Trinity Christian School (Fairfax, Virginia)

38.8337°N 77.3325°W / 38.8337; -77.3325

Trinity Christian School
Location
,
Information
TypePrivate
Motto"Pursuing Excellence for the Mind & Heart"
Established1987
HeadmasterDr. David Vanderpoel
Faculty83 faculty (35 holding Master's degrees, and 4 PhD's)
Number of studentsover 680 students (K through 12th)
Color(s)Blue & White
MascotGryphon [a lion with the head and wings of an eagle]
Websitewww.tcsfairfax.org

Trinity Christian School is a private, K-12, non-denominational Christian school centrally located in Fairfax County, Virginia, serving all of Northern Virginia. Notable alumni include DonorSee founder Gret Glyer.

Trinity Christian School claims an enrollment of over 690 students in grades K through twelve, 97 faculty members (over 60% holding advanced degrees), and 92,000 sq/ft of buildings (totaling $30 million) on a 25-acre campus. The school utilizes a house system with four houses. Included in the house system which began in the 2022-2023 school year is a head boy and a head girl. [1][2]

History

In 1987 the vestry of Truro Anglican Church voted unanimously to found Trinity Christian School, with Dr. J.C. Lasmanis named as its first headmaster. Trinity opened its doors to a total of forty-one students from first through third grade, each taught by three faculty members in classrooms provided by Truro.

In 1990 Dr. Jim Beavers took over the reins as headmaster. During Mr. Beavers' time in office: a 4th and 5th grade was added, a middle and upper school was established, enrollment greatly increased, and the faculty grew. Eventually the school spread to encompass four different campuses in and throughout Fairfax county.

In 2001 Trinity named a new headmaster, Dr. Todd Williams, and graduated its first senior class. By this time fifty faculty members served over four hundred students on Trinity's four campuses. Although there had been many advantages for the school due to its rapid growth, unity between the different campuses was becoming a problem. Shortly after taking office, Dr. Williams made it a top priority to unite all the students onto one main campus. After two years of hard fundraising Trinity proudly opened the doors to its new 25-acre campus facility, located in Fairfax off of Braddock Road next to George Mason University. The new building included a state-of-the-art computer lab, two custom-made art rooms, a practice gymnasium, and a science lab. All classes were moved to the new campus.

In 2005 Dr. Williams resigned as Trinity's headmaster to accept the vice presidency of Cairn University (then Philadelphia Biblical University). After much deliberation, the Trinity Christian board of trustees appointed then-teacher Dr. David Vanderpoel as the school's fourth headmaster. Since taking office, Dr. Vanderpoel has overseen the construction of a second building complete with a gymnasium [stadium seating for 900 and a large stage], a new weight room, a performing arts wing, two science labs, a kindergarten, and upgraded to turf fields. In 2012, Trinity Christian School was awarded accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS-CASI), the accreditation division of AdvancED.

In 2019, Trinity Christian School purchased a 29-acre piece of land a mile away on Shirley Gate Road. They plan to use this new land to build athletic fields and parking.[3]

In 2022, Trinity Christian School's Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr. Matt Thomas, then the Executive Director of the Center for School Leadership at Baylor University, as Trinity's next Head of School in 2023, replacing Dr. David Vanderpoel.[4]

Accolades and student achievement

In 2019, Trinity Christian School was designated a National Blue Ribbon School by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, 1 of only 362 schools to receive this throughout the nation.[5] The school reports that since its first graduation class in 2001, the school has produced 22 National Merit Finalists and 98 National Merit Commended Scholars, and that the mean ACT score for the classes of 2017 - 2022 was 28, while the mean SAT score for the same was 660 (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) and 641 (Math).[6] U.S. News & World Report similarly lists the school's average ACT score as 28 and its average SAT score as 1200.[7]

In 2017, a Trinity Christian School senior was accepted into four of the five U.S. service academies.[8]

The school ranked 15th on The Roanoke Times 2023 list of the best private high schools in Virginia.[9]

Extracurricular activities

The schools offers 36 sports teams, choral music, instrumental music, theater arts, visual arts, clubs, student government, and honor societies. The school's Honors Choral Ensemble has performed at the White House.[10]

Athletic teams

School teams
GirlsBoys
Cross countryCross country
Swim and DiveSwim and Dive
BasketballBasketball
Baseball
LacrosseLacrosse
SoccerSoccer
TennisTennis
Track and FieldTrack and Field
Volleyball
GolfGolf
Field Hockey
Softball
Cheer

TCS Memberships

  • AdvancED TCS is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS-CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED.
  • ACSI - Association of Christian Schools International
  • ECFA - Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
  • VCAC - Virginia Christian Athletic Conference
  • VCPE - Virginia Council for Private Education
  • FCCC - Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce

References

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