By Emily Fitzgerald/[email protected]
Some churches have the capacity to set up their own schools for the children of its congregation, but in Lewis County, those church-based schools are few and far between.
Lewis County Adventist School and St. Joseph’s Catholic School are examples of successful Christian schools in the area, alongside Centralia Christian School, which serves families of any Christian denomination.
“We want to be available to the Christian community who want a certain kind of education,” Principal Peter Larson said.
With the motto “Pursuing Christ in character, academics and service,” Centralia Christian School is a private school in Centralia.
The success of Centralia Community College’s Running Start Program means Centralia Christian School can rely on them to support 11th and 12th grade students, while Centralia Christian School can focus on providing the best program possible for kids 10th grade and below.
“Our goal is to have a really excellent program for preschool through 10th grade,” Larson said.
When asked what he would tell parents who are considering Centralia Christian School over a public school program, Larson said, “We’re not here necessarily for you to escape something else, we’re here for you to pursue something that’s important to you. And if it’s important to you, we’ll partner with you.” He added, “We want to serve the church, all of the different Christian denominations in Lewis County.”
For more information on Centralia Christian School, visit www.centraliachristianschool.org.