Our founding members’ vision finally came true in June 2020 when Olney Christian School graduated our first class of 8th graders. What a joyful day! Those students have now entered college, career and young adult life. Check back often for updates as we receive them.
One of our Expected Student Outcomes is that our “Students would be equipped to attend the high school of their choice”. Since 2020, our 8th grade graduates have attended:
International Christian High School
Girl’s High
MaST Community Charter
Bodine High School for Int’l Affairs
Carver HS of Engineering & Science
Franklin Towne Charter HS
NorthEast High School
Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush
Saul HS for Agriculture
Building 21
Mercy Vocational HS
Dobbins High School
Cristo Rey High School
Frankford High School
New Foundations Charter School
Central High School
Swenson Arts & Technology
Hill Freedman World Academy
*Published December 21, 2025
At Olney Christian School, we teach that every child is created in God’s image and filled with potential. This belief resonates deeply across our faculty and staff. We don’t have a faith requirement for admissions, but you can be sure our students learn who made them, who loves them and who He has made them to become.
One of our first students in 2012 was named Blaire. Mom found out about the school from the YoungLives group that was meeting at the church. Traditional academics were not Blaire’s strongest area and he ended up repeating 1st grade. He was greatly cared for by his teacher and she helped instill a quiet confidence in him. She taught him that he is loved by God and full of potential.
In 2nd grade, he participated in an art contest to create a
placemat design for the Federal Hot Lunch Program, and he won!
This helped him to recognize that God had given him genuine artistic talent. Blaire looked forward to art class every week and could often be found drawing at recess.
Blaire graduated in Olney Christian School’s first 8th grade class in June 2020. He completed four years of high school at Building 21. We are proud and so honored to report that he is now on a full ride scholarship to Temple University’s Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia.
Our school has certainly grown and changed along with Blaire and his first classmates. Nearly 15 years later, God is showing
us the fruits of our labor in high school graduates and college attendees.
Blaire and many other students, are able to attend Olney Christian School because of generous donations to our Tuition Assistance program. Our mission is to make a quality, Christian education affordable to our neighborhood families.
*Published October 2, 2025
“You are a thoughtful and intelligent person. Do great things with that.”
A personalized note in a gifted Bible from his 2nd grade teacher propelled him to the Gates Scholar that he is today! One of our former K-8 Olney Christian students has received a full ride to Drexel University as a 2025 Gates Scholarship recipient.
Selinam Asuo started at OCS in kindergarten – finding love and guidance from Mrs. Ashman and Miss Burton. He was a quiet student, learning and growing and taking it all in. Our small class sizes help teachers to assist those who need additional support as well as those, like Seli, who can benefit from a little more challenge. In 2nd grade, Mr. Barrick gifted each student a Bible with a handwritten note.
It reads:“Selinam, You are a thoughtful and intelligent person. Do great things with that. It’s been wonderful having you in my class. –Mr. Barrick Matthew 22:37-40 & 1 Timothy 4:12”. These verses emphasize that true faith is shown through love and example. In order to show that love and faith, our actions, speech, and morals must reflect Christ-like behavior.
After graduating 8th grade at Olney Christian, Selinam attended Carver High School for Engineering and Science. He became involved in clubs like robotics, class council and even travelled to Poland for a Model UN. These along with prom committee and yearbook plus classes like graphic design and video editing gave him a chance to exhibit this love and his faith through leadership, which turned into being a Godly example in mentoring younger students also involved in those things.
His 11th grade seminar teacher walked Selinam and his classmates through essay-writing and filling out the Common App to get a jump start on the college process. After reading through a list of scholarship opportunities, the Gates Scholarship piqued his interest as it targeted “outstanding, minority, high school
seniors from low-income households” that were also “exceptional student leaders.” Seli was able to complete the grueling 9 month, 3 phase process during his senior year. He was notified of his selection on Easter Sunday and offered a full ride scholarship.
Selinam was accepted to Temple University, PennWest California, University of Massachusetts–Lowell, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Selinam Asuo, our Olney Christian School 8th grade Class of 2021 graduate, has chosen to study Computer Science at Drexel University on a full-ride Gates Scholarship.
His family would like to thank Olney Christian School for the dedication of all staff members. They were always committed to their jobs. They worked with the Asuo family any time they needed help. His K-8th grade teachers, administrative assistants and former after-school program directors are all to thank for their investment into Selinam and his brother Sedem, who graduated 8th grade this past June and will attend Hill-Freedman World Academy as the high school of his choice.
Congratulations to Selinam and the whole Asuo family for this honor. We know God will help you “do great things with that”.
