New school opens in Ft. Wayne

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A few months ago Keystone Schools closed because its founder could no longer pay the bills. Wednesday the executive director opened a new school called, Horizon Christian Academy.

Tammy Henline organized and created Horizon Christian Academy this summer after Keystone closed. Henline was the executive director Keystone when the founder could no longer fund it. Dozens of students and teachers were without a school, and that's what empowered Henline to start Horizon.

"We felt that Fort Wayne needed a school like this," said Tammy Henline, executive director, Horizon Christian Academy.

Horizon has 34 students enrolled this school year. There are seven teachers and two administrators. Horizon has students in grades six through 12. The school is located inside Christ's Church at Georgetown on Maplecrest Road in Fort Wayne.

"It has the small class size, it's Christ centered, we want to make sure that every student knows that their valued," said Henline.

Henline's challenge is to keep the school open, and to make sure it doesn't end up like Keystone. Henline said it will work because the budget is much smaller. Horizon does not own its building, it's rents from Christ's Church. Horizon does not provide lunch or transportation for students. Parents have to pay $3,000 a year for the kids to go to Horizon. Henline said it's all part of living within their means.

"We set our budget at a low enough amount where we feel we can sustain it. We know we are not living on very many luxuries this year, we understand we have to account for every dollar," said Henline.

Henline is working with Fort Wayne area groups and businesses to help pay for Horizon. She hopes the enrollment will grow from 34 to 50 by the end of the year, and she thinks it will be at least at 40.

Horizon is working closely with the Indiana Department of Education to become fully accredited. Henline said it should be official in a few months. Horizon does offer its students a Core 40 and Honors Diploma. It also offers its students many of the same courses as the traditional public school.

To learn more about Horizon Christian Academy, call Tammy Henline at (260) 450-3503.