Of all the things taught in traditional schools, how to believe in yourself is not often on the curriculum. Columbia County’s 26% drop out rate is due in large part to an uncorrected cycle of failure and dissapointment. For this reason, in 2004, Paula Gorman left the stability of a predictable paycheck to do what she felt God was telling her to do: start a non-traditional, educational research based school to teach students that they can learn.

With hard work, lots of prayer, and times of financial uncertainty, New Generation School went from one class of ten students in a single room at a local church, to 60 students, four middle and high school classes in a 58,000 square foot building. To date, 24 students have graduated from our program, many of which went on to college. In 2009, the program expanded by adding kindergarten and grades 1st through 3rd. In addition to expanding in size and scope, New Generation’s reputation in the community has grown. It is now common for the school to receive referrals from the public school system, as well as other private schools.

New Generation has become a school that parents don’t have to drag their children to attend. Students actually want to come to school, as they no longer see school as a place of failure and hopelessness, but friendship and accomplishment. They begin to have confidence in themselves, because through regular standardized testing both they and their parents can track the progress being made.