Bakersfield Christian HS President Oppty Profile

OVERVIEW
BCHS is a nondenominational 622 student high school in one of the most affordable and rapidly-growing regions of California. Located on
a beautiful 47-acre campus, BCHS has been blessed with remarkable fiscal health, demonstrated academic excellence, tremendous athletic
success, and intentional commitment to spiritual formation. Carefully balancing each of these areas and demonstrating continued excellence
in all of them is key to what makes BCHS distinctive.
FISCAL HEALTH
BCHS is entirely debt free. Yearly budgeting has provided annual
operating surpluses for over a decade. Annual outside audits have
verified this fiscal health. Significant enrollment growth in recent
years (41% full time domestic enrollment growth over the past five
years) has played a critical role in accelerating this already incredibly
positive fiscal picture. While COVID has obviously had a marked
detrimental impact on so many aspects of day-to-day life, BCHS has
actually captured the enrollment market share during this trying
time period. Employee compensation levels remain at par with that
of local public schools. An Endowment Campaign is now underway
with a goal of raising $13 million in cash and an additional $13
million in planned (future) gifts. This goal appears likely to be met.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Academic excellence has been the driving focus of BCHS over the
past six years. With this added focus, BCHS has rapidly become
known as the premier academic high school in Bakersfield.
Soaring SAT scores, recognition in the PSAT National Merit
competition, AP scores, and consistent collegiate acceptances to
top 30 national universities all point to this academic excellence.
The BCHS Honors Academy and the PSAT/SAT Preparation
Seminar program help differentiate BCHS from its competition.
While committed to an intensive AP program, BCHS has also
undertaken a partnership with Bakersfield College to provide
certain dual enrollment class opportunities. A strong and
increasingly growing Future Farmers of America (FFA) program
allows BCHS to provide instruction in areas seen as economic
drivers in the Central Valley (agriculture and dairy).
ATHLETIC SUCCESS
At BCHS, Jesus Christ is the foundation on which athletic teams
are built, and the athletic field is an extension and complement
to the classroom. Approximately 75% of students participate in at
least one sport on an annual basis. BCHS has achieved three CIF
championships (state) over the past two years, as well as numerous
regional and league titles. BCHS regularly and successfully competes
against the largest schools in the city and region (many of which
have between 1500-2000 students), thereby far outperforming its
enrollment.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
BCHS offers opportunities for students to be informed of and
engaged in a life of discipleship to Jesus Christ. The Spiritual
Formation Director leads significant aspects of the spiritual growth
program, including the biannual all-school retreat to Hume Lake,
weekly chapel, annual Spiritual Emphasis Week and community
service program. Enrollment in Bible courses is required of all
students for the entirety of their BCHS enrollment. BCHS is a
non-denominational Christian high school. The tenants of BCHS’
spiritual foundation rest upon what would be largely considered
conservative, Protestant traditions.
With the importance of balance in mind, the next President of BCHS will have the opportunity to build upon recent successes and take BCHS
to the next level of excellence in each of these areas.
For more information about Bakersfield Christian, visit the website at http://BakersfieldChristian.com.
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