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History

During the mid-seventies, several St. Louis families from the Reformed Presbyterian Church recognized the need for a distinctly Christian junior/senior high school that integrated faith and learning. Led by Dr. George Knight III, a professor at Covenant Seminary, a school board was constituted in September 1975, armed with the mandate to establish Westminster Christian Academy. Dr. Knight's leadership and passion helped define a vision and philosophy that have endured throughout Westminster's history.

The founding Board fixed the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms as the doctrinal base for the school and used the integrated bylaws provided by the National Union of Christian Schools (NUCS) to guide development of the Academy's bylaws (pdf download 35k). The official bylaws were approved by the Westminster Christian Academy Association and incorporated into the State of Missouri in September 1975.

Westminster received membership in the National Union of Christian Schools in 1975, establishing Westminster as a viable Christian school in the Reformed Christian school tradition. In 1982, Westminster was approved as an accredited member of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), confirming the school's place as one of the most respected Christian secondary schools in America.

Westminster Christian Academy's first home was in rented classrooms at Missouri Baptist College. This venue not only provided necessary classroom space, but also access to well-equipped laboratories, a gymnasium, and other facilities rarely available to a small secondary school. The curriculum during the first year included German, band, art and music.

Two school leaders were hired in April 1976, to secure a teaching staff and open Westminster's doors in the fall: Mr. Nolan Vander Ark was hired as Westminster's first principal and Mrs. Evelyn Downs assumed the position of "head" teacher. Mrs. Downs later became principal.

Westminster's faith venture in Christian education continued during the remaining months as the fledging school prayed faithfully, interviewed families, enrolled students, partitioned rooms, and purchased equipment, books and furniture, all with less than $10,000 in the bank. The culmination of a vision was realized on September 7, 1976, when Dr. George Knight, III spoke at the chapel service on the first day Westminster Christian Academy opened its doors.