Faith Elementary and Middle School, Inc., a nonprofit organization, is administered by a Board of Directors elected from school parents and the supporting community. The school is staffed primarily by professional, certified teachers. Its highly trained faculty is assisted by an experienced and caring support staff. Some school parents are among its strongest and most consistent supporters and promoters. In its first decade and a half the school has been maintained by student tuition, fundraisers, and voluntary charitable donations, and the fact that it's co-founders work for periods with little or no pay when there are special needs or obligations to honor first.
Faith Elementary School, Inc. was founded and incorporated in July, 1982 to meet the educational needs of area children in a unique way. The school would be private, yet it would not be anti-public. The school would be Christian, but it would not be a church school. The school's founders were insistent that students and personnel would be welcome regardless of religious affiliation, race, gender, or economic status, so long as there was agreement on acceptance of operational standards and objectives. The school has always welcomed the total community; yet it has served largely African-American children and their families. It would develop a considerable reputation for "rescuing" and "building up" students. Initially, many parents enrolled students in FEMS for remediation in conduct or in study areas. Soon many of the students would return to their former public schools. As time progressed many of these students made such a turn around in citizenship and scholastics that more and more parents became interested in keeping them in FEMS. From reports received from district teachers, administrators, and parents, most of the transferred or graduate students exemplified improved conduct, motivation, self-esteem, and academic performance as they returned to former public schools, or as they went on to other public or private schools.
The school offers a basic education program to boys and girls in preschool (age 3) - sixth grade. Due to financial challenges, the eighth grade was not continued after June, 1998. For the same reason the seventh grade was not continued after June, 1999. On occasion the school has honored requests to work with seventh and eighth grade students due to offer a second chance to earn the right to be transferred back to a public school the next school year. That practice is no longer generally available starting with the 2007-2008 school term.
The school's strengths include its rigorous academic curriculum and strict, but loving character training in a Christian setting. Religious instruction and influence is intended to promote responsible ethics and moral training rather than indoctrination toward a particular denomination. Most students attend public schools with great success upon graduation or transfer from FEMS. The 2011-2012 student enrollment is projected to be aproximately 50 students.
Faith graduate students who go on to local high schools often capture substantial academic honors and scholarship funding to continue their education in college. It is not unusual for students from a graduating class to remain in school in various locations both private and public. Parents are discovering even further proof that the sacrifice to fund their child to attend Faith is a wise family investment in the student's future. Many of these students receive four-year scholarships. In 1992 the school became Faith Elementary and Middle School.
Dedication, commitment, sacrifice, and love characterize the operation of this independent, Christian, alternative, nondenominational school, whose motto is: "I Can." The school will, as increasing numbers of interested individuals and other entities join the mission to offer their best contributions.
The school is leasing a combined total of 2,764 square feet of space in two buildings. Our vision of a dream school is outlined in a professional drawing projecting a three-phased facility of 14,620 square feet. This vision includes classrooms, library, science laboratory, technology center, prayer chapel, offices, health center, kitchen, and multi-purpose center (which would double as a cafeteria and, auditorium, and gymnasium, along with required restroom facilities. This new school facility or whatever portion of it God makes available to us, along with the necessary land to hold it, has to remain a dream until such time our school pulls itself out (or is delivered from) the financial subsistence grip that has characterized the school's existence.
The existence of FEMS is nothing short of a secession of daily miracles for the last twenty years. A building and sufficient funds for regular staff payroll and operations are among the school's greatest needs. The school is also interested in endowment gifts and funding to hire an experienced development officer or grants-writer.
While the school has accomplished much in the training of students in academics and character training, improvements and expansion to perfect current and future offerings will demand continued support from the community, former students, parents, and philanthropic entities. The school will increasingly explore possible funding and support contacts, and welcomes support from the public in building such an effective educational program that will continue to bless community children and families for many years to come.
