Education in our country and our community has reached a pivot point, when both data and the well-being of our children are challenging us to assess our institutions, our assumptions, and our educational practices. The Hendricks Family Foundation (HFF) has been seeking ways to leverage our support to help here in Beloit. One of those ways is by recognizing the success of Rock County Christian Schools (RCCS).

RCCS, a private religious school participating in the Wisconsin School Choice program, operates a grade school in Janesville and a middle-high school in Beloit. The Beloit campus served 147 students in 2021-22; 80% of those students qualified for the Wisconsin School Choice program. The campus is economically diverse – 70% of students were deemed to be economically disadvantaged – as well as racially and ethnically diverse with nearly 50% of the student-body considered non-white.

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) releases report cards for school districts and private choice schools annually. They use a five (5) star-rating system and in 2020-21, RCCS scored 4 of 5 stars, defined by DPI as Exceeds Expectations. They earned the same ranking in 2021-22, the year spanning the most recently available reports. Against the backdrop of covid their results are worth applauding. HFF took notice and provided donations of $5,000 in 2021 and $10,000 in 2022 as a way of supporting and encouraging their important work.

We also had another reason for offering support. Those of us who are parents, grandparents, even aunts and uncles – certainly those who are teachers – know that not all children are the same. It seems simple and self-evident, right? Some kids are cerebral, others mechanical. Some are artistic, others love to build things. Some kids are witty or brilliant, others are quiet and would pick a book over a crowd. Thus, the point which should be obvious to us all is that not all children will thrive in the same learning environment. Parents got a particularly vivid display of this during the pandemic and it is incumbent upon us to support and empower parents to choose the learning environments that can help ensure their children thrive. Our kids deserve no less.