Next year the school is expected to enroll at least 430 students, a significant growth in two short years, and even better than what was projected.

That new growth brings challenges, including where to house the students. Part of that challenge has been answered thanks to fund-raisers in the last eight months that brought in $740,000 of a $800,000 goal. Those funds will be used to construct the first phase of a $4.5 million educational complex on the school grounds, expected to be completed in time for next school year.

"March 7 we will break ground on phase one which will house seventh through twelfth grade," Mitchell said. "Our goal is to have 350 seventh through twelfth graders in that building."

The first phase will include five new classrooms, two restrooms and two offices. Once complete, it will have a cafetorium, full kitchen, gymnasium that can seat 800, a locker room, counseling center, computer lab, biology and chemistry lab, a choral room, band room and additional classrooms.

"We strive for excellence in education, and that draws people to us," Mitchell said. "We are starting a new football program next year. We were recognized as an AISA Blue Ribbon School in 2005-06.:

Mitchell said the Christian-based education offers an alternative to public school.

"We always ask our new parents what brought them to us, and there are three things that come up each time," Mitchell said. "First and foremost, it is safety and security for their children. Second, is the spirituality in education, and thirdly it is academics."

Mitchell stressed that he is not in the business of slamming public schools, and understands they have a very important job to do.

"We are not in competition with them, and they do great work," Mitchell said. "If they could hand select all of their students like I do, it would make their jobs a lot easier."

Already on the verge of tremendous growth, PCA could see even more growth with the four-laning of Old Farm Lane planned in the very near future.

"One of our best assets is our location," Mitchell said. "I think most of the growth is Prattville is headed east, out to where we are. Once Old Farm Lane is four-laned, we will have a lot more visibility. The current road has hindered us somewhat, because it is old and has a lot of curves."

Students come from Prattville, Millbrook, Clanton, Wetumpka, Autaugaville and Montgomery, Mitchell said.

"We have quite a few students out of Montgomery who come because our tuition is so much less than what they would pay in Montgomery," Mitchell said. Tuition for students is $3,500 per year, he said.

A committee was formed to study the projected growth of the school over the next several years, and Mitchell said their findings are exciting.

"Initially we projected a growth of 50 students per year, but we have already surpassed that," Mitchell said. "We are looking at anywhere between 750 to 1,000 students in the coming years. It breaks down to 400 first through sixth graders, 350 seventh through twelfth graders and about 250 in a planned early childhood development program."

Mitchell said many of the contributors to the school don't have children or grandchildren enrolled, but still feel the need to assist the agency.

"What they tell me is they feel that Prattville has grown to the point it is ready for a premiere private school, and that is what we aim for," Mitchell said.

This past week a fund-raiser was held for the first-phase of the new building, which brought in more than $20,000 through a silent and live auction at the Millbrook Community Center.

"We have tremendous support from our parents and grandparents and local businesses," Mitchell said. "We have been very fortunate."