Affilitations

ACSI

YCS is a proud member of the Association of Christian Schools International (Western Canada). ASCI allows us to connect with many of the Christian Schools and Colleges across Western Canada via teachers' conventions and other conferences.

Find out more about ACSI here. 

AISCA

YCS is proud to be one of Alberta's many Independent Schools, saving taxpayer dollars while offering a high-quality educational choice for parents.

Learn how Independent Schools serve Albertans here, or check out the Association of Independent Schools & Colleges of Alberta's website.

Your Voice Matters!

Every independent school began because a group of people saw a need and chose to do something about it.

Forty-eight years ago, a small group of believers in Edson gathered around a shared vision: that children should receive an education rooted in faith, fellowship, service, and academic excellence. They dreamed of a school where students could grow not only in knowledge but also in wisdom and character, where Christ would be central in every subject, conversation, and relationship.

That vision became Yellowhead Christian School.

Humble Beginnings

In the early years, the school was a testament to faith. The newly formed Yellowhead Christian School Society opened classrooms in borrowed spaces:  churches, fellowship halls, and community rooms. Parents, pastors, and volunteers worked side by side to build desks, prepare lessons, and pray over each new student who walked through the door.

Over time, the school grew. And as it grew, so did the dream. Eventually, YCS found a permanent home on the west side of Edson, a home built by countless hours of volunteer work, generosity, and prayer.

Growth and Purpose

Today, YCS serves students from age 3 through Grade 12, offering in-person classes, home education, and online learning through YCS@Home. We are more than a school; we are a community of discipleship, where learning is a journey of faith and life together.

In recent years, we’ve seen tremendous growth, from 88 students just five years ago to over 250 students today across all programs. This growth reflects a genuine need in our community: families seeking faith-based, academically excellent, and service-oriented education where every child is known and loved.

Our students study diligently, think critically, and serve joyfully. They volunteer in nursing homes, the library, the food bank, and the local thrift store, learning that faith without works is empty, and that love must take the form of action.

Our building is alive with purpose, classrooms filled with laughter and learning by day, and our gym echoing with the sounds of community sports, gatherings, and birthday parties in the evenings and on weekends. 

The Heart of It All

At its core, Yellowhead Christian School exists to assist Christian families in developing the spiritual lives and academic potential of their children. Every lesson, service project, and chapel gathering is designed to remind students that they are created in God’s image, gifted for His purpose, and called to serve His world.

For forty-eight years, we have stood as a testimony to what can happen when a community says yes - yes to faith in education, yes to partnership between home and school, and yes to the belief that every child is uniquely made and deeply loved.

We are not here out of privilege. We are here because families, teachers, and churches worked together, often sacrificially, to create a place where faith and learning converge.

And that is why Yellowhead Christian School exists: To serve. To teach. To love. And to shine Christ’s light in Edson and beyond.

Why Your Voice Matters

Recently, an Elections Alberta Citizen Initiative Petition has been launched seeking to remove government funding for all accredited independent schools in Alberta.

If successful, this initiative would have a devastating impact on schools like Yellowhead Christian School and on thousands of families across the province who depend on independent education, including faith-based, outreach, and special-needs programs.

Independent schools like YCS receive no funding for buildings or capital projects, and already operate using less than 70% of the per-student funding that public schools receive. Our teachers are fully certified, and our financial operations are transparent and accountable.

Our families pay the same taxes as everyone else and yet still fundraise and pay school fees to make this Christ-centred education possible.

If government funding were eliminated for independent schools:

• Many small schools and outreach programs would be forced to close.
• Most homeschool boards would lose their ability to support families.
• Complex needs schools and faith-based schools would lose programs that rebuild trust and restore communities.

• Thousands of students with diverse needs would flood an already overburdened public system.

   

  This is not just about educational models; it’s about freedom, compassion, and the diversity of learning. Alberta has long been a province that values choice, innovation, and collaboration. That is something worth preserving.

How Can You Help?

We are not asking anyone to fight. We are asking for thoughtful reflection and informed participation. Before signing the petition, please consider the full impact on children, families, and communities across Alberta.

Take time to learn, to ask questions, and to understand how independent schools like YCS contribute to the common good.

If you believe, as we do, that there should be room for all learners and all families, the best way to show your support is simply this:

Choose not to sign.

Then, go one step further, share your story. Tell others how YCS or another independent school has made a difference in your life. Post it on social media. Write to your MLA. Help decision-makers see the faces and hear the voices behind the numbers.

Together, we can ensure that faith-based and independent education continues to thrive — not for privilege, but for purpose.