Dominion Academy is a nondenominational Christian school associated with the Leesburg Community Church.

Principal Ann Ashcraft said the school, which opened in 1997, welcomes students of any faith as long as they recognize that the school and the education it provides is Christian. In addition to mandatory chapel service each Wednesday, all of the teachers are Christians and are welcome to use their faith in the classroom.

”If the teachers have a bible example or a story that applies, as a Christian school, they are free to share that,” Ashcraft said.

Nothing gets in the way of providing a rigorous education at Dominion, Ashcraft said. Dominion has a computer in every classroom and a computer lab. Each grade level also features hands-on science, music and art classes. Dominion uses standardized tests at every grade level and Ashcraft said the school’s scores match up well with any school in the area.

Community service is another unique element of the Dominion curriculum. Many high schools require community service for graduation, but few middle schools do so. Dominion students must complete more than 70 hours of community service to participate in the 8th grade graduation ceremony.

Though students still can graduate without completing the service requirement, Ashcraft described the service requirement and ceremony as an important part of the Dominion experience. All 8th graders write an essay on their experiences and the best essay is read at graduation, an experience that Ashcraft said “is very moving.”

“We’re looking for service that has both an impact on the community and an impact on the child’s life,” Ashcraft said.

Dominion’s emphasis on service pays off most when former students come back to pay Ashcraft and the school’s teachers a visit.

“We have kids who are going on to top colleges, like MIT,” Ashcraft said. “They come back to tell us they got their foundation here.”