The mission of Heritage Christian School is to maintain a high academic standard through a Christ-centered curriculum while assisting parents in developing the mind of Christ in the lives of our young people.
“..bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4
Heritage Christian School exists to fulfill the admonition of Christ to train students to become disciples of Christ. We want each generation of young people to know the God of Heaven and His Salvation. Our three-fold purpose is to mentor, educate, and develop our students spiritually, intellectually, and physically so that they can fulfill God’s purpose and plan for their lives. HCS exists to proclaim God’s goodness and glory.
HCS will staff the classrooms with qualified and certified instructors that strive to be servants of Christ. Our teachers will daily demonstrate the love of Christ by integrating biblical principles in lessons, passionately teaching students in a thorough and engaging manner, and disciplining them with a loving and patient spirit. HCS teachers will view each individual student as the future of the church; therefore, each teacher will diligently work to maximize each student’s learning potential and spiritual walk.
HCS will strive for the highest level of academic and athletic excellence by participating in tournaments, professional development seminars and education conventions. Our staff will strive to work in unity with each other, with parents and with students by communicating the truth in love. Our primary goal is to live out this vision statement on a daily basis, to honor Christ and to advance His kingdom.
Thank you for choosing Heritage Christian School for your children. We believe that, as a parent, you have the primary responsibility of training and educating your children. We realize that there are choices in the realm of education, and we are honored that you have chosen HCS. We are here to assist and stand with you as you seek to instill biblical values and a Christ-centered education in the hearts of your children.
It is our belief that it takes three positive pressures in the life of a child to keep him moving in a good and wholesome direction. Each of those pressures should be Christ-centered, which means that they have the same goals and values. If your home, church, and school are working in conjuction with each other, you can see God’s work accomplished in the lives of your children. We are striving to help children develop into young adults that are prepared spiritually, academically, and socially to meet the next phase of their lives after graduation.
Thank you and may HCS be a source of encouragement and blessing to you and your children.
Pastor Folger
Pastor Folger
Pastor of Cleveland Baptist Church
Superintendent of Heritage Christian School
God as the Ultimate Authority: Christian education views God as the ultimate authority, the Creator of the universe (Gen. 1:1), and the source of all truth (John 17:17) and wisdom (James 1:5). The curriculum is founded on the belief that all knowledge comes from God (Prov. 1:1). Every aspect of teaching and learning is oriented toward understanding God's truth as revealed in Scripture.
Ownership of Children: Christian education acknowledges that children are entrusted to their parents by God (Eph. 6:1). It recognizes the responsibility of parents, as primary educators, to nurture and educate their children in accordance with biblical principles (Prov. 22:6). It encourages parents to raise children in an environment that fosters spiritual, intellectual, and moral growth, guided by the teachings of the Bible (Deut. 6:6-8).
The Nature of Truth: Truth is viewed as absolute (John 17:17) and is grounded in the nature and character of God as revealed in the Bible (John 14:6). Christian education emphasizes the importance of teaching and upholding this truth in all academic disciplines, instilling in students a deep understanding of the coherence between the truths of the Bible and the world around them (Ps. 86:11).
The Nature of Man: Christian education recognizes that humans are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27) and therefore possess inherent dignity, worth, and purpose. It seeks to nurture students' understanding of their identity in relation to God (Matt. 22:37-38) and their fellow human beings (Matt. 22:39). Christian education also recognizes that humans are depraved by nature, necessitating correction and discipline (Prov. 22:6). Education aims to develop a holistic view of the individual, addressing the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical aspects of human nature.
Responsibility for Education: Christian education emphasizes the shared responsibility of the family, the church, and the school in providing a holistic educational experience for children (Ecc. 4:12). Ultimately, it is the parents’ responsibility to teach their children biblical truth (Deut. 6:7). Christian education should complement the parents’ responsibility not replace it.
Teaching Methods: Teaching methods in Christian education are designed to integrate faith and learning, encouraging critical thinking and fostering a deep understanding of the interconnection between various academic disciplines and biblical truths. Instruction is characterized by a holistic approach that addresses the spiritual, moral, and intellectual development of students, fostering a love for learning and a lifelong commitment to truth and wisdom.
The Nature of Teaching and Learning: Christian education views teaching and learning as a transformative process that extends beyond the acquisition of knowledge. It seeks to cultivate a deep and personal relationship with God, nurturing a sense of awe and wonder for His creation. Teaching is seen as a calling, a vocation that requires educators to model Christian virtues and values, fostering an environment of respect, love, and compassion for all learners.
Heritage Christian School believes and teaches the doctrines of the Christian faith as embraced by the historic, biblical, Baptist position.
We believe in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, the triune God, the fallen nature of man and his just condemnation, salvation by grace through faith, the free gift of God, the necessity of repentance and faith wrought by the Holy Spirit, the glorious display of God’s purpose and grace, the progressive work of sanctification, the keeping power of God, the harmony of the law and the gospel, the prominence of baptism by immersion and the sacrament the Lord’s Supper, the devout observance of the first day of the week, the honoring of civil government, the resurrection of the righteous to eternal life and the wicked to eternal damnation, and the imminent, personal, pre-tribulation, pre-millennial return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
HCS believes in the verbal, plenary, inspiration of the Bible. We believe the King James Version is the inspired Word of God for the Engish speaking people.
In 1974, the Cleveland Baptist Church founded Heritage Christian School. This undertaking was monumental for the Christian education movement in northeast Ohio. HCS was met with opposition from the state, as were other like-minded Christian schools. Founding pastor, Roy Thompson, understood that it was time to take a stand for Christian education, so he organized a rally at the Statehouse in Columbus in 1975. Since this rally, non-chartered, Christian schools in Ohio have been ministering to Ohio families for the last 40 years free from state interference.
Though HCS started inside of the Cleveland Baptist Church building, it soon expanded and was unable to hold all of its students. In the late 90’s, HCS reached over 400 students and now the building is closing in on its 25th anniversary. After celebrating the school’s 40th-anniversary last year, HCS is excited to pursue an American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) accreditation, which is a symbol of educational excellence. At HCS and CBC, we can truly say God has been good, and we can truly expect Him to do great things in the next 40 years.
Our graduates have furthered their education in such institutions as Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, The Ohio State University, Baldwin Wallace College, Miami University, Crown College, West Coast Baptist College, Pensacola Christian College and many other private and public institutions across the country.
After completing a rigorous self-study process, Heritage Christian School hosted a team of educators for a peer review on October 26-27, 2015.
On February 1, 2016, Heritage Christian School became fully accredited by the American Association of Christian Schools.
In February of 2021, Heritage Christian School was re-accredited by the American Association of Christian Schools.
Built in 1992, the school building hosts classrooms that are both spacious and comfortable, specifically designed for their purpose.
A full-service cafeteria, equipped with commercial kitchen, makes it possible to offer hot lunches to students in all grades.
A beautiful gymnasium is host to numerous gym classes and athletic events including elementary intramural programs and junior/senior high soccer, volleyball, basketball, and baseball, as well as many other activities. An intramural soccer field is located on the campus and a high school soccer field is located less than two miles away.
A large outdoor playground addition provides an excellent opportunity for elementary students to enjoy recreation. Across the parking lot is our church facility. This is used for our elementary chapel, junior and senior high chapel, choir, dramas, special programs, and graduation. Great care is taken daily to ensure that the facilities are clean and well-maintained.