Welcome to West Hills Christian School

Christ-centered Kindergarten – 8th grade education in Portland, Oregon

Partnering with families since 1949.

In 1949, six families felt called to establish a Christian school on the west side of town. Now three generations of students have called WHCS their home. Nestled in the foothills of Southwest Portland, Oregon, West Hills Christian School has been providing a quality Christian education to families of the Pacific Northwest for almost 75 years.

Through a compelling combination of quality teachers, first-rate enrichment classes, superb facilities and a commitment to strong academic, athletic and extracurricular programs, West Hills provides a dynamic, supportive learning environment where students are both challenged and loved well.

Non-denominational Christian school: 60 churches are represented by our school community
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Well prepared graduates: An average of 65% of students continue on to private high schools, including Westside Christian HS and local Catholic schools
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Diverse community: Our 325 students live in Portland and surrounding communities, including Wilsonville, West Linn, Hillsboro and everywhere in between
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Small class sizes: The average student to teacher ratio is 18:1
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Mission

West Hills Christian School is committed to providing an exceptional Christian education in accordance with God’s Word; we prayerfully partner with families to help students grow in their love for the Lord, to inspire lifelong learning, and to joyfully serve others for the glory of God.

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Theme Verse for 2024/2025

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Our Statement of Faith

We believe:

  1. The Bible to be inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God.1
  2. There is only one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.2
  3. In the deity of Christ3; His virgin birth4; His sinless life5; His miracles6; His vicarious and atoning death7; His resurrection8; His ascension to the right hand of the Father9; His personal return in power and glory10.
  4. In the absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature; and that men are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of Christ; and that only by God’s grace and through faith alone we are saved.11
  5. In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.12
  6. In the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.13
  7. In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.14

1 2 Tim. 3:15; 2 Peter 1:21
2 Gen. 1:1; Matt. 28:19; John 10:30
3 John 10:33
4 Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35
5 Heb. 4:15; 7:26
6 John 2:11
7 I Cor. 15:3; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 2:9

8 John 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:4
9 Mark 16:19
10 Acts 1:11; and Rev. 19:11
11 John 3:16-19; 5:24; Romans 3:23; 5:8-9; Eph. 2:9-10; Titus 3:5
12 John 5:28-29
13 Romans 8:9; I Cor. 12:12-13; Gal. 3:26-28
14 Romans 8:13-14; I Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20; Eph. 4:30; 5:18

Vision

We aspire that our graduates will:

  • Be rooted in their identity in Christ (Gal. 2:20, John 1:12) and well-grounded in Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17), grow in their love for Him and others (Eph. 3:17-19), be transformed to be like Christ (Rom. 12:2) by a thorough understanding of the Gospel which results in a life of gratitude (Eph. 5:20) and forgiveness (Col. 3:13), resisting the false narratives of the world (2 Cor. 10: 3-4).
  • Work diligently (Col. 3:23-24) and think deeply (Acts 17:11, 2 Cor. 10:3-4) while growing in academic responsibility (Gal. 6:7) to prepare them for excelling in high school and beyond.
  • Be joined as the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-6), joyfully serving others for the glory of God by working together (Hebrews 10:24-25) to put the needs of others above their own (Phil. 2:3-4).
Arial view of West Hills Christian School.
Neighboring Barbur Boulevard in 2000
Arial view of West Hills Christian School.
Neighboring Barbur Boulevard in 1952

History of West Hills Christian School

West Hills Christian School was founded in 1949 by six families who felt called to establish a Christian school on the west side of town. The school was originally housed the basement of Hillcrest Bible Chapel. It was later moved to two other church basement locations before the present property was purchased and a permanent building erected. Our beginnings were small: twenty-one students in grades one through six. Under the Lord’s blessing, West Hills Christian School continues to provide an exceptional Christian education in accordance with God’s Word, prayerfully partnering with families to help students grow in their love for the Lord, inspiring lifelong learning, and joyfully serving others for the glory of God. 

At a Glance

WHCS Fast Facts

  • Independent, non-denominational Christian school serving kindergarten through eighth grade
  • Southwest Portland campus located five minutes from I-5 and fifteen minutes from downtown Portland
  • Relationship and character-building experiences offered through Chapel and field trips
  • 55 administrators, teachers and support staff members are employed
  • Established in 1949, a private school founded on Christian traditions and biblical values
Elementary girls bow their heads in prayer in chapel service at West Hills Christian School.

Our Students Come From The Following Communities:

Portland40%
Tigard17%
Lake Oswego13%
Tualatin10%
Beaverton8%
West Linn5%
Wilsonville3%
Other4%

Denominations at West Hills

Sixty local churches are represented by our school community, including Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic, Foursquare and Presbyterian faith traditions. Interdenominational chapels are held weekly on campus for students and staff.

Where Do Our Students Go After Graduation?

Since our inception in 1949, more than 2,000 students have graduated from West Hills Christian School.

Accredited by:

Cognia conducts rigorous, on-site reviews of educational institutions to ensure their continuous improvement.

Member of:

Association of Christian Schools International promotes Christian education and provides training and resources to Christian schools and educators.

Northwest Evaluation Association creates assessment solutions that precisely measure growth and proficiency and provides insights to help tailor instruction.

WHCS Spiritual Background

As a non-denominational Christian school, our school community represents over 60 different local churches in the greater Portland area. While our school has stewarded growth and improvement over time, our mission remains unchanged: to provide an exceptional Christian education in accordance with God’s Word for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Three generations of alumni have returned to educate their children here…we encourage you to schedule a tour and find out why!

A boy puts his hand on friend's shoulder offering support during chapel meeting.

A Letter From Our Principal, Kim Mills

Welcome to West Hills Christian School!

We are excited to introduce you to our school and share the story of what makes this place so special. West Hills has been partnering with parents for nearly 75 years, to not only provide a quality Christian education, but to equip families as their children mature in their relationships with the Lord. The opportunity to walk together in community as families raise their children together and encourage one another along the journey, is a unique characteristic of our school. My story here began when my husband started at West Hills in 1st grade, when I wasn’t even living in Portland. I later joined as a parent and teacher, and now principal. I have worked in education as a teacher in private, public, homeschool, and even hospital school environments. After almost 25 years of teaching, I moved into administration with the goal of supporting and encouraging teachers and staff, in order to provide the best opportunity for students and families to thrive, as well.

I am so thankful for the gift of West Hills. It is a unique ministry to be able to work at a Christian school, where we can teach students holistically, strengthening their hearts, minds, and bodies, to build the kingdom of God. I am excited for all that lies ahead for our school, and I’m grateful that the Lord has given me the opportunity to work with such a fantastic team and community.

Headshot of Kim Mills

Kim Mills
Principal
West Hills Christian School

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students

West Hills Christian School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, and national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.