OUR HISTORY
Imani Christian Academy began in 1993 as an alternative to public education, with 30 students in a single-family house in Swissvale, which is east of Pittsburgh. The vision for Imani was born out of a desire to create a learning environment free of violence and focused on developing positive self-esteem in children, with Christ as the center and foundation of their education.

Our Christian philosophy begins with the belief that children are precious gifts from God and they must be nurtured in an environment that promotes and teaches that God is the source of all wisdom and knowledge. That is our daily focus. Every child is born with purpose and destiny and we help to reveal this to them.

Imani Christian Academy recently completed its seventeenth year of operation. Since 1994, a total of 156 students have graduated from Imani Christian Academy. Of those, upon graduation, sixty-four percent (64%) attended a university or college (including junior college); nine percent (9%) attended vocational school; twenty-four percent (24%) entered the workforce; and two percent (2%) joined the armed forces. Without the supportive, academic environment offered at Imani, these graduates may have ended up in very different circumstances. We are proud that our graduates found their purpose while at Imani and that they are contributing to our community in a meaningful way.

In 2010, we graduated 14 young women and 13 young men. Thirteen are attending four-year colleges, including California University of PA, Carlow University, Geneva College, Penn State University, and Virginia State University; 11 attend Community College of Allegheny County; 1 entered the Navy; and 2 entered the workforce. This track record has been repeated consistently since our founding and represents a remarkable post-graduation story – particularly when one considers that less than 50% of Pittsburgh’s African American males ever finish high school and less than 1% go on to post-secondary education.

Although we are proud of the number of our students who go on to college, we are aware that not everyone is destined for a college education. That’s why we work individually with every one of the 250 students enrolled at Imani to uncover their talents and interests, and from there help them to determine their purpose in life. Our teachers and staff support each student in realizing their purpose -- whether as an accountant, an engineer, a hair stylist, a soldier, or a homemaker. We believe that every child is called by God for a certain purpose, and that each purpose is equally important.