History of Southeast

The Start
In August of 1977 Southeast, formerly Christian Way School, opened its doors at Gateway Christian Church in Aurora. Richard Achenbach was the founding principal.

"Mr. A" (as he was affectionately known), along with the help of fifteen Denver area churches, believed there was a need for a Christ-centered school to serve the area families.

Students came from the local community and from some of the fifteen founding churches. The school started with less than 50 students

Our Mission
To provide a Christ-centered education, preparing God’s children and young adults for works of service, so the body of Christ may be built up.  (Eph. 4:12)
 
Our Vision
Southeast students will be prepared to:
■Transition academically to higher education.
■Accept personal responsibility in their relationship with Christ.
■Serve others with their unique giftedness.
■Develop a Christian world view in order to build the body of Christ.
 
Our Core Values
To develop a close home-school relationship through complimentary teaching for the improvement of students’ development and progress.

To develop the spiritual life of students. This is the unique quality of the Christian school which enables the student to gain the true perspective on life.

To develop students socially in order to equip them for healthy relationships with other people. The teachers and staff will contribute by living and teaching a Christian example to promote proper social growth.
 
To develop students academically in the practical application of all knowledge by teaching them the fundamental subjects. This will allow them to proceed to higher goals.

To develop a spirit of patriotism and appreciation for the principles of freedom that we have inherited from our founding fathers.

To develop the physical health and well-being of students necessary to the growth of mind and body.

Staff
The strength of the school over the last 25 years has been the solid faculty -- they have not only served the students, but have served each other. Staff members still gather at least three times a week to pray together before school starts. The school has always had a reputation for being a fun place to work. Over the years the teachers have shown a commitment to teaching to transform character, not just academics.

Moving On
In 1996 the school moved from Aurora to the Denver Tech Center. Our strong student base and parent support sustained us as we prayed for a more permanent home.

A New Partnership
Then in 2005, a new partnership was announced with our host church, and JRCS became Southeast Christian School.