Chattanooga Christian School Our History

Founding 1970

Chattanooga Christian School, then named Lookout Mountain Christian School, opened its doors in September 1970 with a student body of 23, a full-time principal, a generous, hospitable church, a board of trustees with a lot of vision, and a small group of parents desiring a truly Christ-centered, biblically-integrated education and willing to work hard to make the vision become a reality.

That first year ended with the same small student body of 7-12 graders, but the vision of the parents in the school association and the dedicated members of the board of trustees kept the young organization alive. Two full-time teachers joined the staff for the second year of operation. Middle and high school students, along with the direction of their principal and teachers, worked to build a school life with the same enthusiasm which might characterize a much larger school.

Growth 1970 - 1988

Dr. Jack Fennema gave direction and spirit to the school in its first two years, and later in the school’s history he returned for another two years as principal following the tenure of Joel Belz. Growing slowly, the school continued to include the upper grades in various locations on Lookout Mountain under the able leadership of Fennema, Belz, and a third principal, Sam DeHaan. During the first decade, the instructional program was part of an electronic network incorporating Christian schools as far away as New Jersey and Iowa. Students were instructed by off-campus teachers through headphones at study terminals and participated in remote discussions with other students and teachers. Because each participating school provided several teachers for the network, students in each school also had “live” instruction in some subjects with their own school.

Four years after beginning, CCS graduated its first class, the class of 1974, and like the classes that followed, all the original graduates attended college. As more and more families became involved with the school, CCS left the network and provided its own quality faculty for on-site instruction and began to consider the demand to add elementary grades.

In the fall of 1978, CCS opened its elementary division on Lookout Mountain and the following year added a 6th grade to make the school a complete K-12 program. For a brief time, CCS also offered a preschool program called “The Nurture Center” for students from ages 2 to 5, but closed that branch in 1984. Dr. Bruce Hekman served as principal during those intervening years and directed the school’s curriculum, faculty, and student body.

Don Holwerda followed Hekman in 1981 and began nearly three decades of growth and expansion which moved the school from rented space to its own campus and increased enrollment to over 1,000 students. Additionally, during this time the school established balanced budgets, led capital expansions, and began the school endowments.

Consolidation to One Campus 1988 - 2009

The CCS vision expanded in 1982-1983 with the dramatic move from Lookout Mountain to a permanent location on the Broad Street campus (now Charger Drive). This was a step of faith and total dependence on God. Feeder elementary schools were established on Lookout Mountain, on Signal Mountain, and in Hixson. All these locations found excellent cooperation with hosting churches, but in 1988 all grades were consolidated on the Broad Street campus making the school a K-12 institution with one location.

Between the years of 1982 and 2008, construction was a common sight on the campus. Nearly every year a new project was begun to add or expand classrooms. In the 1980s the industrial and practical arts building (now Tim Fordice Industrial Arts Building), the middle school, and varsity gym were built. The 1990s brought the media center (now Learning Commons); the elementary, varsity gym, and middle school expansions; the fine arts performance center and gallery; the high school practice gym; and additional classrooms. In 2002, the lunch pavilion was added, and in 2003-2004 the high school was again expanded, adding classrooms, vocal music space, and the art and dance studios. In addition to buildings, the school expanded its course offerings and added property (which then amounted to over 50 acres) for playgrounds, athletic fields, tennis courts, recreation areas, baseball and softball diamonds, lighted soccer and football fields, a lighted track and field complex, and a cross country course.

Recent Years 2009 - 2023

In 2009 Chad Dirkse was named school President. The campus continued to expand with the purchase of an additional 17 acres and 40,000 square feet of warehouse facility across 33rd Street from the current campus. In the fall of 2013, David Stanton Field was reopened as a multiple use stadium holding more than 3,500 spectators. The start of 2014-2015 was highlighted by the reintroduction of a PreSchool program, the construction of a new playground that will be used for many years to come by our PreSchool-5th grade students, and the addition of the Power House, a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility. This facility is designed to accommodate lifetime fitness-oriented physical education, and it is equipped with full locker rooms, shower facilities, public restrooms, a large stadium seating classroom, coaches offices, and a full-service concession stand.

In 2017 CCS launched the Flourish Campaign, the largest capital campaign to date with plans to raised $7.8 million over 3 years. In addition to raising funds for need-based financial aid, capital projects included a new science wing in the High School, Student Life spaces including an Open-Air Pavilion, a new Lower School building with STEM room, a new Spirit Shop & Cafe, and renovations of the Fine Arts Center and Varsity Gym. Because of the generosity of the CCS community, the school met the campaign goal in 2 years, and in the spring of 2019, added a final year to the campaign. The Flourish Expanded Campaign funded construction of The Learning Center, serving older students with more significant disabilities; a commercial kitchen; and an indoor athletic facility. Also in 2019, CCS launched a neighborhood micro school program housed in partner churches around town.

2024 - Present Day

At the start of the 2024 school year, CCS proudly welcomed Matt Covey as its new Head of School. With his leadership, the school anticipates a bright future marked by continued growth and meaningful progress.

Since 1970, the sustaining force behind the core quality of Chattanooga Christian School has been its committed faculty and staff. From the early days of the school, when 2 full-time faculty led a small group of students, to the present day, when more than 200 faculty and staff lead over 1,450 students, God’s faithfulness has been most evident in the people he has called here to teach and disciple its students. Through their sacrificial efforts came the development of a comprehensive, biblically-integrated, Christ-centered curriculum and extraordinary curricular and co-curricular programs. Nowhere has the strength of the school been more historically evident than in the quality of relationships that are developed between the teachers and students.

In 50 years, the growth and change at CCS has been a clear testimony to God’s faithfulness and the sacrificial commitments of parents, students, faculty, staff, administration, the board, and countless CCS supporters.

The richness of our history gives us great hope for the future!