SCHOOL HISTORY
Since 1965, Bethesda Christian School has been a ministry of Parkside Bible Church, originally called Bethesda Baptist Church. The Lord’s hand of involvement has been evident from the beginning.
BCS HISTORY TIMELINE
- 1965 – Pastor Don Tyler starts Bethesda Christian School with a Kindergarten program, which was soon followed by a Preschool program.
- 1974 – The Elementary program, grades 1-7, is established with 400 students. All classes meet in Sunday School rooms at the church.
- 1975 – The Secondary program, grades 8-12, is established. In January of 1975, with no building, no blueprints, no money, no teachers, no students, and no equipment, Pastor Don Tyler embarks on an 8-month campaign of faith to raise funds and break ground. By September, a brand new 42,000-square-foot high school complex opens its doors.
- 1976 – BCS graduates its first senior class of 11 students.
- 1988 – BCS becomes accredited by the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS).
- 1991 – BCS wins the AACS national basketball championship.
- 2002 – BCS begins the tradition of Senior Leadership Camp.
- 2003 – BCS becomes fully accredited with the Indiana Department of Education through the Indiana Freeway protocol.
- 2004 – A new building complex for BCS upper school grades is built.
- 2006 – BCS starts the tradition of a senior mission trip with a focus on service. The first mission trip is to Louisiana, where the students assist local churches in helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.
- 2009 – BCS becomes accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). 2010 – BCS begins its “Minds in Motion” program for elementary students.
- 2011 – The Indiana School Choice voucher program is established.
- 2020 – Government regulations in response to COVID-19 cause BCS to finish its spring semester via distance learning online. PK-12 enrollment at BCS dropped to a record low of 242.
- 2021 – Indiana passes new legislation, which greatly expands the voucher program.
- 2022 – BCS enrollment in PK-12 grows to 494, more than doubling what it had been two years previously.