# Chattanooga Christian School

Chattanooga Christian School (CCS) is a conservative Christian, interdenominational coeducational day school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is the largest private school in Hamilton County, Tennessee. Founded in 1970, the private college-preparatory school is currently located the foot of Lookout Mountain on 55+ acres.

## History

The school was organized as Lookout Mountain Christian School Association on February 4, 1970, by a group of parents including World magazine founder Joel Belz. The school was incorporated as a Georgia non-profit Corporation on June 30, 1972. As the school grew and expanded to encompass more grade levels, a decision was made to move the school from Lookout Mountain to Chattanooga at its present location and change the name to Chattanooga Christian School, Inc. The move to the present campus was made in 1982. The school grew dramatically over the next 30 years. Chattanooga Christian School is a Christian, interdenominational, coeducational day school. It is a parent-directed school, working through an elected administrative Board of Directors, and accepts students in PreSchool through 12th grades. Chattanooga Christian School is a member of Christian Schools International and is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Today, the campus on Charger Drive encompasses around 55 acres of land. It is the largest private school in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

## Campus

In 1982, the school moved to its present location, the former site of Ed Wright Chevrolet on South Broad Street. The initial 10-acre (40,000 m$^2$) site was expanded by additional purchases over the years to encompass 40 acres (160,000 m$^2$) and 6 buildings. The section of Broad Street in front of the school was renamed Charger Drive in early 2003.

### Athletics

Chattanooga Christian School fields teams in interscholastic competition in baseball, basketball, cheering, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, strength & conditioning, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.
A multi-sport athletic facility was completed for the 2015-2016 school year called "The Powerhouse"

## Theater department

Chattanooga Christian High School has a large theater department. They put on musical every fall and spring semester, the fall being the middle school musical and spring being high school. In the past they have done The Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins, The King and I, Beauty and the Beast and among other Broadway shows but most recently Meet Me In St. Louis (nominated for seven Spotlight Awards in Nashville, TN, including Best Musical). The middle school has done many musicals, including Annie Jr., Seussical Jr., Once Upon a Mattress, The Lion King Jr. and most recently Peter Pan Jr. The school also offers intensive theater summer programs one being a Regular Musical Theater Camp for younger children and the other being an Advanced Musical Theater Camp for older middle and high school students this program is not only limited to Chattanooga Christian students. Most recently the camps produced Lion King Kids and Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. The high school theater classes have started to produce spring plays most recently being, Peter and the Starcatcher. These shows are often directed and choreographed by Mary Catherine Schimpf, under the music direction of Kara Funke, with the help of Jamison Shimmel and Heath Austin.

## Notable alumni

* Ashley Harkleroad, tennis player
* Weston Wamp, politician