With both teaching (and Dr. Tippett doubling as the academy principal) the school began simply with combination classes of kindergarten four- and five-year-olds and first and second graders.

Adding growth slowly and deliberately was by design so that the church could adjust to classroom and faculty needs in a gradual manner.

In 1987, under the leadership of Dr. Tippett, Raleigh Christian Academy produced its very first graduating class with 11 seniors receiving diplomas from the school.

Raleigh Christian Academy's stated goal is to provide essential academic skills and character traits that will prepare them for kindergarten and elementary school.

Using the A Beka Book Curriculum, RCA's kindergarten students are taught cursive writing, adding, subtracting, telling time, recognizing and counting money.

Each elementary grade has daily classes in Bible, math, phonics/language, spelling, writing, as well as health, history, science, and foreign language.

The senior high choir, chorale, and ensemble have received numerous awards and recognized nationally for their performances.

[citation needed] Students may join one of RCA's three band programs and begin individual lessons starting in fourth grade.

In 1984, RCA assistant principal Dwight Ausley was found guilty of child abuse, after he paddled a ten-year-old student who failed to complete a homework assignment.

When the child's mother complained to then RCA principal Richard Tippett about the punishment of her child which left bruises for three weeks, Tippett responded by giving her a taped sermon by Pastor Randy Cox (then pastor of the church associated with Raleigh Christian Academy).

In the sermon, Pastor Cox (retired) paraphrased a passage from the Bible by stating, "Better a son dead than disobedient."

During the appeal, it was discovered that the noted bruising was in fact caused by corporal punishment administered post-incident at home by the child's own father.