Christian Heritage School history

A six class room and science lab addition was completed in February 1982 to enable CHS to add grades 11 and 12.

The school graduated its first senior class in June 1984 and currently has over 1000 alumni.

The idea of a Christian school in Northwest Georgia began in 1985 with the collaboration of several local pastors and community leaders who sought to deliver the highest level of education, with a Biblical foundation, to children across Northwest Georgia.

After spending one year in intentional prayer, it was decided that Christian Heritage School would open its doors in 1986 at Kinsey Drive Baptist Church.

During its first ten years in Northbrook, IL, Christian Heritage Academy developed a quality K-8 academic program and matured as an institution, preparing for and achieving its first accreditation in 1992 from the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Increasing enrollment brought the need for a larger facility and in 1994, CHA purchased the 15-acre Marillac High School campus in Northfield, IL, from the Daughters of Charity, which continues to be our current location.

An addition of two classrooms and a large cafeteria opened in September 1996.

In 1997, CHS opened the doors of a beautiful new facility, at its current location, in the heart of Dalton, to 218 students and 31 staff members.

In 1999, a capital campaign was launched to raise funds for a new three-story wing, which included the Upper School Library, numerous classrooms and offices.

After years of praying for land adjacent to the CHS campus, CHS purchased the Knecht property at 585 White Plains Road on April 1, 2008 as part of the Foundation for the Future campaign.

In 2010, the HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Excellence) Fund was inspired by English and was established to honor the memory of those who have either supported our students or who received services through the academic support of a tutor or Heritage Educational Support Services teacher.

In June 2011, CHS took occupancy of the Knecht family home, using it for faculty housing, and renamed the building the “Kingsmen House”. At present, CHS has approximately 440 students in the school population, representing over 40 communities and approximately 90 churches.

In November of 2013, CHS broke ground on the beginning phase of a new high school campus.

On this land, a 65,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility was constructed and opened for the first day of classes on August 14, 2017.