Winston Salem Christian School

• Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States,
• Year of foundation: 1979,
• Number of students: about 400,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

Winston Salem Christian School (WSCS) is a private Christian school, offering programs at all stages of school education, from preschool to grade 12.

Winston Salem Christian School traces its history back to 1979, based on biblical teaching. Until 2019, the WSCS collaborated with Winston Salem First, but then became independent - the first and only school of its kind in Winston-Salem. It integrates faith and learning, ensuring that students receive not only strong academic skills but also a biblical worldview. At the same time, not all of the students are Christians – Winston Salem Christian School accepts everyone, regardless of their religion, nationality, origin.

There are now about 70 students among the WSCS students - these are representatives of 22 countries, making the school international and multinational. By creating excellent conditions for academic and extracurricular development, WSCS helps local and foreign students achieve excellent results during their studies and after graduation.

The preschool uses the Abeka curriculum to introduce children to phonetics, math, and reading. Children learn in self-contained classrooms. Their schedule includes hands-on activities in the ELC STEM Den, PE, music, art, and a practical Discovery Barn class. Weekly music and art activities are conducted with the Music instructor and Specialties director. Lower School children learn in self-contained classrooms and attend enrichment classes with specialty teachers. In Middle School, each student moves between classrooms according to an individual schedule. Lower School music and visual arts classes each take place twice a week. In music, children sing and play instruments, including percussion. Fourth graders begin learning the recorder. Art activities include drawing, painting, collage, pottery, and sculpture.

High school students conduct independent research on topics that interest them. The capstone research project requires a 20-page paper and a 15-minute presentation. The annual English research project incorporates community service. Each high school student must log 50 service hours a year. Project-based education involves real-world assignments and launching their own business at school. In leadership classes, students develop, plan, and run campus events. An accelerated math option is available based on assessment results and a teacher recommendation. Students interested in nursing, medicine, or dentistry can receive mentorship and take part in medical internships. Some internships may count toward practical learning credits. High school PE includes strength and sport-specific preparation. A separate option combines science and sports.

The T.I.D.E. Lab explores design technologies, entrepreneurial innovation, digital design, and engineering. Students learn to use Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, and Illustrator. The school uses Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

The high school counselor uses SCOIR to prepare students for further education and careers. Support includes college visits and test preparation. The counseling office helps students manage everyday life issues. LEAP Days take place five times a year, with guest speakers introducing careers, colleges, and life skills. At Workforce Wednesdays, professionals from different industries share their experience. The Ascent, a program for grades 6–9, has been announced for the 2027/28 school year. It will provide an academic coach, core academics tailored to each student's readiness, a personalized pace, and artificial intelligence in the curriculum. The Climb component will focus on life skills, resilience, and perseverance. The Leader of The Ascent will help students with passion projects, executive functioning, and leadership.

The WSCS academic system covers all stages of school education:

• Early Learning Center — preschool department, for children ages 3 through Transitional Kindergarten,
• Lower School — primary school, covering kindergarten through grade 5,
• Middle School — middle classes, grades 6–8,
• High School - high school. This stage covers grades 9–12.

During the summer months, summer camps are organized on campus.

The school yearbook staff has won the Jostens National Yearbook Excellence Award multiple times.

• About 45 children attend the preschool.

Students can choose the most suitable format of accommodation for themselves during their studies: comfortable residences near the campus or a host family, whose house is located a few dozen minutes drive from the study territory.

The WSCS residences are prepared to accommodate 70 students. Boys and girls live in separate houses, occupying single, double or triple bedrooms. The amenities of the house are shared: bathroom, kitchen and living areas.

Host families who have been cooperating with the school for many years undergo regular inspections and accreditations in order to provide students with the best living conditions. Students are accommodated in a single bedroom and have access to a shared bathroom, kitchen, living room. The family supports the student by helping them adapt to a new country, improve their language skills, and explore the city.

All housing options include a meal plan, with students receiving daily breakfast and dinner with host families and access to the school's dining room when staying in residence. The cafeteria offers a wide variety of dishes, including a salad buffet, vegetarian dishes, healthy snacks and drinks.

The residences are open during the school year and close for Christmas break.

Different types of arts and various sports areas are included in the curriculum from the earliest years. Outside of the classroom, students can take electives, focusing on their talents and improving their skills while trying new directions.

The arts at WSCS come in several forms: music, drama, visual arts, and each direction includes many clubs, whether it is vocals, playing musical instruments, engraving or acting. Under the guidance of qualified specialists, students develop their talent, which they can show to the wider community during campus events: concerts, theme nights, holiday performances.

Sports sections are distributed by seasons, allowing students to devote time to various activities. Cross-country, soccer, and volleyball training sessions are held on campus in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball, soccer, volleyball, and trekking in the spring months. WSCS has several combined teams competing with other schools at the regional, national level, allowing students to earn individual and collective awards.

All students are divided into four Houses, creating friendly teams of different ages. The Houses are Kardia, Dianoia, Dunamis, and Pneuma. The House system will help them gain leadership skills, learn teamwork and healthy competition, because the Houses compete with each other in all aspects of school life during the year.

The WSCS has various thematic communities based on the interests of the majority of students. For the development of leadership skills, the following are open:

• National Honorable Society for Elementary (NEHS),
• National Junior Honor Society (NJHS),
• National Honour Society (NHS),
• Leadership Team,
• Ambassadors – represent WSCS at events and school celebrations,
• Honorary Council – Promoting Academic Integrity and Ethical Leadership,
• House Council – Student leaders oversee the House System,
• Prefects of Housing — students learning to be a Resident Assistant in the boarding program.

The list of thematic clubs includes:

• Enterprise — hands-on business projects and leadership preparation in Middle School,
• Robotics,
• Student Government Association,
• STEM Club & Robotics – participation in scientific and engineering projects,
• Community Outreach and Service Club,
• Amazing Shake – a test of business communication skills, developing confidence and social etiquette through simulated professional situations,
• Winston Salem Film Academy — filming, editing.

Middle and high school students regularly participate in field trips: eighth-graders go to DC every February, and high school students visit four different cities for four years. Past trips have included Atlanta, New York, Orlando, and Boston.

Lower School students can take small roles in Upper School productions and participate in the annual Black History Month program, spring performances, and winter performances. Students stage a full-scale musical each year. Past productions have included Godspell, Cinderella, and Hundred Dresses. High school students participate in two stage productions a year. The school choir performs several times a year, singing music in a range of styles. Students can join the Upper School worship team, while fifth graders lead the musical part of weekly Lower School chapel services. Services include singing, Scripture readings, and a mini-sermon. Bible studies and small-group discussions are also available. An art exhibition takes place at the end of the year.

All students take part in community service. Partners in school projects include Ronald McDonald House, Crisis Control, and Crisis Pregnancy.

The school year begins with Lions Camp in the mountains of North Carolina, with team activities and house challenges. School traditions include Hunt for the Lion, Homecoming, and House Wars. The school organizes fall festivals, the Spring Fling celebration, and family nights. Other events include bonfires, game nights, dances, and sporting events.

Field trips complement classroom activities at different grade levels:

• Kindergarten children visit the Firehouse while learning about community helpers,
• First graders visit the Train Museum in Spencer, ride the train from High Point to Charlotte, and visit Discovery Place,
• Fourth graders visit a science center,
• Fifth graders spend several days in the Outer Banks each year, exploring the state's ecosystems,
• The eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C. includes the Capitol Building, Supreme Court, an evening walk around the monuments, Museum of Natural History, and Arlington National Cemetery, where students take part in a wreath-laying ceremony,
• Students in grades 9–10 visit a U.S. city together each year. Trips to Atlanta have included the Center for Civil Rights, Georgia Aquarium, and Martin Luther King Memorial. The school plans to alternate visits to Atlanta with college tours on the East Coast,
• For grades 11–12, the school plans to alternate trips to New York City and Chicago. On the New York trip described, students visited the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and the Met, attended a Broadway play, and went boating in Central Park.

• Accreditations of the Association of Christian Schools International, Advanced ED. Less than 10% of schools in the United States have this double accreditation.
• WSCS is a member of the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools,
• The size of classes is up to 20 people, depending on the educational stage,
• Personalized approach to each pupil,
• A variety of extracurricular areas for the development of talents.

The WSCS studying area is located in Winston-Salem, close to the city's amenities such as shops and attractions. Located in the middle of a green park area and occupying a fairly large area, the campus includes several academic buildings, residence houses, and sports facilities.

Responding to modern educational requirements, all classrooms have interactive equipment, necessary materials for research, and specialized resources. Special rooms have been created for each stage of school education: for younger children there are bright, colorful classrooms with many games, chalkboards, needlework kits, and for high school students there are high-performance PCs, research equipment, quiet areas for self-study and individual lessons with a teacher. The WSCS infrastructure includes:

• Large dining room,
• Specialized studios of creativity, technical sciences,
• Concert hall with a theater stage,
• Multifunctional sports hall,
• Outdoor areas for team sports,
• Outdoor play areas that meet all safety regulations.

There is a chapel on campus, open to students every Thursday.

The T.I.D.E. Lab offers:

• An industry-standard sound and video recording studio,
• Multiple 3D printers,
• Augmented reality design tools and virtual reality technology,
• CNC equipment and laser etching devices.

High school students have access to:

• A MAC lab,
• A science lab,
• An Esports room,
• An outdoor pavilion.

The chapel is used for public speaking. The school uses surveillance systems and a wireless network.

The academic year lasts from mid-August to the end of May; Educational and extracurricular activities are held on weekdays, and rest is provided on national and international holidays, weekends and vacations.

The list of additional costs includes:

• Accommodation, meals,
• Personal study materials,
• School uniform,
• Student club fees, payment for some extracurricular activities,
• Additional academic support,
• FACTS fee,
• Personal expenses.

The high school is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM to 3:45 PM and is closed on observed school holidays. Doors open at 7:45 AM, classes begin at 8:05 AM, and dismissal is at 3:15 PM.

Registration fees and the deposit:

• One-time application fee: per student,
• Annual enrollment fee for the full-day Early Learning Center: per student,
• Annual enrollment fee for each of the three half-day Early Learning Center programs: per student,
• Annual enrollment fee for Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School day students: per student,
• Annual enrollment fee for foreign boarding students: per student, credited toward annual tuition and fees,
• Annual accommodation deposit for foreign boarding students: per student.

The Smapse manager provides all the necessary information about admission to the school, accompanies applicants at every stage.

High school students are provided with a wide range of disciplines to prepare for exams, academic support from teachers, thanks to which they receive high scores and continue their studies at colleges, universities in the country and abroad.

Prospective students arriving from abroad must have a U.S. visa or permanent residency, a passport, and health insurance. For admission to WSCS, you must provide:

• Academic transcripts from previous years of study,
• Letters of recommendation from teachers of the main subjects.

Teaching at the school is conducted in English, so during the interview, all applicants are checked for the level of language skills.

Boarding for foreign students is available only in grades 9–12.

WSCS provides the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship, merit-based scholarships, financial assistance to those in need. Scholarships reward students who are particularly successful in study, sports or creativity, and financial support is assigned to students who are in a difficult life situation.

A third-party tool assesses each family's financial need, taking into account income, the number of children, church partnerships, and contributions to the school environment and the success of WSCS.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision