About Us

Our Mission

The Potter’s House provides a Christ-centered education for students of all ethnic heritages and income levels, equipping them to serve God and society to their fullest potential.

Our Goal

At The Potter's House, we offer academic excellence and rigor in an urban environment while teaching Biblical principles and values in a school community bathed in prayer and led by the Holy Spirit. We encourage each student to pursue a balanced life through athletic and extracurricular opportunities.

Our Commitment to Students

At The Potter's House, we help students foster a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and grow together as a community. We provide a rigorous curriculum tailored to each student's growth, while pursuing healing and development in all areas of life – physical, social, and emotional – in the context of a loving Christ-centered community.

Our Core Values

Encountering the Presence of Jesus

In all things, The Potter’s House seeks to encounter Jesus. Through prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit, we want to align with his will and be transformed by his sacrificial and life-giving love for us.

 

Forming Disciples of Jesus

The heart of The Potter’s House is discipleship through academic excellence that shapes the heart, soul, mind, and strength of the entire community. Through discipleship, we are becoming like Jesus and seeing him reflected in our pursuit to love the Lord, our God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

 

Embodying the Kingdom of God

Jesus compels us to embody his beloved community, the great multitude from all tribes and peoples and languages that is unified in worshipping the triune God. The Potter’s House is a distinctive community marked by universal hospitality, real relationships, and communal sacrifice.

Our Vision

To relentlessly pursue deeper discipleship with Jesus Christ and continually discover new ways to equip students to follow God throughout a lifetime of faithful service in His kingdom. We envision The Potter’s House as a place to continue fostering deep relationships with all in our community. Through dependence on prayer, we will expand our voice and advocate for a model of Christ-centered education in our community.

IN THE HANDS OF THE POTTER

photo 01
photo 02
325 x 325 booy

Our Story

 A Vision from God: In 1974, a small group of college graduates felt called by God to move into Roosevelt Park, a low-income neighborhood on the southwest side of Grand Rapids, and open their doors to its children, giving kids a spiritual foundation and an academic advantage. By 1981, their "Kid Power" program had grown into The Potter's House School (TPH), and it had outgrown the basement.

 

Built on Miracles: The Birth of The Potter's House When "Kid Power" outgrew its basement home, God continued to guide their path forward. The Fire Marshall had granted only one year's permission to use the space, creating an urgent need for a permanent location. In what could only be divine timing, the former Southwest Christian School building adjacent to the church became available. Though the local school board's six-figure asking price seemed an impossible mountain for the young ministry to climb, the team stepped out in faith. Once again, God showed His faithfulness – local Christian business leaders stepped forward, providing the exact funds needed to purchase the building.

Every year, more and more students joined The Potter's House family. Most of these children came from families who could not afford private school tuition. God faithfully provided the funds needed for their education, year after year, even as the school grew. A middle school program began in 1992, and a high school campus opened in 1998.

 

Today and Beyond: As we look to the future, we continue to rely on God's provision and seek to honor Him in all we do. Today, TPH offers a Christ-centered education to more than 600 students from 34 countries, encompassing all income levels and cultural backgrounds. We are more than a school; we are a family where everyone belongs. From preschool to senior year, our staff and volunteers rely on the Holy Spirit guidance as we foster a sense of welcome and belonging for all students.

 

1981

Two volunteer teachers and 12 students begin classes in the basement of the former Grandville Ave CRC church.

1982

Support from local business leaders funds the purchase of the Southwest Christian school building.

1992

TPH begins educating middle school students.

1998

TPH High School opens at a new campus in Wyoming, MI.

2001

First senior class graduates from TPH.

2003–4

Both campuses undergo extensive renovations to add new classrooms. TPH Preschool program begins.

2015

TPH purchases the former Grandville Ave CRC building adjacent to the Roosevelt Park Campus.

2016

The Growing Hope Together campaign is launched, to fund the renovation of the church building as well as the expansion and renovation of the HS campus.

2019

The Potter’s House Chapel officially opens, with four new classrooms, office space, and a renovated sanctuary.

2023

Building renovations enhance the learning environment with a remodeled gym, updated classrooms (lighting, flooring, electrical), and modernized offices. TPH adds a full-time preschool option to accommodate family schedules.

sponsor a child

We Are Centered in Christ

We aim to build authentic and resilient followers of Jesus, equipping them to make disciples in an ever-changing world.

Rooted in God's Word

  • Every grade, subject, and activity at The Potter's House is deeply rooted in a Biblical worldview.
  • Students are guided intentionally and consistently in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
  • We call students to embody His life in their classrooms, homes, and communities.

Authentic Worship & Discipleship

  • Weekly "Family Worship" for PK-8th graders and Chapel for high school students
  • Discipleship groups starting in 4th grade
  • Prayer groups consisting of older students paired with younger students
  • Students are supported in comprehending and implementing biblical teachings in their daily lives

Our Legacy

For over 42 years of Christ-centered education, numerous students have embraced, loved, and followed Christ. Witnessing this transformation is the most profound blessing of our work. God's Word is the foundation of everything we do at The Potter's House.

Assoumani

Assoumani’s Story

Assoumani’s family emigrated to the US to escape the Rwandan genocide. Raised as a Muslim, he heard about the Gospel of Jesus for the first time when he enrolled at The Potter’s House in middle school. He became convinced that Jesus was indeed Lord and Savior, and dedicated his life to him. “If it was not for The Potter’s House,” he insists, “I can guarantee you that I would not be the man of Christ I am today.” Assoumani graduated from Grace Christian University in 2016 and currently works for Bethany Christian Services as part of the Refugee Foster Care Team.   

                         

Carolina

Carolina’s Story

Carolina began her education at The Potter’s House in 3rd grade. She came from a large, single- parent family with a mother who spoke very little English. The housing project in which they lived was one of the poorest and most dangerous in Grand Rapids. Carolina’s mother heard of The Potter’s House and decided to enroll three of her children. Carolina excelled at The Potter’s House, after graduation in 2005 she studied pre-medicine and psychology at Calvin College. She went on to complete medical school at Michigan State University. Carolina is now in the 5th-year of her General Surgery Residency at Arizona Medical Center.

53531378409_a524f207d2_k (1)
sponsor a child

All Are Welcome

Our school community is open to all students and families from every background, culture, and income level. Families at The Potter's House pay tuition on a sliding scale based on their income. No student is turned away because of their family's financial situation.

BY THE NUMBERS...

TPH by the numbers
2025cover

We Are Family

Each day, students are greeted by teachers and staff with warm handshakes and personal greetings, a tradition that has continued for four decades. Welcoming displays serve as daily reminders that at The Potter's House, students aren't just ID numbers or faces. They are family, known and loved.

At The Potter's House, students find a supportive and caring community that often stands in contrast to past experiences. As one student shared:

"For the first time in my life I enjoy going to school. The Potter's House has made me become a much better person. As soon as I stepped in this building the energy just changed. There was so much love and I felt so welcome. I have gotten so many opportunities and made so many friends. To me, to be at The Potter's House means to be welcomed."

Learn More About a TPH Education