Hickory Grove Christian School
Encyclopedia
Hickory Grove Christian School is a private, Christian, college-preparatory school located in Charlotte, North Carolina
. It enrolls students from transitional kindergarten (TK) through grade 12. The school was founded in 1995 by the leadership of Hickory Grove Baptist Church
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started its school as a ministry to make Christ known in the community. The school was started as a K-2 school, and each year added a grade until 2004, when HGCS graduated its first class of seniors. The first Head of School, Rev. Henry Ward, led the school from 1995 to 2011, and oversaw an expansion of the school from less than 200 students to over 1,000 students. Mr. GT Freeman became the Head of School in 2011 and was charged to help Hickory Grove Christian School to become the "premier Christian, college-preparatory school" in the region.
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Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. It enrolls students from transitional kindergarten (TK) through grade 12. The school was founded in 1995 by the leadership of Hickory Grove Baptist Church
Hickory Grove Baptist Church
Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a Southern Baptist megachurch pastored by Rev. Clint Pressley. Hickory Grove Baptist Church has three campus locations in the Charlotte area....
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History
In 1995, Hickory Grove Baptist ChurchHickory Grove Baptist Church
Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a Southern Baptist megachurch pastored by Rev. Clint Pressley. Hickory Grove Baptist Church has three campus locations in the Charlotte area....
started its school as a ministry to make Christ known in the community. The school was started as a K-2 school, and each year added a grade until 2004, when HGCS graduated its first class of seniors. The first Head of School, Rev. Henry Ward, led the school from 1995 to 2011, and oversaw an expansion of the school from less than 200 students to over 1,000 students. Mr. GT Freeman became the Head of School in 2011 and was charged to help Hickory Grove Christian School to become the "premier Christian, college-preparatory school" in the region.
School facts
There are three school divisions: Elementary School (TK-5), Middle School (6th-8th), and High School (9th-12th). The School incorporates athletics and fine arts into the academic schedule. The Elementary, Middle, and High Schools currently enroll 400, 250, and 330 students, respectively. The School's mission is: "To know Christ and to make Him known through Christian education."Accreditation
HGCS is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
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School Memberships
HGCS is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)Association of Christian Schools International
The Association of Christian Schools International is an association of evangelical Protestant Christian schools.-Purposes:ACSI, a protestant association for Christian schools, impacts nearly 23,000 schools and transforms the lives of more than 3.9 million students worldwide...
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School Characteristics
HGCS is a private, Christian co-educational college preparatory day school enrolling 980 students, preschool through grade 12.Organization and Administration
The School, a non-profit organization, is composed of three educational divisions: Elementary School, Middle School, and High School with individual principals. The principal of the Elementary School is Mrs. Rhonda Brown, the principal for the Middle School is Mrs. Pam Tyree, and the principal of the High School is Mrs. Wanda Royal. The total School is administered by Mr. GT Freeman, current Head of School.Faculty
HGCS has over 90 faculty and staff, 80 of which are full- and part-time teachers. The average faculty member has 18 years of classroom experience, with more than 20 percent having attained advanced degrees. The school staff includes a full-time guidance counselor, nurse, registrar, and athletic director.Academics
Typically, 100 percent of HGCS graduates pursue their education beyond the secondary level. In 2011, 85 percent attended a 4-year college/ university and 15 percent attended a 1- or 2-year postsecondary institution. HGCS offers 9 AP classes including AP Language, Literature, Biology, U.S. History, Calculus, Chemistry, Statistics, Government & Politics, and Computer Science. In May 2011, 51 students took 88 AP exams with over 60 percent scoring a “3” or better. The mean SAT scores for the Class of 2011 were: 538 (verbal/critical reading); 518 (math); and 520 (writing), for a total verbal + math average of 1056, and total composite score of 1576.Athletics
HGCS' Athletic department offers 10 sports (boys and girls), and fields 27 teams in those sports at the Middle School, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Levels. More than 65 percent of HGCS students in grades 7-12 participate in School-sponsored athletics. The school mascot is a Lion named Roarie.Fine arts
HGCS fine arts program includes offerings in band, photography, dance, drama, visual arts, choir, voice, and a variety of instrumental ensembles.Notable alumni
- Devin Gant - Miss Teen NC - World 2011, Miss Teen USA - World 2011, and 2nd runner-up Miss Teen World 2011.