Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Hidden Treasure been providing special education services to students?
Hidden Treasure Christian School was founded in 1981making this year our 27th year! For 27 years now our program has not only served children in the Greenville and surrounding communities, but also children from across the United States and two foreign countries. Families have moved from the states of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, South Dakota, Nevada, Colorado, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and California to take advantage of the program at HTCS.

What is the student enrollment at Hidden Treasure?
Current enrollment is approximately 65 students. Our largest enrollment has been 94 students. Given that Hidden Treasure has been in existence for over 27 years, a maximum enrollment of 94 students for one school year may not seem to be a large number over such a long period, but that’s just one of the things that make us unique. One of our goals is to work with our students to the point where we can recommend that they be transitioned back into a traditional Christian school setting. We will work with the receiving school to help make that transition as smooth as possible.

Who is eligible for enrollment at Hidden Treasure?
Hidden Treasure enrolls students who, for various reasons have difficulty achieving their potential in a traditional classroom setting. We provide services to young people who have been diagnosed as educable mentally handicapped as well as those who are gifted. The challenges represented in our student body include but are not limited to the following:

• Trainable Mentally Handicapped (TMH)
  
• Educable Mentally Handicapped (EMH)
  
• Down Syndrome
  
• Borderline (formerly referred to as Slow Learner)
  
• Developmentally Delayed
  
• Cerebral Palsy
  
• Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD)
  
  • Autism
  • Asperger’s Syndrome
    
• Learning Disabilities
  • Reading
    
    • Mechanics
      
    • Comprehension
      
  • Math
    • Calculation
      
    • Reasoning
      
  • Language
    • Oral expression
      
    • Written expression
      
  • Dyslexia
    
  • Central Auditory Processing (CAP)
    
• Attention Deficit Disorder
  • Without hyperactivity (ADD)
  • With hyperactivity (ADHD)
• Giftedness

We accept students regardless of their race, gender, or national origin.

What ages are the students who enroll at Hidden Treasure?
We have enrolled students as young as four-and-a-half and as old as 29. The age at which we accept and retain students depends on their individual needs, our ability to meet those needs, and the parents satisfaction in our meeting their child’s needs.

What types of teaching materials are used in your program?
The teachers at Hidden Treasure use a variety of traditional and specially designed materials. No one curriculum publisher is able to provide all the materials required to meet the needs of each student or the variety of needs represented at Hidden Treasure. Our preference is to use materials that are consistent with our Biblical philosophy. When such materials are not available we then carefully screen and incorporate secular materials into our program. In the event appropriate materials are unavailable, our staff creates their own materials to teach and reinforce the concepts being taught.

How long are students usually enrolled at Hidden Treasure?
The length of time a student is enrolled at Hidden Treasure depends on the student's cognitive ability and his level of academic performance. Students with cognitive disabilities may be enrolled to age of 21 or older, depending upon the parents' desires and on our ability to continue to meet the student's needs. After successfully completing all of the goals listed in his/her Individual Education Plan (IEP) the student will receive a Certificate of Completion.

What are your facilities like?
In October of 2000 we were blessed with a newly constructed 28,440 square-foot educational facility. The enrollment capacity of this building is approximately 120 students. Located on the school’s main level are ten large classrooms, administrative offices, cafeteria, media center, computer lab, health room, student restrooms, teachers' lounge, teachers' workroom, testing room, and a speech therapy room. The lower level consists of five additional classrooms, a home economics lab, the Garden Gate (initial greenhouse area), student restrooms, and a Prophet’s Chamber used in our adaptive living skills program. The school is also equipped with an elevator which transports students between the two floors.

What is the cost of tuition at Hidden Treasure?
The cost of tuition for the 2008-2009 school year is approximately $15,000. Although this is the approximate cost for this year, the maximum tuition assessed was $12,850 and the average amount paid by the parents of our students was approximately $7,400.

Is there tuition assistance available through HTCS?
Yes. With this assistance, the average parent is assessed approximately $7,400 a year for their child’s tuition. Parents of our students are encouraged to make application for a supplement through Family Financial Needs Assessment (FFNA), a third party organization who will, in strict confidence, determine the amount of the supplement to be granted. Supplements may be as high as $5,500. For every supplement granted, the development staff of Hidden Treasure takes on the responsibility to raise the amount of that supplement. The funds are not provided by FFNA, this organization simply determines a family’s eligibility for a tuition supplement.

Why is tuition at this level, and how does it compare to other special education programs?
The major costs for operating a special education program are associated with staffing the program. Hidden Treasure maintains a maximum student/teacher ratio of 8 to 1 for classes for students with learning disabilities, and a maximum 4 to 1 student/teacher ratio for classes with students with greater needs such as cognitive disabilities, developmental delays, and pervasive development disorders. Generally, special education programs require three times the amount of funding needed for a traditional program. There are a few private schools in the Greenville area that serve students with specific learning or language disabilities. Our base tuition is very competitive with these private schools given the fact that many of our young people may have significantly greater needs.

How is Hidden Treasure able to offer tuition supplements at a rate that is approximately 50% of the actual cost of tuition?
Those associated with the ministry of Hidden Treasure are very much aware of the need for and the high costs associated with special education. As mentioned earlier, our development staff takes on the responsibility to raise these needed funds. They are busy presenting the Hidden Treasure ministry to individuals, churches, and a variety of businesses and organizations that see and understand the need for the services we provide and they have a desire to assist us in providing those services. We are thankful for these supporters and their contributions, as it is due to their generosity that we are able to offer these supplements.

Are contributions to Hidden Treasure tax deductible?
Yes. Hidden Treasure has its own "Articles of Organization" and a letter of recognition from the IRS identifying the school as a 501(C)(3) (Charitable, Educational Organization). Individuals and corporations can legally contribute to the school and receive a tax deduction.

Note: To our knowledge there is not another Christian school in the nation that provides the broad scope of special education services we provide. Please feel free to contact us to learn more about our school or to schedule a visit to the school.