School Profile
School Overview
We believe that Community Christian School (CCS) is a very special place. We are not merely referring to our facilities or location, but rather the people who make up Community Christian School! First, our administration, teachers, and staff are simply the best. Their ministry is clearly marked by dedication and service to our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, and most importantly, our students, parents, and grandparents who have joined the Community Christian School family are committed to Christian education. We love our families and their love and support is continually felt in return. Community Christian School is a great place to be.
The mission and purpose of Community Christian School is : “Serving God by providing families an academically-excellent, Biblically-integrated education, which encourages spiritual development and social responsibility in an environment where students can develop their God-given gifts and talents.”
A nine-member School Board governs the school. This governing body is elected by the members of the Community Christian School Association for three-year terms.
We currently offer a quality Christian education to children beginning at Preschool through 8th grade. We have approximately 40 students enrolled in our 3 and 4-year old Preschool programs, and 60 students in our K-8 classes. CCS is accredited by the State of Iowa, is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International, and all faculty maintain current State licensure and endorsements required for their instructional assignments.
Community Christian School is located in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Fort Dodge is in Webster County and is located in northwestern Iowa, approximately 100 miles northwest of Des Moines, IA and 200 miles southwest of Minneapolis, MN.
School History
Community Christian School has a 35 year history of providing high quality educational services in the Fort Dodge area. Families representing over 25 churches have selected CCS as their school of choice, based on its commitment to a philosophy of Christian education and academic excellence, small class size with an overall current student / teacher ratio of 15:1, ministry-minded staff that truly care about each individual student, the safe environment provided, and opportunity for parental involvement.
Community Christian School was founded on January 18, 1978, through a vote taken by the members of the First Evangelical Free Church (FEFC) of Fort Dodge. The intent was to “parent and guide a Christian school” that would be nondenominational in its focus and teachings yet would stress those central truths of the Bible that unite Christians. Classes met for the first time in the fall of 1978.
For 34 years CCS built a solid reputation as an academically-excellent school with a Biblically-centered curriculum. However, it’s location in the basement of a church created some challenges to overcome with respect to its nondenominational status, as well as to the desirability of its school operations. Significant barriers to growth existed as long as it was housed in the basement of the Church and was identified as the “Free Church’s School”.
Additionally, the location of the school at FEFC was a restraint to the vision ministry of the church. Therefore, the respective leadership bodies of the church and the school determined it was in the best interest of the ministries of both organizations if Community Christian School were to explore the possibility of relocating to a facility separate from FEFC.
In the fall of 2012 the school learned of the possibility of obtaining the attractively-priced, former parochial school facility, located at 2406 9-1/2 Avenue South, Fort Dodge, IA. The possibility of moving CCS into its own, free-standing facility, and thus moving towards greater independence was favorably and enthusiastically received by the school’s parents and stakeholders.
A due diligence evaluation of the 24,000 square foot facility was completed in January 2013. The Due Diligence Team concluded that the facility was well suited to the current and future space requirements of CCS, and was in very good condition for a facility of its age. CCS families and supporters expressed tangible support for the acquisition of the facility by favorably responding to a capital campaign to purchase and make required improvements to the facility. Over a five-week period, the capital campaign goal of $405,000 was achieved and surpassed through the generous giving of many CCS supporters. Capital Campaign giving was led and modeled to others by 100% of the CCS Board and staff contributing a total of $63,795.
Subsequently, the four-acre property was acquired in June 2013, and volunteers invested 1000’s of hours in preparing the facility and grounds over the summer, which allowed classes to begin as scheduled on August 21, 2013. The relatively short time that elapsed from the time the School Board first saw the facility until the first day of school, 9 months and 1 week, is a testament to God’s amazing provision for CCS.