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Historical Overview

Historical Overview

While we are rejoicing at the continued Grace of God in allowing Alamance Christian School to be a blessing in the educational achievements of students from Christian families in the Alamance County area, we would be derelict to not acknowledge the sacrifices and insightful direction of those who paved the way for ACS to become one of the leading Christian schools in North Carolina.

In 1969 Mrs. Evelyn McAlister began initiating the groundwork for the formation of ACS. Placement of an ad to solicit interest from Christian families in the area and by contacting pastors of churches she felt would be supportive of the idea of a Christian school resulted in the groundswell of interest that led to the formation of a group that did, indeed, open a Christian school in the fall of 1969 with 110 students and 8 teachers. The first campus was graciously housed in Greenway Park Baptist Church’s buildings.

A couple of years passed and the leadership of the school realized that they would need to have their own campus separate from any individual church. Property on Townbranch Road in Graham, right down the road from Greenway Park Baptist church, was available but priced beyond what the young group could afford.

However, God had other plans and facilitated the “deal” with the owner. Today the Townbranch Road campus consists of a U-shaped building that houses upper and lower schools, library, administrative offices, Chapel, and home economics classrooms. A separate gym at the rear of the U-shaped building and a separate preschool building to the side of the U-shaped main building were built later.

Alamance Christian School has progressively built its program of academics, arts, and athletics and offers award-winning programs for each. Groups compete on a district, state, and national level. In April 1973 at a fundraising rally and banquet, U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, the featured speaker, told an audience of 400 people that “you are keeping alive the miracle of America. I appreciate you because you have been and are willing to sacrifice.” A $107,000 gym building project was launched at that banquet. The gymatorium was completed and ready for use for the 1974-1975 school year. With this fine facility now available, ACS was able to host its own complete sports program and hold its first Homecoming Ceremony. The gym stage easily accommodated the 73 voice chorale and band for concerts. In addition to having a full-sized basketball court, the gymatorium houses a commercial grade kitchen for preparation of student lunches, and the upstairs houses storage areas and a band classroom area.

Covered walkways were added during the 1979-1980 term and the soccer field received extensive improvements.

The first graduating class of ACS provided the major new experience of the 1973-1974 school year, complete with a Junior-Senior Banquet. Fourteen seniors received their diplomas. Some of these first graduates still maintain strong ties to ACS.

The age of technology has been a challenge to all schools – public, private, and Christian – because of the need to prepare the student to function in a world driven by technology, and yet the cost of keeping current in view of these advances is daunting. ACS has kept pace with technological advances in its computer lab and continues to improve through the donations of parents and extended constituency

It is encouraging to see our graduates enter the secular and Christian work forces as World Changers for Christ. One very encouraging fact is that we have graduates of ACS return to teach at ACS. Another very encouraging event is the enrollment of the children of ACS graduates in ACS as 2nd generation ACS students. This full circle of accomplishment and involvement is most encouraging to the faculty, staff, and leadership that have been a part of ACS through the years.

ACS is a living entity filled with viable faculty and staff who care for students and their mental, social, and spiritual well-being. It is the desire of ACS that all students will be nurtured so that they might reach their God-given potential.