Hickory Valley Christian School History

Hickory Valley Christian School was founded in 1980 as a mission of Hickory Valley Christian Church and the surrounding community. In the fall of 2004, we celebrated the 25^th Anniversary with a shared weekend of activities with Hickory Valley Christian Church.

The school opened in September of 1980, headed by Zelma Hammill. Southern Association of Schools and Colleges visited the school in 1985 for initial accreditation of Kindergarten through sixth grade, securing the school’s highly successful program and establishing a commitment for excellence in the future.  In 1998, a K4 program was established and in the year 2000, seventh and eighth grade classes were established due to community need and parent interest. The enrollment has steadily grown from 90 students in 1998 to a present enrollment of 190 students.

The facility has increased from the original use of three rooms to the use of the entire east wing of the church complex, two modular units, and additional space in the new wing of the church.

The mission and philosophy of the school are visited each year by the staff during fall in-service and orientation. The Board reviews the mission yearly to make sure the school is constantly in line with the school mission regarding all functions of the school. While one of the Board’s goals is to keep tuition affordable for a range of families, the word “affordable” was removed from the original mission in 2001.

For families, HVCS provides security in the knowledge that children are learning values, thinking skills, self-discipline, and self-motivation in a nurturing atmosphere of Christian principles. For the children, HVCS provides a happy and exciting place for learning. The school’s goal is that each new day contains the love of God, love for others, and joy in personal growth.

Other stakeholders include the church community, the East Brainerd community, and other institutions of learning. Efforts have been made to strengthen the relationship between the school and the church. There is now an effort on the part of church members to be involved in school activities and to assist the school as volunteers. Plans are underway to create a joint vision with the church on space. Volunteer and service activities have been established with the surrounding neighborhood, retirement homes, the Kiwanis club, and other educational institutions.