Heritage Leads Top 10 List of Best College-Prep Schools in Central Indiana
Written by Lisa Abbott
A recent Indianapolis Star article cited Heritage as the top school in Central Indiana for producing college-ready graduates (“How Well Are Indiana High Schools Preparing Students for College?” by Arika Herron, Indy Star, Aug. 1, 2017). Based on data from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education*, Heritage boasts the highest percentage (98 percent) of graduates enrolled in Indiana public colleges who are ready for college-level coursework. The impressive distinction confirms what Heritage families have known for over five decades; that the school excels at preparing students for an academic future that includes higher education.
But while academic preparation is a clear priority at Heritage, CEO Jeff Freeman says the school employs a wholistic approach to education that incorporates spiritual instruction into its academic training. “It is so awesome to be independently recognized for college readiness,” said Heritage CEO, Jeff Freeman. “Praise God! This recognition speaks to the excellence of the Heritage Christian value proposition; combining high academics and college prep with a biblical worldview. At Heritage, you do not have to sacrifice one to get the other.”
This recognition speaks to the excellence of the Heritage Christian value proposition; combining high academics and college prep with a biblical worldview. At Heritage, you do not have to sacrifice one to get the other.
Heritage High School Principal Phil Nikirk says this combination of spiritual and academic instruction is a perfect combination that helps prepare students for the next phase of life after graduation. “I am always amazed and awestruck when I see how God calls us to where we can use the gifts and talents He gives us and reveals how we can use them to honor Him,” he said. “The honor of this number one ranking should be shared by our entire school community. Clearly, when you have a staff that is dedicated to the spiritual, academic and social growth of our students and you combine that with a college preparatory curriculum taught with a Christian Worldview, you get tremendous results.”
* What is the Indiana Commission for Higher Education? Created in 1971 by an act of the General Assembly and signed into law by then Governor Edgar Whitcomb, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education is now in its fourth decade of service to the State of Indiana. The Commission is a fourteen-member public body created to:
- Define the educational missions of public colleges and universities;
- Plan and to coordinate Indiana’s state-supported system of post-high school education, taking into account the plans and interests of independent colleges and universities;
- Review both operating budget and capital budget appropriation requests from public institutions;
- Approve or disapprove for public institutions the establishment of any new branches, campuses, extension centers, colleges or schools;
- Approve or disapprove for public institutions the offering of any additional associate, baccalaureate or graduate degree or certificate program of two semesters or more in duration;
- Review all programs of public institutions and make recommendations to the governing board of the institution, the Governor, and the General Assembly concerning the funding and the disposition of these programs; and,
- Distribute student financial aid from state aid programs.
The Governor appoints twelve members, nine representing a Congressional District and three at-large members, to serve terms of four years. In addition, the 1990 legislature added a student and a faculty representative who are appointed by the Governor for terms of two years. The Commission is not a governing board, but a coordinating agency that works closely with Indiana’s public and independent colleges. In addition, The Commission has strong working relationships with many other State agencies, including: Department of Education, the Department of Workforce Development, The Center for Education and Career Innovation, and the Independent Colleges of Indiana.