schools like Cocoa High, Merritt Island Christian School, Space Coast Christian Academy, Catholic high schools in Melbourne, and dual-enrollment pathways later.
We help families plan the off-ramp during the middle-school years, so 9th grade feels ready rather than rushed.
Can my child go to Cocoa High, Merritt Island Christian, or Space Coast Christian after CACS?
Yes — CACS 8th graders transition successfully to the high school that fits them.
Common next steps include Cocoa High School (public), Merritt Island Christian School, Space Coast Christian Academy, and Catholic high schools in Melbourne.
Our office connects you with families who have made each move, and middle-school advising starts early.
Do you serve students with IEPs or learning differences?
An honest answer: CACS is a small school, not a replacement for a public school’s full ESE department.For many students with mild learning differences, the 6:1 ratio, patient teachers, and individualized attention are exactly right — parents hear this from students who have thrived here.
For significant or specialized needs, please talk with the principal before enrolling to see whether your child’s IEP or 504 plan can be supported.
What are the school hours and aftercare options?
School hours and aftercare are set each year and published by the office.
Most of our families pair the small classroom with aftercare that fits a working parent’s day.
Ask for current hours and aftercare cost, and we will help you plan the schedule.
How do I know the academics are real?
CACS tracks real academic growth with the Florida Conference’s standard assessments — MAP testing is used — plus graded work and report cards. At a 6:1 ratio, teachers do not wait for a report card to notice a struggle; they help the same day.
Strong academics quietly run through everything we do.
Is CACS part of a bigger network?
Yes — CACS is part of the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (FLCOE) education system: a small school with a large network.The Conference provides curriculum, teacher resources, and professional support, so a tiny campus still runs on a full school’s infrastructure.
How diverse is the school?
CACS reflects Cocoa itself — a diverse community.
Older directory data showed a student body of roughly 41% White, 29% Black, 18% Hispanic, and 12% Asian.
Families of every background are welcome here, and that mix is part of what makes the school feel like the neighborhood it serves.
Is CACS connected to the Cocoa Seventh-day Adventist Church?
CACS shares the 1500 Cox Rd campus and family of faith with the Cocoa Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Florida Conference operates the school.
But enrollment and church membership are separate: you enroll in the school, not the church.
Many of our families attend other churches — or none at all.
Does CACS discriminate in admissions?
No.Cocoa Adventist Christian School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.
Still deciding? Come see 1500 Cox Rd.
Tours are small, unhurried, and honest — you will meet the teachers who would know your child by name.
Or ask us anything (321) 636-2551
cocoaadventist@flcoe.org
Visit us.
Cocoa Adventist Christian School · 1500 Cox Rd, Cocoa, FL 32926 ·(321) 636-2551
One small campus in Brevard County, owned by the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, serving Cocoa, Rockledge, Port St. John, Merritt Island & North Brevard. One big promise: your child is known by name.
* Current tuition, fees, scholarship participation, PreK/VPK availability, aftercare hours, and menus are confirmed with the school office for the year ahead; scholarship award amounts shown reflect published 2025–26 Brevard County figures. This page is updated as the school confirms details.