About

Welcome to Illiana Christian

Illiana Christian High School is a co-educational, private, Christian high school located in Dyer, IN. It is operated by an association of Reformed Christians (people who follow the biblical understandings of John Calvin) for the benefit of their children and the children of other Christian families. It was established in 1945 and continues to operate in accordance with its original mission. It is accredited by AdvancED, by Christian Schools International, and is recognized by the state of Indiana.

Academic Program:

With 544 students, Illiana offers a broad, comprehensive curriculum. There are 110 different course options including Advanced Placement classes in Calculus, Chemistry, German, Government, Statistics and Spanish, as well as 17 dual-credit classes providing college credit. Pupil/professional ratio is 12/1. Illiana’s average class size is 19 students. 88% of our graduates continue their education after high school. The average composite SAT score for the class of 2022 was 1095 with about 98% of the students taking the test. Most of our faculty members have Master’s degrees and they average 20 years of teaching experience.

Extra- and Co-curricular Activities:

Musical opportunities include Jazz Band, Pep Band, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Musical, Chamber Singers, Acapella Choir, Concert Choir and Women’s Chorale. Athletic opportunities for boys include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track, volleyball and wrestling.  Athletic opportunities for girls include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball.

Other activities include Bill of Rights convention, chapel, dodgeball, Echo, GO Club, Close-Up in the Capital, drama, fine arts, flag corps, intramurals, IMPACT, Landlopers, Math Team, Robotics, Senior Service, Student Council, and Yearbook.

Biblical Understanding of Race that Underpins Instruction at ICHS

The following principles guide instruction in ICHS classrooms whenever subjects of race relations or justice arise:

1. People of all races and ethnicities are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27).  This fact is the foundation for treating all human beings with dignity and respect.
2. All people have sinned. Prejudice, racism, and injustice are byproducts of our fall into sin (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12).
3. God loves, redeems, and welcomes people of all races and ethnicities into His kingdom (Isaiah 42: 1-7, Romans 3:22-24, Revelation 7: 9-10)
4. People of different races and ethnicities should never use race or ethnicity as a marker to suggest any class of people is more or less favored by God.  Instead, we are to live together in harmony, working as one body with Christ our head (Gal. 3:28, I Corinthians 12).
5. God repeatedly calls His people to work for justice for all people, particularly those who are marginalized such as the poor, the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow (Deuteronomy 24, Jeremiah 22, Psalm 82:3, Isaiah 53, Luke 10: 25-37, Matthew 25).

6. Human history bears clearly the marks of sin and injustice, so to understand history and various cultures, students must recognize how racism and ethnocentrism have shaped the human story.  In learning both a biblical understanding of humanity and an honest and full picture of history, students are equipped to join Christ in the redemptive work of loving and working with people of all races and ethnicities.

From the Principal:

The most important thing to know about Illiana is that it is a Christian school. That means a lot and we would like to tell you a bit more about just what kind of Christian school Illiana is and why that is so important. There are also many other things about Illiana that you should know, so please take some time to wade through this site and explore it. We have tried to arrange it logically and intuitively. We have tried to be thorough so that you can find out whatever you want to know about the school.

We consider this website a kind of introduction to Illiana Christian High School, but it is only an introduction. Feel free to call the school, visit the school, and ask around about the school.

My name is Peter Boonstra. I am the principal of Illiana Christian. I consider myself a servant of the school, willing to do what I can to make sure that Christian families not only find a safe wholesome environment here, but find Illiana to be a place that challenges and nurtures young men and women to grow and learn intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. For a school of about 550 students we have many programs, courses, and opportunities which together nurture and develop each student’s capacity and capability as contributors to God’s kingdom.

~ Peter Boonstra, Principal