Ben Lippen School seeks to glorify God by educating students from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ and by assisting the family and church in equipping students spiritually, academically, socially, and physically under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 1
WELCOME Welcome to Ben Lippen School! We look forward to partnering with you in your child’s educational journey. Ben Lippen School offers rigorous academics anchored in a solid foundation of biblical truth. It is our desire in all that we do to glorify God and to support the values taught at home. We believe this sets us apart from other schools. In the classroom, on the athletic field, or on the stage, we strive to honor God with such quality that the Lord is pleased. We encourage our school community to Dream Big, Pray Much, and Serve Others to the Glory of God! Ben Lippen is a state-of-the-art educational institution with an Arts and Science Center, home to our award-winning innovation lab and robotics program. As a Falcon, you’ll have access to exceptional athletic facilities and championship programs. signature academic programs, and endless opportunities in the arts. Our school has been recognized by the Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon Award winner, the highest recognition given to an academic program. As we continue to innovate and grow, our purpose remains unchanged: preparing students who will thrive in college and beyond, who know God and are growing in Christlike character, and who are ready to use their God-given gifts and talents to further His kingdom. Ben Lippen is a community committed to providing the love, acceptance, encouragement, and discipleship students need to grow and succeed, equipping them for life and eternity. Once again, welcome to Ben Lippen School, a Christian community like no other!
Ben Porter, Ph.D. Head of School
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1940 TRUSTED BY FAMILIES SINCE
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Scottish phrase meaning “Mountain of Trust,” Ben Lippen School was founded in 1940 by Columbia Bible College (CBC) (now Columbia International University) under the guidance of CBC’s first president, Robert C. McQuilkin. The evangelical boarding school for boys was located at CBC’s Ben Lippen Conference Center on a mountain near Asheville, NC.
program was started in 1990 and Ben Lippen School currently boasts three campuses.
Today, Ben Lippen School has more than 1200 students in grades Pre-K3 through 12th, with approximately 40 of them being international students who live on campus and attend Ben Lippen high school. Ben Lippen School is accredited by the Council on Educational The school became co-educational in 1952 and Standards and Accountability (CESA), Cognia flourished as a school for missionary children. (formerly AdvancED), and the Small Boarding After a fire destroyed the main building in 1980, School Association (SBSA). Ben Lippen moved its high school program to its current location in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1988 to be on the campus of CBC. An elementary
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A FIRM
FOUNDATION
Matthew 7:24-25 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 5
BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW A biblical worldview is the foundational perspective from which all subjects are taught and applied at Ben Lippen School. We intentionally teach our students to view life through the lens of truth revealed in the Bible.
PRAYER As a core value, prayer holds a central place at Ben Lippen. Our faculty and staff are committed to praying for and alongside our students, fostering a caring and spiritually uplifting environment.
WORSHIP At Ben Lippen, worship is not just an event but a lived posture, shaping how students think, relate, and act throughout their entire school experience. Weekly chapel serves as a central expression of worship, while intentional discipleship grows students in character and spiritual maturity.
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Lower School As a National Blue Ribbon School, Ben Lippen is recognized for its commitment to academic excellence. Our curriculum, culture, and community work together to fulfill our mission of preparing students academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually throughout their formative elementary years. At Ben Lippen, Christ-centered instruction is integrated across all subject areas, helping students develop a biblical worldview while fostering intellectual growth. Through engaging lessons, hands-on learning experiences, small-group instruction, and individualized conferencing, teachers intentionally mentor and support each student, nurturing their unique strengths and encouraging them to reach their full potential.
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The Lower School provides a dynamic and engaging educational experience for students in Pre-K3 through fourth grade. STEM projects, field trips, classroom transformations, gardening, chapels, Falcon Farms, Field Day, and family-centered events are just a few of the ways learning is brought to life across our campuses, creating meaningful opportunities for discovery, connection, and growth.
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Middle School From forming new friendships to balancing academics and extracurriculars, students benefit greatly from a strong support system to help them navigate these new experiences. The culture at Ben Lippen Middle School is one where students feel safe, seen, and supported. Middle schoolers crave a sense of security and safety and our cottage-style campus feels like a second home. Our faculty and staff focus on teaching our students to grow academically, spiritually, and socially. Our teachers have utilized our small class sizes to build authentic relationships with students, discipling them daily through intentional teaching and small group discussions.
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Students can tailor their education to their interests, choosing a world language, fine arts electives, and honors classes if eligible. There are numerous spiritual growth opportunities in chapel, Bible classes, small group discussions, and spiritual life activities to ensure our middle schoolers are consistently hearing the gospel, living by truth, and being equipped to share that truth with the world. Their like minded classmates lead to healthy friendships due to the standards we’ve established to stop bullying and help students recognize and seek out healthy relationships.
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High School Ben Lippen High School prepares young adults to be stewards of the gifts God has given them. We aid in preparation for the calling of God on their lives by training them as independent Christian scholars who seek God, love all people, demonstrate a zeal for learning, think analytically, and communicate effectively. Families love Ben Lippen School because we offer: Small Class Sizes We work with our teachers to find the optimal class size for each course, allowing teachers the capacity to provide individualized attention while still creating a meaningful environment for discussion and group work. Academic Tracks We offer AP courses, dual-credit (early college) opportunities, a College Prep diploma, and an
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Honors diploma, so that each student may tailor their education to their future goals. Grade-Specific Counseling As your teen moves from his or her freshman year to senior year, he or she will be counseled to explore different career fields, identify college goals and options, and create an academic plan with appropriate rigor to meet these goals. Electives and Clubs Engineering, robotics, photography, forensics, yearbook, chorus and bluegrass band are just a few of the opportunities our students have to explore new hobbies, interests, and future career fields.
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INTERNATIONAL
STUDENT PROGRAM
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Ben Lippen graduates have gone on to attend leading universities including Dartmouth, Duke, UCLA, NYU, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, and the University of Michigan, with many continuing to graduate programs at Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania.
LIVE Feel at home in a safe, welcoming community with the choice of on-campus boarding or a caring host family. Our secure campus and dedicated houseparents ensure students are supported every step of the way.
STUDY Challenge yourself through a rigorous collegepreparatory curriculum, including honors and AP courses taught by dedicated faculty. Ben Lippen equips students academically while preparing them for admission to top universities in the United States.
THRIVE Discover your passions through athletics, fine arts, robotics, music, theater, and student leadership while building lifelong friendships in a Christcentered community. At Ben Lippen, students grow academically, spiritually, and personally as they prepare to impact the world.
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BEN LIPPEN AT-A-GLANCE
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Student Support The Individual Learning Center (ILC) offers programs to assist the specific needs of pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students with learning differences. The goal of the Individual Learning Center is to help students develop healthy work habits and improve academic skills that move students toward academic independence. A variety of programs are offered through the Individual Learning Center that reinforce classroom instruction to help meet the varying needs of students. The Ridge at Ben Lippen is a specialized program to increase our ability to serve students with dyslexia in a Christ-centered environment. We understand and utilize research-based approaches to meet the unique needs of learners with dyslexia using the Orton-Gillingham approach. Upon enrollment in Middle School, student schedules are developed in partnership with the Ridge for 5th and 6th graders. Academic progress is monitored by Middle School teachers and Ridge instructors to meet students’ needs. The Individual Learning Center navigates this partnership and serves as an additional layer of support for students and families.
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Signature Programs Our signature programs are specifically curated to provide more opportunities in areas that students might want to specialize in after their time at Ben Lippen School. We currently offer three signature programs: STEM, Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), and Aviation. Our standards-based STEM Program begins in lower school with problem-solving projects designed to enhance the student’s understanding of the standards. Our ultimate objective is to provide a comprehensive technological education that equips our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to flourish in an ever-evolving technological landscape. The CNA Program focuses on instruction and practice of basic patient care skills required for Nursing Assistants. Through this program, students are able to practice supervised basic patient care in a clinical setting, earn their CPR certification, and become eligible to take the SC State certification exam to become Certified Nursing Assistants. Partnering with Propel Aviation, Ben Lippen’s Aviation Program offers high school students the opportunity to learn about aviation and potentially earn a private pilot’s license by the time they graduate high school.
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BEYON the classroom
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ND Ben Lippen’s Winterim program is a weeklong immersive experience, which offers unique opportunities beyond the classroom that bring learning to life. Students may choose from a variety of Winterim programs that include serving others, discovering a new hobby, and experiencing other cultures. Winterim initiates, builds, and deepens relationships while providing a wide variety of educational enrichment and service learning experiences. 20
Student Life
Ben Lippen is filled with opportunities for students to discover their passions, build lasting friendships, and grow in their faith through experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. From Friday night football games, theater productions, and school traditions like Camp Ben Lippen and Homecoming, there’s always something happening that brings our community together. At Ben Lippen, students aren’t just involved; they’re known, encouraged, and inspired to thrive in every aspect of life.
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Ben Lippen High School performs Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. 23 15
Fine Arts
Ben Lippen has a vibrant Fine Arts Department featuring nationally-recognized instruction in guitar, bluegrass, worship arts, band, orchestra, choir, theater, visual art, and digital art. Ben Lippen Fine Arts exists to help students reflect the image of the Creator by growing their artistic skills, building a creative community, and presenting superior products which we do Better Together. Better, meaning that we aim to continualy improve our skills as we create music, art, and theater of the highest quality for the glory of God. Together because we believe creativity ignites most powerfully in community. We live out this philosophy by creating for God, for others, and for fun. For God, because we, as mini-creators, reflect the beauty of the Ultimate Creator when we generate music and art of the highest quality. For others, because we give away our music, art, and theater as a gift to others. For fun, because we enjoy the process and work intentionally to build relationships with each other.
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Athletics Athletics at Ben Lippen School are about more than winning games—they are about developing young men and women who honor Christ in every area of life. From Lower School through varsity competition, students are challenged to pursue excellence while growing in character, leadership, discipline, and teamwork. Guided by experienced Christian coaches who invest in both athletic performance and personal discipleship, our athletes learn lessons that extend far beyond the field, court, or arena. At Ben Lippen, we define success differently. A true victory isn’t measured by the scoreboard alone, but by the way our students compete, lead, and represent Christ. Our goal is to develop athletes who strive for excellence, serve their teammates with humility, and use their talents to glorify God—preparing them to make an impact in college, their communities, and wherever God calls them next.
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WIN WIN WIN ON THE SCOREBOARD | IN LIFE | FOR ETERNITY 17
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“The rigor of the classes at Ben Lippen challenged me academically, and my teachers always pushed me to do better.”
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hat comes after Ben Lippen? For Heath Davis (Ben Lippen Class of 2022), it meant graduating from Clemson University with a degree in Health Science and continuing his education in the Physician Assistant program at the Medical University of South Carolina.
At Ben Lippen School, our graduates step into their next chapters equipped to lead, serve, and thrive with purpose. Through discipleship, academics, and community, they’ve been prepared to pursue God’s calling wherever He leads.
Reflecting on his experience at Ben Lippen, Heath said, “The rigor of the classes challenged me academically, and my teachers were always pushing me to do better.”
From the classroom to college and beyond, we’re grateful to see our alumni carrying on the foundation God has built in them into every season ahead.
Heath Davis
Ben Lippen Class of 2022 Clemson Univeristy Class of 2026
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Ready to Apply? Want to join the Falcon Family? We’d love for you to apply! Visit benlippen.com/admissions/day-students or scan the QR code to start the process. Our Admissions Team is happy to help you every step of the way.
Kelly Adams
Admissions Director for Upper School Kelly.Adams@BenLippen.com (803) 807-4110
Lil Mason
Admissions Director for Lower School Lil.Mason@BenLippen.com (803) 807-4111
Steve Sark
International Student Program Director Steve.Sark@BenLippen.com (803) 807-4113
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BenLippen.com Monticello Road Campus Pre-K3 through 12th Grade 7401 Monticello Road Columbia, SC 29203 (803) 807-4000
St. Andrews Road Campus Pre-K3 through 4th Grade 500 St. Andrews Road Columbia, SC 29210 (803) 807-4400
Northeast Campus
Pre-K4 through 2nd Grade 3513 Hard Scrabble Road Columbia, SC 29223 (803) 807-4500
Find us on socials @BenLippenSchool