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History of Moline Christian School

The tiny seed that grew! Tucked in the small village of Moline was a field primed for planting, not with crops, but with a Christian school. On September 5, 1917, the building that formerly opened its doors to welcome the parishioners of Moline Christian Reformed Church now accepted a group of fifty-eight students. The tiny seed was planted, and the roots of Moline Christian School began to settle into fertile ground. What began as a one-room schoolhouse has now grown into a school with over 400 students, multiple classrooms, teachers, and support staff. Over 100 years have passed. Today, we partner with our parents to continue that vision, leaving a legacy of hope for the future. The investment is substantial, but the reward is eternal.

Moline Christian School was established in September of 1917 by an association of Christian parents who wished to provide a Christ-centered education for their children. The first schoolhouse was an old church building that had been remodeled into two classrooms, and the teacher's desk was perched precariously on a raised platform in the front of the room. Peak enrollment for this building was 102 students.

In 1922, a three-room frame structure was erected on the present school grounds. The site was donated to the school by John and Jake Haveman. Increased enrollment required a building expansion in 1927 and 1953. By 1960, the enrollment in this building reached 190 students. Kindergarten classes were held in the church basement.

In 1961, when it was necessary to enlarge the building again, it was decided to phase out the old building. A four-room unit of brick construction was built that year to accommodate the upper grades.

In 1966, an elementary wing of six classrooms was added. This unit contained a kitchen, a double room to accommodate large groups, and a special room for kindergarten. The old school building was abandoned and razed. The new building was completely modern and provided ten classrooms for ten teachers in kindergarten through ninth grade.

During this time, 238 students came from homes throughout the Moline, Wayland, and Dorr areas. Transportation was provided by public school buses, the Dorr Christian School Society bus, and private cars.

In 1979, the construction of a gymnasium, additional bathrooms, and a new kitchen was completed on the west side of the building. This addition provided needed indoor space for various activities and school functions.

The school's operating funds are largely supplied by tuition paid by parents. These funds are supplemented by donations from friends of the school. Additional financial assistance also comes from Moline, Wayland, and Dorr Christian Reformed churches.

2000: A major addition was completed on the west side of the school. This addition provided three additional classrooms to house middle school students, a library-media center, and a music room.

2006: Four additional classrooms were added to the east side of the school. These rooms are used for our preschool, young fives and full-time kindergarten students.

2015: School Circle alongside generous donors helped replace and revamp our school's playground.

2018: An outdoor classroom, named God's Classroom, was added to provide an outdoor learning environment for all MCS students.

2022: Between 2017 and 2022, our enrollment saw a remarkable increase of nearly 41%. This significant growth posed a challenge for our board and leadership to consider an expansion that would not only accommodate more students but also enhance our school's mission. In response to this pressing need, the board initiated a capital campaign titled “Growing Together.”

The addition added 9,000 square feet to accommodate five new classrooms, including a designated science classroom, as well as math and reading support spaces. Moreover, we created a versatile student flex space that encourages collaboration and engagement, helping to modernize the middle school experience. This flexible space is designed to support a variety of activities, from group projects to individual study, thereby enriching the overall educational journey for our students.

2024: Gather & Grow, our largest campaign to date was launched and is scheduled to be completed August 2025. The campaign includes a new entrance, 100+ parking spaces, new art room, a robotics lab, classroom renovations, and a dedicated social-emotional learning space.