Answers to what families ask most about Covenant. If you don't find what you're looking for here, we'd love to hear from you directly.
Covenant is the only ACSI Exemplary Accredited school in Indiana, one of roughly 29 in the world with that distinction. It represents a level of academic rigor, faith integration, and institutional health that very few Christian schools achieve.
Beyond the accreditation, Covenant is non-denominational and draws students from dozens of churches and faith backgrounds. The school is small enough that every student is known by name, and large enough to offer 17 AP courses, 10 dual credit courses, a thriving arts program, 19 varsity athletic teams, and J-Term. All four grade levels have wait lists, not because we limit enrollment artificially, but because families who enter tend to stay.
Covenant is a good fit for students who want to be challenged academically and are willing to engage seriously with questions of faith, meaning, and character. It is not a school for students looking for the easiest path or the most permissive environment.
The best indicator is usually the family's posture. Families who are looking for a community to walk alongside them in forming their student, not just a school to attend, tend to thrive here. The best way to know if it's a fit is to visit on a regular school day and let your student experience it firsthand.
No. Covenant does not require students to be Christians for admission. We understand that students are in different places in their spiritual journey, and we welcome students who are still exploring faith.
What we do ask is that all students participate positively in the culture Covenant is trying to maintain, which means engaging respectfully with the Christian worldview, the community's values, and the expectations of the school. A student who is willing to participate in good faith is a student who can belong here.
Covenant holds ACSI Exemplary Accreditation, the highest level of accreditation offered by the Association of Christian Schools International. Covenant is the only Christian school in Indiana with this designation and one of approximately 29 worldwide. The Exemplary status reflects exceptional performance across academics, governance, spiritual mission, and institutional health.
Covenant is a high school serving grades 9 through 12. Founded in 1995, the school currently enrolls 423 students at its campus at 7525 W. 21st Street in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Being here matters. So much of a Covenant education is relational and hard to recreate after the fact. A discussion in class, a lab, a conversation with a teacher who knows your student by name. Regular attendance and punctuality are part of the formation, not just a requirement.
Absences are recorded as excused or unexcused. Excused absences include illness or injury, a death in the family, weddings or graduations of close family, a limited number of official college visits, and appointments that cannot be scheduled outside school hours when a provider note is submitted within ten days. Family vacations, most trips, and appointments without a note are not excused.
Between classes, students have a few minutes to get where they need to be, and everyone gets six tardies a semester before a detention. Work missed during an excused absence can be made up, and students arrange it using the Pre-Arranged Absence form, usually within a window equal to the days they missed. The full attendance policy lives in the Family Handbook.
Covenant's dress code reflects a standard of modesty and respect. Key expectations include:
The Dean of Students makes final decisions on dress code questions. These standards apply to all school-sponsored activities including field trips and the arts events.
During the school day (8:00am–3:30pm, 3:00pm on Wednesdays), student cell phones and smart devices, including smartwatches and earbuds, must be silenced and stored out of sight in lockers unless a teacher explicitly permits them for educational purposes. This applies in classrooms, hallways, restrooms, during lunch, and during SRT periods.
Students may access their phones before school and after dismissal. Unauthorized use results in confiscation until end of day on the first offense. Further offenses require a parent to retrieve the device. Smart glasses such as Meta/Ray-Ban glasses are not permitted on campus at any time.
Families are asked not to call or text students during school hours except in cases of emergency. If you need to reach your student during the day, contact the main office at (317) 390-0202.
Classes begin at 8:30am. The Commons is available to students beginning at 6:30am. The school day ends at 3:30pm, with early dismissal at 3:00pm on Wednesdays. Teacher office hours run 3:30–4:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Students not involved in after-school activities should report to the Commons by 4:00pm. The Commons is supervised until 5:30pm. A late pickup charge of $10 per 15-minute increment applies after 5:30pm.
Students can bring their own lunch or order through Schoolhouse Fare, an online catering service that Covenant partners with. Students may not use outside delivery services such as DoorDash or Uber Eats on campus.
Lunch is eaten in designated areas. Students may take their lunch to the front of the building, where adult supervision is present. Covenant has two lunch periods, A and B, which vary by day of the week based on the rotating schedule.
Covenant uses Eventlink for weather-related alerts. Families who register and add a mobile number will receive text alerts, usually before 7:00am on delay or closure days. You can also check local ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX stations, or Covenant's social media accounts.
Covenant's default in bad weather is a 2-hour delay rather than closure. If you receive a delay alert with a "stay tuned" qualifier, assume the 2-hour delay holds unless you receive a follow-up message indicating closure. Closures move to eLearning, and the academic schedule continues online.
Covenant takes a restorative approach to discipline. When harm or disruption occurs, the goal is accountability, growth, and reconciliation rather than simply punishment. Discipline is treated as discipleship: an opportunity to help students understand the impact of their choices and grow in character.
Not every infraction results in a parent notification. Covenant looks for opportunities to help students build responsibility independently. If a pattern emerges or an infraction is serious, parents will be informed. Serious infractions, including use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, fighting, theft, or pornographic material, can result in suspension or expulsion on the first offense.
The admissions process at Covenant has four steps: Inquire, Visit, Apply, and Interview. You can start by submitting an inquiry through the website, and the admissions team will respond within one business day.
We strongly encourage every prospective family to schedule a campus visit before applying. The best way to know if Covenant is the right fit is to experience it on a real school day, not just an open house.
Every applicant has a family interview with the Dean of Students as part of the process. It is a conversation, not an evaluation. We want to get to know your student and help you determine whether Covenant is the right fit.
Students should come ready to talk about what they enjoy, what they're curious about, and what they're hoping for from high school. There are no right or wrong answers. We are looking for students who are willing to engage, grow, and participate in the Covenant community.
Covenant accepts applications on a rolling basis, but we encourage families to begin the process in the fall or early winter for the following school year. All four grade levels currently have wait lists, so earlier is better. The enrollment deadline for returning families is typically March 15. Transfer students who have already been accepted are welcomed beginning March 16.
Contact Cindy Cleary in admissions to ask about current availability for your student's grade level: admissions@covenantchristian.org
Mid-year transfers are considered on a case-by-case basis depending on space availability. The same admissions process applies: inquiry, visit, application, and interview. Contact the admissions office to ask about current openings in your student's grade level.
Yes. Covenant hosts Open Houses in the fall. The 2026-27 calendar lists Open House #1 on October 6. These evenings are a great introduction for families who are just beginning to explore Covenant.
That said, we strongly recommend scheduling a regular-day campus visit in addition to or instead of an open house. Seeing Covenant when school is actually in session gives you a much truer picture of the community. Schedule a visit here.
Tuition figures are on our tuition page, or you can contact the admissions office. More than half of Covenant students receive some form of financial aid, and we are glad to help families find a path to enrollment.
Reach admissions at admissions@covenantchristian.org or (317) 390-0202.
Covenant offers several forms of financial assistance:
Indiana's Choice Scholarship program allows families to use state education funding toward private school tuition. As of the 2026-27 school year, it is open to all Indiana K-12 residents regardless of household income, with no prior public school enrollment required. The fall application window closes August 24 for the 2026-27 school year.
Covenant's admissions team can help you determine eligibility and walk you through the process. Contact admissions@covenantchristian.org with questions.
Covenant's SGO (Scholarship Granting Organization) is called the Covenant Fund at Sagamore. Indiana residents who make a gift to the SGO receive a 50% state tax credit on their Indiana state taxes, meaning a $1,000 gift results in a $500 reduction in what you owe the state.
Those funds are awarded as scholarships to Covenant students with demonstrated financial need. It's one of the most powerful tools available for making Covenant accessible to families who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford it. Learn more about giving through the SGO.
Covenant is a college-preparatory school and holds its students to high academic standards. The average SAT score for Covenant graduates is 1126, compared to 947 for Indiana and 965 nationally. The average GPA is 3.67, and 63% of graduates earn the Academic Honors Diploma.
Students carry a full course load each semester. Covenant offers 17 AP courses and 10 dual credit courses, and the Class of 2025 was offered $13.2 million in college scholarships, an average of $147,888 per student.
Covenant offers 17 AP courses across all major disciplines, including Biology, Calculus AB and BC, Chemistry, Computer Science Principles, English Language and Literature, Physics, Statistics, World History, Psychology, Studio Art, and more.
Covenant also offers 10 dual credit courses through Grace College, Taylor University, and Ivy Tech, allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school. The Class of 2025 saved $797,000 in college costs through dual credit alone. Explore the full curriculum.
J-Term is a two-week experiential learning period in January, between the fall and spring semesters. Students choose from travel experiences, internships, service projects, and on-campus intensives designed around real-world learning.
Past J-Term offerings have included travel to multiple countries, business internships, the arts intensives, and outdoor education experiences. It is one of the most distinctive elements of a Covenant education. Learn more about J-Term.
Covenant uses a standard 4.0 grading scale, with weighted grades for AP and dual credit courses (5.0 scale for AP, 4.5 for honors). The grade scale runs from A (94-100 / 4.0) through D (69 / 1.0).
Students working toward the Academic Honors Diploma must maintain a 3.0 GPA with no grade below a C-. The Core 40 Diploma requires a 2.0 GPA.
Covenant takes academic integrity seriously. Submitting work means claiming it reflects a student's genuine understanding and effort. AI-generated material submitted without authorization is treated as academic misconduct.
Covenant uses a tiered AI Use Scale that teachers apply assignment-by-assignment: No AI Use, Limited AI Use (teacher-specified tasks only), or Full AI Collaboration (with transparency and citation). The school's goal is not to ban AI but to teach students to use it wisely and faithfully, with a biblical worldview that values human creativity, critical thinking, and authentic relationships over convenience.
Yes. Teacher office hours run 3:30–4:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. SRT periods built into the weekly schedule give students time to seek extra help from teachers, work with peer tutors, or use the media center.
Covenant also offers learning support for students with identified needs. Contact the admissions office to discuss your student's specific situation before enrolling.
Faith at Covenant is not a separate track from academics. It is woven through everything. Every subject is taught with the conviction that all truth is God's truth, and that learning is an act of worship.
Practically, this looks like: Friday morning chapel assemblies built around a year-long biblical theme; Biblical and Theological Studies courses required each year; a school-wide service day called Gone Servin' at the end of the year; and the eight Covenant Houses, which are cross-grade communities designed for mentorship and spiritual formation. Teachers model faith openly, and spiritual conversation is a natural part of classroom life.
No. Covenant is non-denominational. Students and families come from a wide range of church backgrounds and theological traditions. The school holds to orthodox Christian beliefs and teaches from a biblical worldview, but it does not affiliate with or favor any particular denomination or local church.
Questions are welcome. Covenant's approach to faith is rooted in the belief that truth can withstand honest inquiry. The senior capstone course, Christian Worldview, is built around "life's universal questions," inviting students to engage seriously with the hardest questions of existence, belief, and meaning alongside thinkers like Augustine, Pascal, Chesterton, and Bonhoeffer.
Students who are still exploring faith are welcomed at Covenant. What is asked is that they engage respectfully and participate in good faith in the community's culture.
Families are not required to sign a Statement of Faith for enrollment. Covenant does have a Statement of Faith that defines the school's theological commitments. It is available upon request and will be part of your enrollment materials. Link coming
What is expected of all families is a willingness to support the school's Christ-centered culture and mission, even if they are not themselves practicing Christians.
For the 2026-27 school year, New Parent Orientation is July 27 and New Student Orientation is July 29. The first day of school is July 30, which opens with the Great Cloud of Witnesses, an all-school gathering that sets the tone for the year.
Freshman Retreat follows on August 10, and Back to School Night for parents is August 17. We strongly encourage all new families to attend both orientations and Back to School Night.
Before the first day, families should: set up a Canvas account (Covenant's learning management system), register for Eventlink to receive weather and school alerts, set up a Schoolhouse Fare account if you plan to order lunch, and complete any outstanding enrollment paperwork.
At New Student Orientation, your student will receive their schedule, locker assignment, and student ID. More detailed checklists will be shared with enrolled families closer to the start of the year. Visit the New Families page for a running list of links and resources.
Every student needs a personal laptop or tablet for daily coursework. All classes are facilitated through Canvas, and students regularly access digital resources, assignments, and communication through the platform. Covenant provides filtered Wi-Fi access and printing at no charge at several locations around campus.
Loaner laptops are available through the library for students whose device is temporarily unavailable. Students may connect personal phones and tablets to the Covenant Guest Wireless Network. Cell phone boosters, hotspots, and personal printers are not permitted on the network.
We'd love to hear from you. For admissions questions, contact Cindy Cleary at admissions@covenantchristian.org. For general questions, reach the front office at (317) 390-0202 or info@covenantchristian.org. Office hours are 8:00am–4:00pm, Monday through Friday.
You can also start a conversation using the chat button on this page. Our AI assistant knows Covenant well and can answer a wide range of questions in real time.