School type Private high school Denomination Calvinist NCES School ID 00459529 Principal Dan Barkel Colors White, Maroon | Religious affiliation(s) Christianity Established 1919 Phone +1 712-439-1013 Mascot Wolfpack | |
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Motto Learning...To Serve the King Address 925 5th St, Hull, IA 51239, USA Similar Boyden Jh/Hs School, Trinity Christian High Sch, Unity Christian High Sch, Sioux Center High Sch, Rock Valley Elementa Profiles | ||
Western Christian High School (commonly Western Christian, WCHS, or Western) is a Calvinist coeducational private secondary school in Hull, Iowa, United States, serving students in grades 9–12. Western Christian High School is a member of Christian Schools International (CSI). It is one of two private high schools in Hull, along with Trinity Christian High School.
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History
The school opened its doors in 1919 under the name of Western Academy. European settlers had come to America for religious freedom. They believed that educating children and young people according to the principles of the Bible was a divine mandate and could not be done in government public schools. The promoters of secondary Christian education believed in a “worldview that started and ended with the sovereignty of God. The enrollment that first year was 40 students, the budget was $8,000, and tuition was $50 per year. In 1924 the original building was erected at a cost of $64,000.
The school reorganized in 1934 under its present name of Western Christian High School and in 1940 enrollment reached 100 students. The enrollment increased rapidly during the next decade, which necessitated the completion of all the rooms in the original building in 1948 An addition to the building was completed in 1950 at a cost of $46,000. In 1957 the board saw the need for more room which resulted in an addition of two classrooms and a gymnasium at a cost of $120,000. In 1964 a modern music facility was completed, providing practice rooms for band and choir, office space for the directors of music groups, and space for a music library. In 1968 a science wing was added and used for the first time and in the mid 70’s the woods shop and home economics rooms were added. In January of 1979 the new gymnasium addition was dedicated. In 1994 new construction and the remodeling of three floors of the old building was completed at a cost of over $2,000,000. The last construction project was completed in 2008 when a weight room and bus barn were added at a cost of $1,000,000.
Enrollment in 2016-17 at Western Christian was 275 students. Students come from nine surrounding communities and more than 25 different congregations. The school is accredited by the Christian Schools International and the Department of Education in the State of Iowa and the 24 members of the faculty are all licensed and certified by the State of Iowa.
From its humble beginnings in a large house on Main Street, the comprehensive liberal arts school is housed in 80,000 square feet of educational classrooms, labs, media center, and gymnasiums. The curriculum exceeds the high standards set by the State of Iowa and includes courses for those who will enter the workforce after graduation from high school and for those who will continue their education after high school.
Western Christian High School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to students at this school. Western Christian does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarships, athletic, and other school-administered programs.
Athletics
The boys basketball team has won nine state titles with tournament appearances in 2001, 2009, 2011. Former coach Jim Eekhoff is fourth among Iowa boys basketball coaches in wins, with 681. Eekhoff's eight boys championships are a state record, while his eighteen state tournament appearances have tied a state record. The girls basketball team claimed three championships from 2012–2014 and another state championship in 2017. They also went to the state playoffs in 1998, 2000, and 2002. The volleyball team has won fifteen state titles and claimed second place in 1999, 2005, and from 2011–2014. The 2009 volleyball team made it to the semifinals before bowing out. The cross country program won team championships four times. The Wolfpack football team advanced to the state playoffs for the first time in 2015, losing the title game to Regina High School. In 2016 Western won the state title in football against Iowa City Regina.
Facilities
The original school building was built in 1924. In 1957 a gymnasium, space for the music department, and locker rooms were added to the school. Recently this gymnasium has been remodeled into the Western Christian Event Center. In 1967 a science wing was added on to the west end of the school and was completely remodeled in 2015. In the 1970's space for a Woods program, Home Economics, and the music program was added on to the north end of the school. In 1981 a new gymnasium was added to the east side of the school which still is one of the premier facilities in the state of Iowa. In the 90's athletic fields were built north of the school for the baseball, soccer, and softball programs. In the mid 90's a major renovation of the original three story building built in 1924 was completed along with a major addition to the front of the school. In 2008 a bus barn was added along with a weight room. Recently a new entrance, a student commons, and space for a new Agriculture and Vocational Tech program was created at Western Christian High School. The football and track facilities at A. R. Hesla Field are shared with Boyden-Hull High School.