Our School

“Discipling Students to Know God and Make Him Known”

Discipleship
At DCS, Christ is at the center of all we do. We are committed to nurturing a deep, personal relationship with God in every student by encouraging a life of prayer, heartfelt worship, the study of Scripture, and faithful obedience to Christ. Our goal is to cultivate a lasting, transformative faith that shapes both hearts and minds.

Creativity
DCS is a vibrant, imaginative learning environment where hands-on, experiential learning thrives. Through arts-integrated instruction, students engage with a variety of art forms—music, drama, visual arts, and more—to deepen understanding, enhance collaboration, and strengthen critical thinking. Creativity is not an add-on; it’s woven into every part of the learning experience.

Community
At DCS, relationships are foundational. We strive to create a place where every child is known, loved, and valued. We believe Christian education begins in the home, and strong partnerships with families are essential to our students’ success. Rooted in Christ’s call to love our neighbor, we actively seek to serve and impact our local community for His glory.

Success
DCS is dedicated to the success of every student through a rigorous curriculum, individualized instruction, and excellent teaching. We believe success isn’t about perfection—it’s about pursuing excellence with a heart to glorify Jesus. By stewarding our gifts and giving our best, we aim to honor God in all we do.

God has commanded His people and His church to provide the education and preparation needed to fulfill His plan for creation. The public school system was created to provide education separate from the church to train children’s minds, but unable to train their spirits. At DCS, we desire to restore God’s original intent – to train children both mentally and spiritually so that they may be able to fulfill their destinies in Christ.

Dayspring Christian School recognizes that the God-given responsibility for the education of children rests with the parents (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). The place of the Christian school is to be an extension of the Christian family and should assist and complement the parents in that responsibility.

As a school, we are committed to creating and maintaining an atmosphere filled with the presence and teachings of Jesus Christ as we partner with parents in discipling their children in the Lord. Our goal is to see each of our students learn to know and love God and learn what it means to make Him known to a world that desparetly needs Him.

Our emphasis on high academic standards is important, but our goal is not just to train students academically. We want to train the whole person so that our graduates are able to excel as  individuals who are biblically grounded, creative thinkers, community minded, servant leaders, and capable communicators.

In 2004, Kelly Lewis founded Dayspring Christian School with 24 children and two other teachers. With a master’s degree in School Administration, she partnered with Steve Wilson, the founding pastor of Dayspring Church, to establish a school where kingdom values could be instilled in the next generation. Their vision was to provide high academic standards in an environment that reflected the love of the Father, helping each student fulfill their God-given destiny. The school initially served kindergarten through 4th grade, with plans for gradual expansion.

Each year, Dayspring Christian School added a new grade level, growing into a full Nursery-12th grade institution. With this growth came an increasing number of staff and expanded use of facilities. Kelly Lewis played a pivotal role in pioneering access to technical college dual credit programs for private schools in southwest Missouri. Under her twelve-year leadership, the school grew to over 100 students and a dedicated team of eighteen staff members.

In 2016, the school established a school board, and five years later, it officially obtained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a significant increase in enrollment, as families sought in-person learning in a school that aligned with their values.

In 2024, under the leadership of principal Rebekah Manuka, Dayspring Christian School embarked on a new era of innovation. Her team prioritized arts integration, hands-on learning, and accreditation, strengthening the school’s impact. New initiatives, including a STEAM Lab and a reading recovery program, have provided students with expanded learning opportunities tailored to both creativity and academic support. The introduction of intentional leadership development programs, such as DCS’s Student Leadership Program, the House System, clubs, and extracurricular activities, has further enhanced student engagement and discipleship. These changes have significantly shaped the school’s academic and spiritual culture, strengthening its reputation in the community.

As Dayspring Christian School continues to grow, it remains committed to its founding mission: to cultivate academic excellence, spiritual formation, and Christ-centered leadership in the next generation.