Jan. 9—With its forthcoming name change, College Heights Christian School wants to communicate that it's not just a school for one church but a school for many.
The school will change its name to New Heights Christian Academy in August.
"We wanted the name to pay homage to our past, project us into the future and at the same time let everyone know that we are not just a school for College Heights Christian Church," said Lisa White, marketing director for the school. "We have 85 churches represented in our school."
Leaders also say changing the name to New Heights Christian Academy is the next step in the school's growth.
The school started in 1978, when College Heights Christian Church gave parents an option for local Christian education, White said. Over the last 45 years, it has grown from 78 students to a current enrollment of 614 students.
It's the biggest enrollment the school has had to start the school year; College Heights now offers classes from preschool through high school.
White said the school has seen a lot of growth, especially over the last four years, with a 20% increase in enrollment. This increase puts the school near capacity at its current location.
The name change is also part of a process that has been taking place for a couple of years; the school finalized its independence from the church last year.
Independence from the church was a necessary step in the school's growth, said Dan Decker, superintendent of College Heights Christian School. With the church's bylaws, the school was unable to incur debt or purchase land to be able to grow without the church's approval.
The school has a current campaign to raise funds to purchase an east campus, the former Elevate the Game athletic complex on Prosperity Road. The school currently leases the complex.
Decker said the school is not changing direction. It remains and will always will be a Christian school. It will continue to have the same values and Christian standards for which the school has been known.
Decker also emphasized the name change isn't because of some kind of conflict or split from the church.
When discussing the school's independence, he told the church's elders there's no way the founders in 1978 could have envisioned the school's growth into what it is now. Decker said the school wants to take the founders' vision and move it forward even further.
The independence comes with the church's blessing, maintaining the same relationship but now as two entities, he said.