About Us
Who We Are
Neighborhood Christian Schools is a network of classical Christian schools that strive to provide a practical and affordable education to our local families. Our long-term goal is to plant several one-room K-6 Grammar schools in nearby towns, with our Academy providing a centralized location for our 7-12 grade students.
A one-room model Grammar school for our elementary students keeps school simple and overhead low, while also providing well-attested educational benefits. Younger students are confronted daily with a preview of future information as they overhear lessons to older students. Older students get a review of previous material through the same “eavesdropping” method.
At each grade level, we strive to give our students an education that is Christian, classical, and practical. Our motto is, “Take every thought captive to Christ.” Teaching our students how to apply this practice in every subject they learn is our primary endeavor.
We currently have two one-room style Grammar school locations located in Hutton Valley, MO and Forest Dell, MO. Our Academy is located at First General Baptist Church in Willow Springs, MO. Our schools meet Monday through Thursday, with Kindergartners meeting only in the mornings.
Our Mission
To assist area families by providing a Christian, classical, and practical education at an affordable price.
Our Vision
To produce graduates of character who love God and are equipped academically, spiritually, and vocationally to understand God’s world and live out their calling to the glory of God.
A Christian Education
We believe it’s impossible to separate the study of God’s world from the study of God himself. Therefore, we are committed to providing an atmosphere where the work of our Creator is acknowledged and praised in all areas of study. Our motto is “Every thought captive to Christ.”
Polls conducted by George Barna suggest that only 7-8% of today’s Christians have a Christian worldview. A worldview is a system of thought that provides answers to life’s big questions, such as origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. At NCS, all subjects are taught through the lens of a Christian worldview, showing that all subjects find unity and purpose in God himself.
A Classical Education
Martin Luther, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein all received a classical education. It is a time-tested system. In fact, the classical model reigned supreme until a shift to “progressive education” began under leaders such as Horace Mann and John Dewey in the late nineteenth century.
The classical model follows the Trivium, a pattern of instruction that corresponds to three stages of childhood development:
1. Grammar (grades K-6)—Knowledge This first stage satisfies the child’s natural curiosity and sponge-like capacity through memorization of the essential facts and vocabulary of each subject.
2. Logic (grades 7-9)—Understanding Emphasis on reasoning and formal logic is coupled with debates and in-class discussion. This corresponds well to a natural tendency in students of this age to question and argue about everything.
3. Rhetoric (grades 10-12)—Wisdom Emphasis on public speaking and formal writing prepares students to communicate thoughtful conclusions and a growing individuality to others.
A Practical Education
We are committed to educating the whole person: head, heart and hands. We believe each person is called by God to an individual vocation. Whether one aspires to be a doctor, nurse or welder, we believe each student should receive the best educational tools to bring success and fulfillment in all areas of life.
Our students learn the value of hands-on work from a young age by helping with janitorial and other chores around the school.
An Affordable Education
At NCS we are committed to providing a rigorous classical and Christian education at an affordable price. We set tuition on a sliding scale, based on household income so that it is affordable to any. As a result around 80% of our financial needs are met through the generous donations of donors like you!