Academic Excellence
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Local Christian schools are academically excellent schools that provide education from a Reformed Christian perspective. Whether one looks at the performance level of Christian school students on the Michigan Educational Achievement Program (MEAP) tests or at the number of National Merit finalists produced each year by the various high schools, or a variety of other indices, it becomes abundantly clear that these schools are of the highest academic quality. Sending your children to these fine schools assures them of an excellent education.

Students enrolled in the Christian high schools in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area score very well on the statewide MEAP tests. Generally 90 percent or more of students in the most recent graduating class (2003) at these schools meet or exceed state standards in reading, writing, mathematics, and science. Students in the area middle schools also perform very well. Graduates of the area Christian high schools move directly to higher education at a two or four year college at an average rate of 85 percent.

Christian high schools in the area are accredited by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools, and Grand Rapids Christian High School has been named an “Exemplary Secondary School” by the U.S. Department of Education.

A comprehensive curriculum is offered at all local Christian high schools, including math, science, English, social science, foreign language, religion, art, music, computer training, physical education, business education, industrial arts, and home economics. Advanced placement courses as well as academic support services are offered.

The high schools also offer extra-curricular programs in music, athletics, visual arts, and theatre arts. Check the web-sites provided for each school to obtain complete and specific details on academic and extra-curricular enrichment programs as well as state rankings and assessments.

The middle school program in the area Christian schools is planned to help nurture the spiritual, social, emotional, and academic growth of each child. The middle school curriculum includes Bible, communication arts, mathematics, social studies, science, art, music, and physical education. Computer labs are available and students are taught how to evaluate the role of technology. The middle school also offers a variety of intramural sports which encourage participation rather than competition. Interscholastic sports begin in grade seven, and the schools also have comprehensive vocal and instrumental music programs.

The elementary curriculum consists of Bible, communication arts, mathematics, social studies, science, art, music, and physical education. Students in grades one though four in the GRCS also receive formal instruction in Spanish.

Education for Today’s World

The area Christian schools continue to increase efforts to become more ethnically diverse while centering on the students and meeting the needs of the parents. The minority enrollment in the GRCS is currently 14.4 percent. The most diverse schools in the area are Evergreen Christian School with a 35 percent minority enrollment and Oakdale Christian with a 25 percent minority enrollment.

Evergreen Christian opened in the fall of 2002 and is the first faith-based “balanced calendar” school in the area. This CSI school is organized into multi-age classrooms which allow teachers to interact with students according to their needs and stages of development. The school features inquiry-based learning, especially in science, mathematics, and social studies. It currently enrolls students from Kindergarten through grade six.