Our Story
In the late 1980s, Hillsdale College began preparations to expand outside of collegiate education and to found an elementary school. This plan was born from a desire to establish a school for community members that stood in line with the college’s beliefs and also to create an exemplary school to serve as “a model for America.” Hillsdale Academy was founded in 1990 and opened on August 27 of that year with 45 students. The Academy started with a program for Kindergarten through 8th grade students and was housed in portable classrooms located where the Hillsdale College soccer fields now stand.
On May 16, 1997, Hillsdale Academy broke ground for the current school building on the south-east corner of the Hillsdale College campus and overlooking Winona Lake. The new building opened in 1998 and was dedicated that fall on October 9th. With the opening of the new school building, Hillsdale Academy expanded to include high school students, starting with 9th and 10th grades in its first year. In 2001, Hillsdale Academy graduated its first 12th grade class.
Since its foundation, Hillsdale Academy has been served by seven headmasters, has grown in enrollment to over 200 students, and has graduated over 300 seniors. In addition to serving local families, the Academy has aided thousands of classical schools and educators through its curriculum reference guides and customized consulting.