Westminster Christian Academy (Missouri)

Private school in Town and Country, Missouri, United States

Westminster Christian Academy

Main entrance

Address

800 Maryville Centre Drive

Town and Country

Missouri

63017

United States

Coordinates| 38°38′13″N 90°30′13″W﻿ / ﻿38.63694°N 90.50361°W﻿ / 38.63694; -90.50361
Information
Type| Private
Religious affiliation(s)| Christian
Established| 1976
Head of School| Dr. Barrett Mosbacker
Grades| 7–12
Gender| Coeducational
Enrollment| 946 (2023)
Color(s)|  Blue and White
Mascot| Wildcat
Website| www.wcastl.org

Westminster Christian Academy is an independent coeducational private Christian school in Town and Country, Missouri, serving students in grades 7–12. As of 2023[update], the school has an enrollment of 946 students.[1] It was founded in 1976 and moved to its present campus in 2011.

## History

[edit]

Founded by members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church,[2] Westminster Christian Academy opened in 1976 in rented classrooms at Missouri Baptist University, with 72 students.[3][4] It soon moved to a former elementary school in Des Peres, then in 1982, when enrollment had grown to 250, bought the 30-acre former Ladue Middle School campus on Ladue Road in Creve Coeur.[3][4]

The Ladue Road campus, which originally had a capacity of 600, was renovated and expanded in the early 1990s to accommodate 900 students, and enrollment subsequently grew. In 2003, Westminster purchased the 40-acre campus of West County Vocational Technical School in Town and Country, intending to use it to accommodate future growth. An anonymous gift enabled it to purchase the adjacent 30 acres, known as "Centreat", from Central Presbyterian Church.[3][4] Ground was broken in June 2010 on extensive modifications and additions to the technical school building,[4] and when the school reopened on its new campus in August 2011, it had a capacity of 1,200 students and 300,000 sq. ft. of educational space, including a 610-seat theater, plus extensive athletic facilities.[4][5] The former campus, then with 165,000 sq. ft. of space, was sold to the Ladue School District.[3][4] Enrollment was 964 in 2013.[6]

### Leadership

[edit]

The following have served as head of school: Nolan Vander Ark (1976–77); Evelyn Downs (1977–81); Arlen Dykstra (1981–84); Larry Birchler (acting headmaster 1984–85);[citation needed] Jim Marsh (1985–2013);[6] Tom Stoner (2013–2016); Barrett Mosbacker (2017–present).[7]

## Programs

[edit]

### Academics

[edit]

During the 1990–91 school year, Westminster was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education.[8] The school is recognized for combining Christian education with high academic standards.[2]

### Arts

[edit]

The school has been recognized by the St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards multiple times—awards received include Outstanding Production (2017, 2019, 2020, 2022), Outstanding Ensemble (2019), Outstanding Costume Design & Execution (2018), Outstanding Direction (2018), Outstanding Supporting Actress (2017), and Outstanding Lead Actress (2022).[9] During the 2018–19 school year, 15 students were selected to participate in the St. Louis metro district honors choir and orchestra.[10] Two students were also selected to participate in the All-State Choir.

### Athletics

[edit]

Westminster teams are the Wildcats. The school is a member of the Metro League along with John Burroughs, Lutheran North, Lutheran South, MICDS, Principia, Priory, and Villa Duchesne.[11]

Westminster's athletic program has won many state titles. Varsity football started in 2001; Westminster has since won five district championships and two conference championships. The team reached the state final four for the first time in 2015.[12][13] In 2014, the boys' baseball team became the first in Missouri history to win four consecutive state championships.[14] The boys' hockey team won the Wickenheiser Cup in 2017 and 2018.[15] In 2022, the girls' volleyball team won their second straight state championship.[16] In March 2023, the girls' swim team won the state championship for the first time.[17] Margo O'Meara was the first girl and the second student to win four consecutive Missouri state diving championships.[18]

## Accreditation and memberships

[edit]

### Accreditation

[edit]

Westminster has been accredited since 1983 by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States,[19] the first Christian school to achieve that accreditation,[2] and by Cognia.[20]

### Memberships

[edit]

Westminster became a member of the National Union of Christian Schools in its first year.[3] It is now a member of the following organizations: Council on Educational Standards & Accountability,[21] Independent Schools of St. Louis,[22] Christian Schools Association of St. Louis,[23] and Christian Schools International.[24]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Michael Gerson (1982) — former presidential speechwriter for George W. Bush and one of Time magazine's "25 Most Influential Evangelicals In America"[25]
* Sandra McCracken (1995) — singer-songwriter[26]
* Jacob Turner (2009) — former MLB pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and Washington Nationals[27]
* Kirsten Wright (2017) - soccer player for Racing Louisville FC

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Westminster Christian Academy". Private School Review. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
2. ^ a b c Jessica Bock (August 26, 2011). "Westminster: Christian school, students flourish". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
3. ^ a b c d e "History". Westminster Christian Academy. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
4. ^ a b c d e f "Westminister breaks ground on new campus". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 8, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
5. ^ Mary Shapiro (July 26, 2011). "Westminster Christian Academy ready for August opening". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
6. ^ a b Mary Shapiro (January 8, 2013). "Westminster Christian Academy's Marsh starts new chapter". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
7. ^ "Westminster Christian Academy Names Barrett Mosbacker as Next Head of School". Patch (news release). February 10, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
8. ^ "Schools Recognized 1982–1983 Through 1999–2002" (PDF). United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon School Program. p. 49.
9. ^ "SLHSMTA - Home". St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
10. ^ "St. Louis Metro District 8". stlmetro8.org. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
11. ^ "Athletics". Westminster Christian Academy. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
12. ^ "Varsity football". Westminster Christian Academy. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023.
13. ^ Steve Overbey (November 21, 2015). "Kearney explodes in second half to beat Westminster". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
14. ^ Dave Jobe (June 8, 2014). "Westminster Wins 4th Straight State Baseball Championship". KTVI. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
15. ^ Warren Mayes (October 28, 2018). "2018-19 high school hockey preview". West newsmagazine. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
16. ^ Nate Latsch (November 4, 2022). "Westminster Christian beats Incarnate Word to win Missouri Class 4 girls volleyball title". Sports Illustrated High School News. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
17. ^ Warren Mayes (March 6, 2023). "Westminster Christian Academy girls win first state swimming championship". West newsmagazine. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
18. ^ Warren Mayes (March 25, 2021). "Margo O'Meara ends high school diving career undefeated". West newsmagazine. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
19. ^ "ISACS Directory of Schools". Archived from the original on March 24, 2010.
20. ^ "Registry". Cognia. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
21. ^ "Schools". Council on Educational Standards & Accountability. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
22. ^ "Westminster Christian Academy". independentschools.org. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
23. ^ "Westminster Christian Academy — CSASLGettysburg-DC Trip--Central Leadership Forum". CSASL. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
24. ^ "Westminster Christian Academy, St Louis". Christian Schools International. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
25. ^ "The 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America". Time. February 7, 2005. Archived from the original on February 3, 2005.
26. ^ ChrisAnn Brunsmann (September 20, 2011). "Sandra McCracken Concert". Patch. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
27. ^ "Jacob Turner". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 31, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Westminster Christian Academy (Missouri) at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Town and Country, Missouri

Public
school districts|

* Parkway C-2 School District
* Kirkwood R-VII School District
* Ladue School District

Private
schools|

* CBC HS
* The Principia
* Visitation Academy of St. Louis
* Westminster Christian Acad

Tertiary
Education|

* Maryville University

Religious
centers|

* St. Louis Missouri Temple

This list is incomplete.
There are areas which have "St. Louis, MO" postal addresses but in fact are in the Town and Country city limits.

* v
* t
* e

Education in St. Louis County, Missouri

This includes institutions outside of the city limits of St. Louis which have "St. Louis, MO" postal addresses.
Note multiple places with "St. Louis, MO" postal addresses are not in the St. Louis city limits.

K-12

School districts|

* Affton
* Bayless
* Brentwood
* Clayton
* Ferguson-Florissant
* Hancock Place
* Hazelwood
* Jennings
* Kirkwood
* Ladue
* Lindbergh
* Maplewood Richmond Heights
* Mehlville
* Meramec Valley R-III
* Normandy Collab
* Parkway
* Pattonville
* Rittenour
* Riverview Gardens
* Rockwood
* University City
* Valley Park
* Webster Groves

Special district|

* Special School District of St. Louis County

Public
high schools|

* Affton
* Clayton
* Eureka
* Fern Ridge
* Hazelwood Central
* Hazelwood East
* Hazelwood West
* Kirkwood
* McCluer
* McCluer North
* Melhville
* Normandy
* Parkway Central
* Parkway North
* Parkway South
* Parkway West
* Pattonville
* STEAM Academy at McCluer South-Berkeley
* University City
* Valley Park

| Closed|

* Berkeley
* Douglass
* Kinloch

|

Private
high schools|

* Barat Acad
* Chaminade College Prep
* CBC HS
* Cor Jesu Acad
* De Smet Jesuit HS
* Incarnate Word Acad
* John Burroughs
* Logos HS
* Lutheran North
* Lutheran South
* Nerinx Hall HS
* Notre Dame HS
* Principia
* St. John Vianney HS
* St. Joseph's Acad
* Saint Louis Priory
* Ursuline Acad
* Villa Duchesne
* Visitation Acad
* Westminster Christian Acad
* Whitfield School

| Closed|

* Trinity Catholic

|

Tertiary institutions

Four-year|

* Fontbonne University
* Maryville University
* Missouri Baptist University
* Washington University in St. Louis
* Webster University

Community
college|

* St. Louis Community College

Seminaries|

* Concordia Seminary
* Covenant Theological Seminary

Supplementary education

Weekend
schools|

* St. Louis Japanese School

This list may be incomplete

* v
* t
* e

High schools in Greater St. Louis

Missouri public
high schools|

* Affton
* Bayless
* Beaumont
* Brentwood
* Carnahan
* Central VPA
* Clayton
* Cleveland
* Cylde C. Miller
* Collegiate
* Crystal City
* Eureka
* Farmington
* Fern Ridge
* Festus
* Fort Zumwalt East
* Fort Zumwalt North
* Fort Zumwalt South
* Fort Zumwalt West
* Fox
* Francis Howell
* Francis Howell Central
* Francis Howell North
* Gateway
* Hazelwood Central
* Hazelwood East
* Hazelwood West
* Herculaneum
* Hillsboro
* Holt
* Kirkwood
* Ladue
* Lafayette
* Lindbergh
* Maplewood Richmond Heights
* Marquette
* McCluer
* McCluer North
* STEAM Acad. @ McCluer South-Berkeley
* McKinley
* Mehlville
* Metro
* Normandy
* North County (Bonne Terre)
* Northwest Academy
* Northwest
* Nottingham
* Oakville
* Orchard Farm
* Pacific
* Pattonville
* Parkway Central
* Parkway North
* Parkway South
* Parkway West
* Ritenour
* Rockwood Summit
* Roosevelt
* Sch f/t Blind
* Silex
* St. Charles
* St. Charles West
* Seckman
* Soldan
* Sumner
* Timberland
* Troy Buchanan
* Union
* University City
* Valley Park
* Vashon
* Warrenton
* Washington
* Webster Groves
* Windsor
* Wright City

Illinois public
high schools|

* Alton
* Belleville East
* Belleville West
* Brussels
* Bunker Hill
* Cahokia
* Calhoun
* Carlinville
* Carlyle
* Central
* Civic Memorial
* Collinsville
* Columbia
* Dupo
* East Alton-Wood River
* East St. Louis
* Edwardsville
* Freeburg
* Gillespie
* Granite City
* Greenville
* Highland
* Jersey
* Lebanon
* Madison
* Marissa
* Mascoutah
* Mount Olive
* Mulberry Grove
* New Athens
* North Mac
* O'Fallon
* Roxana
* Southwestern
* Staunton
* Triad
* Waterloo
* Valmeyer
* Wesclin

Catholic Archdiocesan
high schools|

* Althoff
* Bishop DuBourg
* Cardinal Ritter
* Duchesne
* Gilbault
* Mater Dei
* Rosati-Kain
* St. Dominic
* St. Francis Borgia
* St. Mary's
* St. Pius X

| Closed|

* John F. Kennedy
* Trinity

|

Catholic private
high schools|

* Barat Academy
* Chaminade
* Christian Brothers
* Cor Jesu
* De Smet
* Incarnate Word
* Marquette Catholic
* Nerinx Hall
* Notre Dame
* St. John Vianney
* St. Joseph's
* Priory
* St. Louis University High
* Ursuline
* Villa Duchesne
* Visitation

| Closed|

* St. Elizabeth

|

Other private
high schools|

* Christian
* Crossroads
* John Burroughs School
* Logos
* Lutheran North
* Lutheran South
* Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School
* The Principia
* Thomas Jefferson School
* Tower Grove Christian Academy
* Twin City Christian Academy
* Whitfield School
* Westminster Christian Academy

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

|

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