Two South Jersey Christian Schools Become One

Two small Cape May County Christian schools have announced plans to merge beginning in the 2026-2027 school year in an attempt to offset financial issues and declining enrollment.

Westminster Christian Academy, a K-12 school run from the First Presbyterian Church annex on Wesley Street in Ocean City, has agreed to take over Southern Cape Christian Academy, a K-8 school based in Cape May Court House.

Two Christian Schools to Merge

Westminster Christian Academy plans to take over struggling Southern Cape Christian Academy and move its operations to the Southern Cape Christian campus at 10 Oyster Road in Cape May Court House.

According to NJ.com, the two will combine to create a new faith-based school that will begin its first school year in the fall.

It's estimated that 100 students from Westminster Christian Academy will join approximately 45 students from Southern Cape Christian Academy at the new, as-yet-unnamed school.

It's not clear what will happen to Westminster Christian School's Ocean City facility.

This merger will allow Southern Cape Christian School to restore high school grades after dropping them several years ago.

The board of Southern Cape Christian School approved the merger in June, and parents were notified about it earlier this month.

Southern Cape Christian School Was Struggling Financially

Southern Cape Christian School was founded in 1978 and has undergone several mergers and name changes over the years.

Its six-acre campus in Burleigh includes a classroom building, a gym and athletic fields.

NJ.com says tax records show the school has been losing money and took a $300,000  loan from Revolve Church in 2024. The school's expenses and salaries have continued to exceed its revenue.

The Southern Cape Christian School website has a message announcing a tuition reduction from $ 6,000 to about $4,250. It recently started a free trial program allowing homeschooled students to attend individual classes at Southern Cape

The merger will mean an unspecified number of Southern Cape Christian employees will lose their jobs, with Westminster staff taking those positions.

Westminster Christian Academy is owned by James Patterson, who is expected to serve as the administrator of the new school, according to NJ.com.