Bringing biblically rooted education to more
families
This August marks 45
years since the late Gary and Andy Foss—two respected educators in the
Fredericksburg community—answered God’s call to start a school that offered a
strong academic program rooted in Christian character and biblical truths.
The Fosses opened
Fredericksburg Christian School in 1979 in the basement of First Christian
Church with 35 students. Since then, the school has grown to graduate an
average of 65 to 80 seniors each year, with generations of alumni bringing
their own children back to the school to receive the same Christ-centered
education that launched them in life.
The school today
serves students in pre-K through 12th grade throughout the Greater
Fredericksburg region, from Spotsylvania, Stafford and the city of
Fredericksburg to Caroline, King George and Culpeper counties.
All grades are
located on a single Spotsylvania campus, complete with facilities for the
school’s 31 teams competing in 13 sports, as well as venues for drama, band,
orchestra and other fine arts offerings.
Throughout its years
of growth, Fredericksburg Christian School has remained committed to its
founders’ vision of a nondenominational, college-preparatory Christian school
where small class sizes allow teachers to educate and connect with every
student intentionally, developing each one towards the fullness of God’s unique
calling on their lives.
A Growing Family
Today, FCS is seeing
unprecedented demand for the work it does to educate Christian leaders for
life. In order to serve that demand without compromising on the educational
experience the school has become known for in its 45 years of operation, FCS is
adding one class per grade level in its elementary grades for the upcoming
2024-2025 school year.
After years of
having waitlists filled with families seeking a school that would mirror the
values they teach at home, FCS hopes that this added capacity will enable the
school community to answer God’s call to serve more families without
compromising on the student-teacher ratio that is central to its mission.
“We will never waver
from class sizes of 18 to 20 students because we believe in having an
intentional relationship between teachers and students,” said Precious Dyson,
marketing coordinator for FCS. “This ratio ensures that students do not get
lost, and that if a student has a unique need, we can identify it and provide
additional support through our resource teachers and other focused attention.”
Dyson said the
single biggest factor bringing families to the school today is word of mouth,
as current families express their happiness with the school to their neighbors
and friends. Other times, prospective families are impressed by both the
academic and spiritual development they see in the FCS families around them,
and come to the school seeking that same experience for their own children.
“We have had a lot
of folks come in saying, ‘This family has been my neighbor for 10 years, and I
finally figured out what’s different about them. It’s Jesus, and that their
kids go to FCS. That’s why I’m here,” Dyson said.
If you have a child
at any grade level—or are anticipating starting preschool or kindergarten in
the next year or two—now is a good time to get to know FCS. Reach out to admissions@gofcs.org today to
start your journey.
Seeking Christian Educators
As FCS adds student
capacity, the school is also seeking Christian educators who can carry on its
mission of delivering not only a high-quality education, but also the
mentorship and biblically informed character guidance that is essential to
forming future leaders.
Just like its
students and their families, FCS sees its teachers as integral members of the
school’s strong Christian community. For those who answer God’s call to serve
in the formation of students at any level, the school offers incentives and
encouragement to help them continue to enhance their skills through the pursuit
of an advanced degree or licensure standards. Educators with children enrolled
in the school also receive a substantial tuition discount.
At a time when
American educators are reporting burnout and leaving the profession at record
levels, FCS faculty members maintain an average tenure of 17 to 20 years. For
some, teaching at the school allows them to rediscover their love of educating,
as small classes and a school-wide emphasis on respect and reverence for
teachers enables them to stay focused on doing what they’re great at.
And as Communications
Coordinator Brittany Cooper says, FCS faculty also appreciate teaching in an
environment where they can openly share their faith and relate their lessons to
the truths of the Bible.
“They are encouraged
to pray with students, and to minister to students who may be wondering how to
accept Jesus into their heart,” Cooper said. “These are really special
connections that you just don’t get in other settings.”
To learn whether FCS could be the right home
for you as an educator, reach out to marketing@gofcs.org.
Fredericksburg Christian School
Educating Christian leaders for life from
Pre-K through 12th grade.
Campus: 9400
Thornton Rolling Road, Fredericksburg VA 22408
By the numbers:
A maximum of 18-20 students per class.
Seniors achieve 98% college acceptance.
The upper school
offers multiple advanced-placement and
dual-enrollment courses.
A school community
representing more than 166 churches throughout the Fredericksburg
region.
31 athletic teams competing in 13 sports.
