Ready for School

Show-Me Christian Students Begin Classes in New Building

All year, the children watched as various kinds of large construction equipment moved across the La Monte campus. Old structures were torn down. Earth was leveled and loads of gravel arrived. Lumber stacked high. Foundations were poured and walls began to rise where open ground once sat. Some students checked progress on their walk to class. Others pressed closer to the windows to see what had changed since the day before.

Before the drywall went up, students wrote prayers and Scripture verses on the beams—words of faith sealed inside the walls of what would become their new school.

Now, in January 2026, they are walking into those classrooms. What they are stepping into is more than a new building. It is a space designed specifically to help them succeed—academically, emotionally, and spiritually—and the culmination of decades of lessons learned while serving children from hard places. From the beginning, this project was never just about construction. It was about safety, restoration, stewardship, and the belief that when children are given the right environment, their futures can change.

Completed debt-free, the new Show-Me Christian School stands as a testimony to God’s provision and the faithfulness of those who believe in Show-Me’s mission. It reflects thoughtful planning shaped by over twenty-five years of experience—and the confidence that God would provide what was needed, in His time. 

No More Falling Through the Cracks

For many of the children who find their way to Show-Me, school had been a struggle because of the battles in their home life. It is not uncommon for kids to be four grade levels behind where they should be. Public schools do not always have the necessary resources or time to help students catch up when gaps are significant. As the cycle continues and the gap widens, feelings of failure, frustration, and discouragement escalate.

In 2000, due to too many students “falling through the cracks” either academically or socially, the Show-Me Christian School (SMCS) was created to provide students a new chance to succeed.

Using the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) program, each student is evaluated subject-by-subject to identify learning gaps and create an individualized academic path. Students consume information at their own rate, rather than being pushed or held back by the rest of the class. Many kids who were falling behind in their former schools are able to catch up and graduate high school on time.

Houseparents, teachers, and counselors work as a unified team. This collaboration provides consistency across every area of a child’s life and allows struggles to be identified early and reinforced both in the classroom and at home.

The new school building was designed to continue and strengthen this approach—ensuring students don’t get lost when learning becomes difficult.

Outgrowing Every Space

What began in the basement of one of the homes grew quickly. A classroom here. Another room added there. Offices converted into learning spaces. The school expanded wherever it could fit, adapting existing spaces to meet growing needs. And it worked—for a time.

Nearly 95% of SMCS students graduate high school—many of whom had once been on the road to dropping out. As the success of former students became evident, referrals from counselors, schools, and churches steadily increased.

By the mid-2010’s, it was clear that success had created a new challenge. The piecemeal approach—adding here and adapting there—was no longer enough. To meet the growing need and prepare students for the future, the school would need a space designed intentionally for learning, safety, and growth.

In 2020, Show-Me announced plans to expand the SMCS facilities to accommodate up to 85 students. The new building would extend the existing school, connecting to the cafeteria, gym, and classrooms in the multipurpose building. Designers incorporated modern security features and technology, ensuring the space could grow with students and adapt to the changing needs of society.

Delays caused by COVID and other challenges stretched the timeline, but not the vision. In 2024, a professionally designed playground was completed to serve as the school’s outdoor recreation space, quickly becoming a central gathering place for students and families across the La Monte campus. Construction on the main building finally began in March 2025 and was completed in less than a year. In January, student and teacher voices filled the new halls and classrooms. 

A Compass in Chaos 

The new 6,900-square-foot school area is designed around SMCS’s individualized learning approach—ensuring that when a student is struggling, they won’t get lost in the chaos of the rest of the class.

Middle school and high school students now have large, dedicated areas that support their developmental needs while still keeping the school connected as one community. Later this year, the former 7th–12th grade learning center in the multipurpose building will be converted into a larger elementary school space.

Learning environments now allow teachers to work in focused groups without disrupting others, while preserving mentoring relationships between older and younger students.

Beyond Academic Success 

The new space ensures each child knows they have value and God-given gifts. While academics are essential, they are not the only place where confidence is built.

“Not all students find competence in academics,” stated Executive Director, Chad Puckett. “They need opportunities to discover success in other areas. Many times, finding their God-given gifts is the turning point that changes how they see themselves and their future.”

Dedicated spaces for art and creative learning allow students to express themselves and discover talents that may not surface in a traditional classroom. The expanded Path to Purpose Center includes a computer lab and enhanced technology capabilities, providing space for hands-on learning, career exploration, and life-skill development.

Through tools such as virtual reality and design software, students can explore science, history, and technical concepts in immersive ways that deepen understanding and spark curiosity.

Together, these opportunities help students begin to see a future for themselves—not just in what they are learning now, but in who they are becoming.

Built on a Foundation of Faith

The way this building came together reflects the same lessons that shaped its design. Since paying off all debts in 2014, Show-Me has remained committed to growing without borrowing. With that commitment in place, construction on the new school did not begin until all funds were already in hand.

Those funds came primarily through one-time gifts and estate gifts—supporters who planned for their generosity to continue shaping lives long after they were gone.

As the building neared completion, a final challenge arose when funding for furnishings fell short. Rather than divert operating funds or taking on debt, Show-Me once again turned to God’s people.

Booster supporters stepped in—meeting the need quickly and providing more than what was required. Their generosity not only equipped classrooms, but allowed teachers to secure tools and supplies that further support student growth.

Our God, Glorified Through His People

Today, students walk through a school they watched being built. They sit at desks in rooms where they once wrote prayers on exposed stud walls.

They are learning more than academics. They are learning that challenges do not have to be hidden, that needs can be brought honestly before God, and that God is faithful to provide—often through people who are willing to respond.

This building is more than a place to learn. It is a daily reminder to every child who walks its halls that they matter, that their future is worth investing in, and that God’s promises can be trusted as He works through His people, one faithful step at a time.