Our History & Mission

Our Mission:

“Illiana Christian High School is founded on the Bible as interpreted in the Reformed creeds. We graduate academically capable people with a comprehensive Christian view of life committed to the challenge of serving God and others.”

Illiana is founded on the Bible as interpreted in the Reformed creeds, namely The Canons of Dort, The Heidelberg Catechism, and The Belgic Confession. (These creeds can be found online at crcna.org and other locations.) We graduate academically capable young people with a comprehensive Christian view of life who are committed to the challenge of serving God and others. The school is supported by more than 4,000 families and 35 Reformed churches (Christian Reformed, Reformed, Protestant Reformed, United Reformed, and independent Reformed churches). There are more than 9,000 alumni. The school is known for its academic excellence, nurture of spiritual growth, and broad array of opportunities for students. Illiana remains very closely tied to its original vision of preparing young men and women to serve God through everything they do in all areas of life. Because of our respect for each individual as an image-bearer of God and our respect for all vocations as equal before God, we are committed to providing students vocational training, academic preparation, and spiritual challenge.

History of Illiana:

• 1911— Christian elementary schools established in Highland, Lansing, Munster, and South Holland, and more recently Crown Point. A need emerged for Christian secondary education in the area.
• 1944— First Illiana board meeting at the Munster Christian Reformed Church. Based on their report, the Illiana Christian High School Association was organized with 141 charter members. Each of the ten churches was represented by an elected board member forming the first Illiana board. It was at this meeting that Illiana was established!
• 1945–Illiana’s founders felt challenged by the idea of creating Christian secondary education in the area, and in September the very first class started at the newly built location. The school held 90 students.
• 1946— By fall, the number had grown to 135 total students. The building wasn’t finished and the accommodations were inadequate, so the students moved to a temporary location.
• 1948— Illiana’s location was established on a piece of land called “Bock’s Field” in Lansing, Ill.
• 1956 and 1966— The Illiana school building became too small to hold the growing number of students, so it went through constructional expansions in these two years. Around 260 students attended Illiana in ‘56, and the numbers kept increasing.
• 1977— A large gymnasium and industrial arts facility were added. Additional support staff was added to meet the increasing administrative and custodial needs. There were over 770 students crowding the halls of Illiana. All the students could not fit into the auditorium and separate chapels had to be held.
• 1980s and 90s— Illiana’s diversity grew and added many new staff and faculty members to accommodate the students, still keeping its goal to provide Christian secondary education in Illinois and Indiana.
• 2018–Illiana Christian High School moved to a brand new building in Dyer, Indiana, and established itself within the community there.

One thing has remained the same throughout the many years of changes here at Illiana, and that is our purpose. Teachers, students, parents, and constituents want this to be a place of academic and social growth, but most of all a place to become a better-equipped servant of Christ. Our hope and prayer is for the Lord to continue to bless all who work, study, learn, and grow at Illiana. If you want to be a part of this mission and story, explore what we offer through our website or set up a visit at Illiana’s Dyer, Indiana campus!