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Calvary Schools of Holland History

The History 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.

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 of a school became a reality as Calvary Schools opened for its first year of operation in the Lamse Building on East 8th Street.  The enrollment was 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.  In 1980, the school acquired the Montello Park School. God continued to bless with increased growth, but the school faced some difficulties in the mid-nineties.

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 continuing to excel educationally. 

In 2006, Calvary received 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 results have been dramatic:  
  • The school consists of approximately 250 students from over 40 different churches.
  • Calvary has experienced phenomenal growth since 2003 almost doubling its student body in five years.
  • 20 Acres in Laketown township was purchased.
  • In 2007 Calvary's first men's and women's soccer games were held on their new athletic fields.
  • 1.1 million dollars had been raised to develop a secondary campus on the 20 acre parcel with plans for athletic and elementary enhancements in the future.
  • In 2011 Calvary purchased approximately 17 additional acres adjacent to the Laketown Campus (read more here).
  • This expansion will allow for school development, athletic opportunities, and the prospect of combining all of our ministry campuses!
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.