The Story of Calvary

Calvary Schools of Holland began in July 1978 as Calvary Baptist School with the vision, prayers and support of Calvary Baptist Church of Holland Michigan. In 2006 the name was changed to Calvary Schools of Holland.

Beginning with literally nothing in the month of July 1978, the leading of God enabled the church to acquire a building, teachers, furnishings, textbooks and most importantly, a student body.

On Monday, September 11, 1978, the vision became a reality as Calvary School opened for its first year of operation in the Lamse Building on East 8th Street, with an enrollment of 130 students from 4-year old Kindergarten through 12th grade.

By the second semester of that first year, enrollment exceeded the capacities of the Lamse Building. Miraculously, the Lord enabled the School to lease, and then in 1980, to acquire the old Montello Park School. God continued to bless with increased growth and expansion. Now the school consists of approximately 290 students from over 40 different churches, representing several evangelical denominations. 

In 1994-1995 when there were safety issues in Holland High School and few other alternatives, Calvary's enrollment soared.  It was easy to assume that this trend was here to stay, but it did not.

In the absence of a cultural "flight" to private education, Calvary found itself in a new and very competitive environment.  Calvary was now competing in multiple areas and with limited dollars.

The school board, administration and staff all found themselves in an "old-culture" model and it was difficult to quickly adjust to the changing needs of parents and churches.

In 1996, the school board began a clarification of our mission and development of core values to guide our future direction.  The mission of "building Christian character and training servant leadership" was immediately implemented in the development of our most basic and most important program - Bible and Discipleship.

Over the next five years, the school refined this mission-critical area and implemented an intensive discipleship program called "PowerPlus".  Students are now learning ministry skills along with Math and Science.  Further, they are using those skills every week "on the field" with a variety of ministry experiences.

Academics have not been sacrificed in our pursuit of ministry integration. In 2006 Calvary recieved full accreditation from ACSI and from NCA. Calvary's teachers are constantly evaluating themselves and our curriculum through annual standardized tests like the MEAP, SAT and ACT.

The result has been dramatic! Calvary has experience phenomenal growth since 2003 almost doubling its student body in five years. 20 Acres in Laketown township was purchased and in 2007 Calvary's first men's and women's soccer games were held on their new athletic fields.

1.1 million dollars has been raised to develop a secondary campus on the 20 acre parcel with plans for athletic and elementary enhancements in the future.

Students who graduate from Calvary graduate with a quality education AND the skills necessary to make a difference in the Kingdom of Christ.

No other school in West Michigan has this kind of dynamic, church-based commitment to servant-leadership and Christian character.

In many respects, Calvary Schools of Holland is creating its own revolution!