Academics
Foothills Community Christian School is built upon the idea of a constant striving for academic excellence. Students completing their education at Foothills (Kindergarten through 12th grade) will be prepared to seek college and university admission. Below are the academic goals that we have for each student:
- To develop the individual's potential academic abilities by promoting high academic standards.
- To help each student gain a thorough command of basic skills: communication (oral, written, and listening),mathematics, and reading.
- To encourage and train each student to use productive study habits.
- To teach skills in independent research, logical reasoning, and critical thinking.
- To motivate students to pursue areas of personal interest and to develop their God-given talents and creative skills.
- To foster an appreciation of the arts as a mode of expression.
- To relate current events to God's plan for man and the world.
- To develop appreciation for God's creation and humanity's rights and responsibilities as good stewards.
- To teach the student to work independently and cooperatively.
- To develop the skills necessary to function in a technological society.
- To promote good citizenship through developing an understanding and appreciation of our Christian and American heritage of responsible freedom, human dignity, and acceptance of authority.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
High school students are required to graduate with a minimum of 24 credits. One credit is earned by successful completing one course for an entire year (or two semesters). The following classes are required for graduation:
- Bible 4.0 credits (or 1.0 credit for each year at FCCS in grades 9-12)
- English 4.0 credits
- Social Studies 4.0 credits (.5 credits must be American Government)
- Mathematics 3.0 credits
- Science 3.0 credits
- PE 1.0 credits
- Health 1.0 credits
- Fine Arts 1.0 credits
- Foreign Language 1.0 credits
- Electives 2.0 credits
TESTING/TEST SCORES
Every April the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) is administered to all students in grades 1- 10 in order to compare student academic progress at Foothills with students nationwide. In 2009, students at Foothills Community Christian School scored above the national average at every grade in all three major areas assessed (reading, language, and math). On average, Foothill's students score in the 80th percentile or higher in each subject area in every grade.
High school students have the opportunity every October to take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) which is administered at the school. This test helps to prepare students to take either the SAT or the ACT which are the two major tests used for college and university admission. In 2009, the average ACT composite score for Foothills students seeking college admission was 24.5 as compared to the State of Montana average score of 22.0.
ACCREDITATION
Foothills Community Christian School is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS). This level of accreditation means that all academic work done by our students is transferable to both public and private schools. In addition, this work is fully recognized by all colleges and universities in the United States when students seek admission to those institutions.
