SCHOOL HISTORY
After much prayer and guidance, Flint Hills Christian School began as Living Word Christian School in 1984 with 29 students in a K-6 program. Each year thereafter, a grade was added to accommodate the advancing students. The first senior class graduation took place in 1989 for one student. At that time, most students and faculty were members of Living Word Church, which also served as the governing body providing facilities and a substantial subsidy for school operations.
By 1994, the student body had grown significantly and included many from other church bodies, diversifying our school community. The sole financial responsibility was becoming a substantial burden for one church alone to handle. At this time, the school chose to become a community Christian school operating independently of Living Word Church under the new name of Flint Hills Christian School. As plans were being developed, the 1995/1996 school year was spent in temporary facilities split between two local churches—elementary students at University Christian Church and 7th-12th grades at Grace Baptist Church. During this time, 15 acres of land was purchased and a 24,500 square foot building was built, which then opened in the Fall of 1996. One year later a pre-kindergarten class was added and enrollment was at 130 students from 30 area churches.
In 2000, the school purchased two modular buildings for a lunchroom and additional secondary classroom spaces. A few years later a new church plant added a third modular building to the campus which initially housed the music department and a pre-kindergarten classroom and later also provided space for the special education department. Then, in 2012, the Catterson Family Science Building was opened, which greatly enhanced the science curriculum, offering new and expanded teaching and lab facilities as well as a weight room for PE classes and athletic teams.
Throughout the history of the school, prayer has been key in establishing the direction for the school and a plan for student body growth. In 2018, the Vision 2030 plan was born leading to the creation of a strategic intent document dedicated to Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
The commitment to Vision 2030 led to the launch of the Raising Warriors Capital Campaign in early 2020 in an effort to raise funding for a new elementary wing. Ground was broken in June 2021 and the construction of the new wing took place over the 2021-22 school year. Students moved into the new building in September, 2022 while the original building was updated for secondary classrooms. By December of 2022 the remodel was complete and included updates to the gym and a new cafeteria space where students are offered hot lunches.