PCS PURPOSE
The purpose of Providence Classical School is to provide a classical, Christ-centered education equipping students with a thorough biblical world and life view that captures their affections and enables them to discern, articulate, and live truth.

HISTORY
Providence Classical School is a classical, Christian school that opened its doors to students in 2001 after two years of careful planning and deliberation. The vision of bringing this school from dream to reality has been an incredible and fulfilling process.

Our five founding board members shared a vision for bringing classical Christian education to the Williamsburg area. In late spring of 1999, the group, which included a mother of classically educated children, two classical education teachers, a local pastor and former educator, and a public school Latin teacher, decided to convene monthly to discuss the school idea. For one year, they did research about the classical education model, gathered information from well-known classical Christian schools, and read extensively about teaching methods and education theory.

By the summer of 2000, the group began developing the founding statements, articles of incorporation and by-laws. With these critical tasks completed, the group decided that the time was right to bring the PCS concept public and gauge community interest for a school of this type. The group, which chose the name “Providence” to signify its fortuitous coming together, held a Community Interest Forum in March 2001. Based on the level of interest shown at that event, they decided to push ahead with an aggressive schedule for opening a school in the fall of 2001.

After a lengthy search, the group reached an agreement to rent space at the Williamsburg Christian Church on John Tyler Lane. This location served the school well in its first year but proved to be too small to contain the growth of the student body, which doubled between the first and second years. During the summer of 2002, PCS located a suitable building on Palace Lane in Williamsburg.  School staff and families undertook a complete renovation of the building during that summer and opened the new school in September with a celebration including local dignitaries and representatives from local churches.

Enrollment at the school increased substantially through the years of 2002-2008.  As PCS grew to offer kindergarten through eighth grades, it filled the Palace Lane building to capacity.  During the years of 2006-2008, the PCS Facilities Committee undertook the task of searching out a building suitable for the next phase of the school’s growth.  In the spring of 2009, they located a series of buildings that would double the classroom capacity and provide separate spaces for the growing Grammar and Dialectic schools.  The new campus is located in the Greensprings Center, off John Tyler Highway (Route 5) in Williamsburg, across from Jamestown High School.  PCS is adding 10th grade in the fall of 2010, and many classes will be added to support the growth of the student body in the grammar grades.

The PCS Facilities Committee will continue its work supporting the school in its next growth phase.  The plans to expand the Rhetoric School (grades 9-12) will require a larger space, perhaps in a stand-alone Providence campus.   The committee is looking for land to purchase so that PCS may complete its plan to become a full K-12 school.
 
PCS has benefited from the grace of God, much prayer, a supportive community, and the talents of the many families and staff who have brought amazing skill sets to the growing school.