Mission Statement

The mission of North Hills Classical Academy is to produce life-long learners who embrace God’s truth, goodness and beauty by means of a classical education.

Vision Statement

North Hills Classical Academy will be recognized as the premier academic institution for grades K through 12 in the greater Grand Rapids area. Its primary focus, offering a strong Classical and Christian education as well as its Christian culture, will be known to all who visit its campus. The quality of education will be enriched by a more diverse course offering, an enhanced extra-curricular activities program, and upgraded facilities--all made possible by a higher student enrollment and "cost-based" tuition. NHCA will have its own facility on a campus of not less than 15 acres, with academic and athletic facilities to accommodate future growth. NHCA will employ a strong leadership team able to provide excellent spiritual, academic, and financial oversight of the academy. It will also attract and maintain excellent faculty and staff who will be unified in their mission to integrate faith and learning, teaching students to recognize God’s truth wherever it may be found. Christian service will also be an important piece of the student's experience. The school will have a community diverse in ethnic culture, denominational background, and socio-economic status. We will produce well-rounded, lifelong learners who will be equipped to transform the world with the Truth.

Core Values

Love - “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself.” This is the over-arching quality that encompasses all that we do and all that we are.

Classical Model - All curriculum is based on, but not entirely encompassed by the educational model of the Trivium, an education in three stages, which originated with the Greeks and remained as the primary educational model throughout the modern age. This model of education uses classical literature, classical languages, history, formal logic, rhetoric, and the discussion of great ideas to encourage a love of learning.

Small Class Size - All classes will be capped at 19 students. Smaller class sizes ensure greater intimacy, student accountability and individualized attention for each child.

Rigorous Comprehensive Curriculum - A broad range of subjects will be taught including math, science, language arts, history, foreign languages, Bible, theology, logic, rhetoric, music, drama, and literature. Maintaining high standards will ensure the rigor of the classes.

Christian Worldview - Our school's culture and teaching will be based on Judeo-Christian values. Students will examine life and work from a Christian perspective realizing that everything we know and do is hemmed in, behind and before, by our sovereign Creator.

Fostering Leadership - Students will learn to be leaders in their sphere of influence by being taught to lead in both small and significant ways in school and the broader community.

Applied Learning - Students will learn to apply the knowledge they are gaining in a classroom setting by practicing skills and by solving problems in various environments both inside and outside the classroom.

Servanthood - Students will learn to serve each other as well as those who live in our community through regular participation in service projects. Jesus calls His people to be a compelling force for good in the world. God uses people as agents of change, to relieve suffering and fight injustice, living out the transforming message of the resurrected Jesus. We believe that we are at our best when we serve, sacrifice, and love, caring about the things that God cares about. We were created to live for something larger than ourselves.

Community - The concept of community is a multi-faceted one that includes both the internal community of the North Hills students, faculty, staff, and families and the external community of Grand Rapids at large. We are primarily dedicated to the nurture, education, and welfare of the children of the families of North Hills. We also believe that we were created to live deeply with one another, to carry each other’s burdens and share our possessions, to pray for and confess our sins to each other, to suffer and celebrate together. It’s in these sacred relationships and honest, loving communities that God transforms us. The way of Jesus cannot be lived alone.

Stewardship - Students will learn that the earth is God’s and everything in it. They will be instructed to manage and use wisely all that God has entrusted to them -- finances, raw materials, renewable resources, facilities, gifts, abilities, etc.

Diversity - The diversity of God's creation teaches us about the depth and breadth of God's love and creativity, as such, we will strive to have a student body that reflects the diversity of God's creation by encouraging all people who are dedicated to the pursuit of classical and Christian education to be a part of the North Hills community. This will include people of different races, different socio-economic strata, church denominations and international students.

Well-roundedness - We will teach to the whole student: body, soul and mind. We strive to produce students who will have a breadth of knowledge about many academic subjects as well as experience in extra-curricular areas such as athletics, applied learning, clubs and the arts. These kinds of experiences will give them a more thorough knowledge of many aspects of arts and culture so that they are able to be conversant about a variety of subjects. It also gives them a depth of appreciation for the gifts God has given to humankind.