2016
We did not set out to start a school. After working in school and entrepreneurial settings in Detroit, Jack and Caroline Hummel had a growing conviction: People need the Gospel, and people need education (not to imply that those are on the same footing). Lansing already has solid churches, but we realized that Lansing-area parents were dissatisfied with their schooling options. We thought it would encourage parents to learn about classical education, which might inspire them to open a classical school in Lansing.
2017
In April, we hosted an introductory event about classical education to an audience of 30. That spring, we took groups to observe Oakdale Academy, Trinitas Classical School, and Hillsdale Academy. In August, we formed a founding board and wrote our mission statement. In September, our board visited Mars Hill Academy.
In December, we hosted our inaugural Pie & Paideia ("pie-day-uh") event where we presented our mission and vision to a group of 60. We ended the year with no money, no building, and only 1 committed family, but with hopes of opening a full-time classical Christian school in 2019 or 2020.
2018
We hosted another Pie & Paideia event, became a non-profit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable purpose organization, and researched our heads off. By the end of 2018, we still had no money and no building, we had grown to only 4 committed families, and we still told people we were "trying" to start a school.
2019
We raised $125,000 in only 6 months and grew to 16 families and 31 students. Over 11 months we evaluated 171 buildings (visiting 23) before finally finding the welcoming community and ideal building at Lansing Chinese Christian Church. By that time, the LCCC congregation had been praying for over a year that a classical Christian school would open in their building.
We hosted our first annual Academy Dinner to benefit the tuition assistance fund.
We became an Association of Classical Christian Schools member school.
We partnered with The Rafiki Foundation to pilot their K-12 Rafiki Bible Study in our theology classes.
2020
We raised $170,000 to open for another year with 37 students in grades K-7. We were open the entire 2020-2021 academic year for in-person schooling.
2021
We joined the Society for Classical Learning.
We raised $137,000 to open for another year with 60 students in grades K-8.
2022
We launched our Rhetoric School with 9th Grade and raised $231,000 to open for another year with 91 students in grades K-9. We purchased a new building.
2023
We moved to our new location in November 2023. We enrolled 104 students in grades K-10.
2024
We have grown from 2 full-time teachers to 10 full-time teachers. Over the past five years, we have raised $1.4M. We work hard every day to turn a profit on that investment in the hearts and minds of our students.
We are now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year in grades K-11. Apply here.
Non nobis Domine sed nomini tuo da gloriam.