Ohio Christian Education Network expands school-planting efforts beyond Ohio for the first time
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN), a division of Center for Christian Virtue, is celebrating a record year of growth as 10 new Christian school plants open their doors, including the first schools OCEN has helped plant outside Ohio.
For the first time, OCEN’s school-planting work has expanded beyond the Buckeye State, helping launch new Christian schools in Arizona and Missouri.
The 10 new schools mark the latest milestone in OCEN’s school-planting initiative. Over the past five years, OCEN has helped plant 25 Christian schools, with another 30 school plants currently in the pipeline.
“Every new school means more families have access to an education that not only prepares their children academically, but helps form them in their faith and teaches them to see the world through the truth of Scripture,” said Troy McIntosh, Executive Director of OCEN. “OCEN is helping churches turn that vision into reality, and the demand shows families across the country are hungry for what Christian education offers.”
OCEN partners with local churches and Christian leaders to help establish new schools, providing guidance on legal and regulatory requirements, operations, staffing, and other challenges that can make starting a school difficult.
Through its school-in-a-church model, OCEN helps churches leverage existing facilities to reduce startup and operating costs, making high-quality, Christ-centered education more geographically and financially accessible to families.
The model also allows churches to make Christian education an extension of their disciple-making mission, providing students with an education rooted in Scripture and reinforcing the faith and values taught at home.
NEW OCEN SCHOOL PLANTS OPENED THIS YEAR INCLUDE:
- Redeemer Classical Christian School — Phoenix, Arizona
- The Ridge Christian Academy — Villa Ridge, Missouri
- St. Gregory Classical Academy — Akron, Ohio
- St. Edmund Campion Academy — Cincinnati, Ohio
- Community Christian Learning Center — Dayton, Ohio
- Defiance Christian Academy — Defiance, Ohio
- McComb Christian Academy — McComb, Ohio
- Piqua Christian School — Piqua, Ohio
- St. Peregrine Academy — Richfield, Ohio
Christian school leaders, advocacy organizations, and other partners interested in planting a school should visit OCEN.org for more information.
Christian Education Network, a division of Center for Christian Virtue, is a coalition of schools and community members who stand for freedom in education and want to support initiatives that prevent the government from intruding on the right of Christian schools to teach Gospel-centered principles.
