Mission & Philosophy

Desert Christian Schools is an independent, inter-denominational Christian covenant school partnering with parents who desire to see their children raised "…in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4).

Desert Christian was founded in 1986 on Tucson's eastside as a high school and has since grown to include a second campus for Preschool to 8th grade. Today, DCS represents more than 100 area churches as Tucson's only independent, comprehensive Preschool - 12th-grade Christian school. DCS is governed by a parent-elected Board of Trustees, staffed by licensed, qualified faculty and is fully accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

The Mission of Desert Christian Schools is to pursue excellence in Christian education, foster Christ-centered relationships, and endeavor to meet the unique learning needs of every student.

Pursue Excellence in Education

We believe we have a Biblical mandate to pursue excellence in whatever God has put our hand to do. It’s our mission to partner with parents to help their children realize and hone their God-given abilities so that they will be able to go out into the world and impact the world for Christ.

Foster Christ-Centered Relationships

We have a strong academic foundation and are committed to providing a scripturally grounded Biblical worldview for your child by fostering critical thinking and Christ-centered, relational teaching. We recognize that your child’s education is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Those hours spent in the classroom help your child formulate their basis for truth and how they will critically examine everything they see and hear for the rest of their lives. Our teachers have strong relationships with Christ and are committed to not only educating a child but also being involved in their spiritual formation into adulthood.

Endeavor to Meet the Unique Learning Needs of Every Student

No child is the same or learns the same way. Because of our small class sizes and relational-style teaching, we can focus on each child’s individual needs, nurturing them as a whole person.