Chattanooga Christian School

Chattanooga Christian School (CCS) is a conservative Christian, interdenominational coeducational day school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is the largest private school in Hamilton County, Tennessee.[3] Founded in 1970, the private college-preparatory school is currently located the foot of Lookout Mountain on 55+ acres. The school's enrollment is more than 1,400 students.

Chattanooga Christian School
Address
Map
3354 Charger Drive

,
37409

United States
Coordinates35°00′50″N 85°19′19″W / 35.014°N 85.322°W / 35.014; -85.322
Information
School typePrivate, coeducational, college preparatory
DenominationNondenominational
Established1970
CEEB code431231
PresidentChad Dirkse
Faculty157[1]
GradesPre-K-12
Enrollment1154 (as of 2012-13)
Average class size115
Student to teacher ratio18[1]
Campus40 acres (160,000 m2), urban[1]
Colour(s)Navy and Gold
   
AthleticsTSSAA AA[2]
Athletics conferenceAppalachian Athletic Conference
MascotChargers
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
Endowment$10 million[1]
AffiliationsChristian Schools International
WebsiteChattanooga Christian School

History

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The school was organized as Lookout Mountain Christian School Association on February 4, 1970, by a group of parents including World magazine founder Joel Belz.[4] The school was incorporated as a Georgia non-profit Corporation on June 30, 1972. As the school grew and expanded to encompass more grade levels, a decision was made to move the school from Lookout Mountain to Chattanooga at its present location and change the name to Chattanooga Christian School, Inc. The move to the present campus was made in 1982. The school grew dramatically over the next 30 years. Chattanooga Christian School is a Christian, interdenominational, coeducational day school. It is a parent-directed school, working through an elected administrative Board of Directors, and accepts students in PreSchool through 12th grades. Chattanooga Christian School is a member of Christian Schools International and is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Today, the campus on Charger Drive encompasses around 55 acres of land. It is the largest private school in Hamilton County, Tennessee.[citation needed]

Campus

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In 1982, the school moved to its present location, the former site of Ed Wright Chevrolet on South Broad Street.[5] The initial 10-acre (40,000 m2) site was expanded by additional purchases over the years to encompass 40 acres (160,000 m2) and 6 buildings. The section of Broad Street in front of the school was renamed Charger Drive in early 2003.[6]

Athletics

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Chattanooga Christian School fields teams in interscholastic competition in baseball, basketball, cheering, cross country, football,[7] golf, soccer, softball, strength & conditioning, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.

The athletic programs are growing steadily every year. A new multi-sport athletic facility was fully completed for the 2015-2016 school year called "The Powerhouse"

Theater department

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Chattanooga Christian High School has a large and well-organized theater department. They put on a christian family-friendly musical every fall and spring semester, the fall being the middle school musical and spring being high school. In the past they have done The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins, The King and I, Beauty and the Beast and among other Broadway shows but most recently Meet Me In St. Louis (nominated for seven Spotlight Awards in Nashville, TN, including Best Musical). Also, the middle school has done many musicals, including Annie Jr., Seussical Jr., Once Upon a Mattress, The Lion King Jr. and most recently Peter Pan Jr. The school also offers intensive theater summer programs one being a Regular Musical Theater Camp for younger children and the other being an Advanced Musical Theater Camp for older middle and high school students this program is not only limited to Chattanooga Christian students. Most recently the camps produced Lion King Kids and Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. The high school theater classes have started to produce spring plays most recently being, Peter and the Starcatcher. These shows are often directed and choreographed by Mary Catherine Schimpf, under the music direction of Kara Funke, with the help of Jamison Shimmel and Heath Austin.

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Chattanooga Christian School - School Overview". Peterson's. March 4, 2008.
  2. ^ "Member Schools: Chattanooga Christian School". Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011.
  3. ^ Cooke, Christina and Dave Flessner (December 18, 2006). "Private school growth faith-based". Chattanooga Times Free Press.
  4. ^ Dunn, Lauren; Henderson, Kim; Langdon, Lynde (February 4, 2024). "Well done, good and faithful servant". World. Asheville, NC: World News Group. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  5. ^ "Chattanooga Christian School Celebrates 25 Years At Current Location". The Chattanoogan. May 10, 2007. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  6. ^ "Street Name At CCS Will Be Charger Drive". The Chattanoogan. February 4, 2003. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  7. ^ "Chattanooga Christian School To Begin Football Program". The Chattanoogan. April 15, 2006. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2023.