King's Gate Christian School
Our History
For over forty years, King’s Gate has offered excellence in education to Oklahoma City Metro families. What began as a child care ministry has grown into a private Christian school for toddlers through high school. It is our mission to take the love of Jesus Christ to the community by partnering with families to equip the whole student for their individual calling through a rich, experiential education.
1977
Founding
King’s Gate Christian School was founded as an outreach ministry of Our Lord’s Community Church (OLCC) to provide a preschool and full-time childcare. Initial emphasis was on infant stimulation, the inclusion of the handicapped, and school readiness. It was originally located at 50th and Villa in NW OKC.
1986
First Move
King’s Gate moved with OLCC to a newly built facility at Hefner and Portland. While the preschool remained, the full-time childcare became Mother’s Day Out two days a week.
1993
First Accreditation
King’s Gate received its first accreditation. The National Academy of Early Childhood Programs recognized King’s Gate’s outstanding Early Childhood program and declared it met national standards of quality.
1996
Audio Learning
The only audio learning preschool program for the hearing impaired in Oklahoma was started at King’s Gate. We continue to support and advocate for Hearts for Hearing who provide a supportive early childhood learning environment for hearing-impaired students. This partnership strengthened King’s Gate’s core value to support students with learning challenges.
1998
Kindergarten
After many years of prayer and planning, King’s Gate added Kindergarten as well as extended day programs to support working parents. These programs offer learning through play and social interaction.
1999
New Addition
OLCC built a new addition for our new Kindergarten class as well as a large multi-purpose classroom, two handicap-accessible bathrooms, and a kitchen.
2000
New Accreditation
King’s Gate accomplished accreditation by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and the Oklahoma Private School Accrediting Commission which recognize schools for their dedication to provide quality education and care for children in their community.
2001
Music & Science
The addition of music and science programs provide a richer educational experience.
2003
Outdoor Classroom
An outdoor classroom developed on the OLCC property included a bird blind, a tracking station, and an amphitheater. Known as “The Woods,” it expanded the school’s opportunities across the total curriculum for teamwork, moral development, stewardship, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
2005
Extended Day
Extended day programs expanded to offer quality care from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm.
2008
First Grade
First grade was added, bringing to reality an idea discussed during the lifespan of our school.
2009
Reorganization
An OLCC classroom was remodeled to accommodate a new second grade class. The dream of establishing a K-5 elementary school was becoming a reality as the Family Life Board began investigating the viability of such an endeavor.
At the same time, King’s Gate was reorganized into a new 501(c)3 not-for-profit, separate from Our Lord’s Community Church. This allowed governing policies and procedures to be handled by those directly associated with King’s Gate ministries (King’s Gate Christian School, Mother’s Day Out, and Super Summer) while we continued to benefit from the support of the loving congregation of OLCC.
The Family Life Board of OLCC governing King’s Gate became the King’s Gate Board, providing oversight for the school, Child Development Center, and Super Summer programs. The Board is comprised of the Head of Schools, parents, supporters, and advocates of King’s Gate.
2014
Growing King’s Gate
In the Spring, the Growing King’s Gate campaign was established after a school growth committee made up of administration and parents determined to grow King’s Gate through 12th grade. Surveyed families expressed overwhelming support and positive feedback and asked the Board to move forward with expansion plans. The Board committed to expansion a year later.
The Board, families, and staff participated in a two-day Strategic Planning event led by Ed Thomas, a leader in Christian education in our region. Key priorities were identified and a feasibility study demonstrated that through King’s Gate’s favor in our community and supportive friends, there was sufficient capacity to draw financial support to underwrite school expansion.
That fall, following years of planning and prayer, King’s Gate opened a satellite Child Development Center at Surrey Hills Baptist Church (SHBC).
2017
Surrey Hills Expansion
Through the Growing King’s Gate capital campaign and our partnership with Surrey Hills Baptist Church, space at SHBC was renovated and equipped to relocate our oldest students to that campus. The plan was for them to grow into our first middle and high school classes.
2018
A New Chapter
OLCC leadership informed King’s Gate they were moving in a new direction and the school would need to relocate after the 2018-2019 school year.
2019
Middle School
In partnership with SHBC, the first floor of the Next Generation Center (NGC) opened to provide six more classrooms and a state-of-the-art science lab in time for the start of school. We continue to raise funds to complete the top floor of the NGC to provide additional classroom space to accommodate expansion through 12th grade.
We introduced 8th grade at Surrey Hills that fall and forged a partnership with The Village Baptist Church to provide a CDC satellite location.
2020
High School & Village Expansion
Realizing yet another dream, we offered 9th grade for the first time, expanding to high school. We added Pre-K to our Village location at The Village Baptist Church.
2021
Reaccreditation
Reaccreditation with ACSI was completed and King’s Gate was found to have met or exceeded all standards.
