Our Daily Show Interview! Calvary Christian Open Enrollment Starts February 2nd!
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ALTON - Calvary Christian School is offering several open houses and admissions opportunities for interested families.
Located at Calvary Baptist Church in Alton, the school follows a four-day classical Christian model. Head of School Pastor Wade Dobson and Children’s Pastor Mike Harrelson expressed their excitement to share Calvary Christian School’s work with the community.
“The school is a big entry point for kids to get to know God and His truth and His beauty and His goodness,” Harrelson said.
Open enrollment starts on Feb. 2, 2026. School leaders will host open houses from 6–7:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 and March 16 and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Feb. 21. Parents of incoming kindergarteners can also attend a Kindergarten and Coffee session at 4 p.m. on Feb. 5.
As a classical Christian school, the curriculum focuses on grammar, logic and rhetoric. Dobson explained that students are encouraged to think deeply and critically.
“We try to move kids from concrete to understanding to wisdom. How do they apply that?” he said. “We often say it’s not a mile wide and an inch deep. We’re very much an inch wide and a mile deep. So that has a lot of implications for how we do things.”
Students attend school Tuesday through Friday. There is also an optional Monday add-on day that allows students to participate in study hall and enrichment classes. Dobson and Harrelson understand that some parents need their children in school five days a week, so this is an option for all families.
The school works hard to maintain a one-to-12 teacher-to-student ratio so students get the attention they need. This also allows teachers to successfully utilize the classical model, which prioritizes class discussion.
As a Christian school, it’s important to Dobson and Harrelson to ensure the students receive biblical education. Families that attend Calvary Baptist Church can enroll their children, but those who attend other churches or who do not have a church home are also welcome. Harrelson noted that the school encourages community and connection in a supportive, Christ-based environment.
“It lets them know that we’re here and we want to get to know them more. We’ve had kids that were a part of our church be part of our school and vice versa,” Harrelson said. “It’s great synergy. But it does create a community there that’s really nice for the parents and for the families, especially ones that maybe don’t have a church home, for them to know that they’re loved and God loves them.”
Dobson added that, as an evangelical school, Calvary Christian School is open to anyone no matter what their beliefs are. He has enjoyed seeing students who don’t have a church background engage with those who do. This connection allows students to learn more about God.
“It’s been great to watch students who have grown up in church and kind of been surrounded by the faith all their life and students who are learning for the first time about God and who He is and Christ and what He’s done,” he explained. “For us to be able to integrate that into everything, whether it be math, science, the humanities, is what we’re all about.”
Calvary Christian School requires prospective families to complete an interview process so administrators can answer questions and ensure the school is a good fit for your child. But Dobson and Harrelson encourage anyone who is interested in joining their community to attend one of their upcoming open houses to learn more.
For more information about Calvary Christian School, including how to enroll, visit their official website at CalvaryChristianAlton.com.
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