CLT is proud to feature Hill Country Christian School of Austin as our latest CLT School Spotlight.
Founded in 1996, Hill Country Christian School has been preparing students for college, and for life, for nearly 30 years. The school serves over 700 students in preschool through twelfth grade and offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes numerous academic, athletic, and fine arts programs. Hill Country endeavors to prepare students to become Christ-like leaders in their schools, churches, communities, families, and vocations.
Mission: “We partner with Christian families to impart truth, cultivate character, and inspire service while preparing college-bound students to think logically, communicate effectively, and impact the world with the love of Christ.”
CLT sat down with Eric DeVries, Head of School at Hill Country Christian School of Austin, to discuss his journey into classical education, the growth of his school, and how classical Christian education forms both students and families over time.
What makes Hill Country Christian School unique?
Dr. Eric DeVries: Hill Country has a few distinctives. First, it’s a ministry of a church, which provides a kind of spiritual guardrail or protection for the school. That comes with challenges—things can move more slowly—but it also helps preserve the school’s mission and culture.
Second, the school has a clear and ambitious vision for growth. We’re currently around 700+ students, with plans to grow closer to 1,000. We also have significant land in North Austin, which allows us to build and expand in a strategic way.
Third, we’re located in a major tech hub. Many of our families work in technology, so we’re intentionally trying to “thread the needle”—remaining fully committed to classical education while also serving families who value strong math and science programs. We’re not trying to choose between the humanities and STEM—we’re trying to do both well.
What kind of impact does classical Christian education have on students and families?
Dr. Eric DeVries: I’ve seen it impact entire families. You’ll have students learning Scripture and coming home talking about it, and then parents reach out asking for church recommendations. I’ve seen that happen numerous times.
On the student side, what stands out most is long-term formation. I’ve seen hundreds of graduates go into all kinds of fields—military, medicine, law, education—and what they often say is that their education formed in them habits of lifelong learning and a love for Jesus.
The most meaningful moment is when those graduates come back and enroll their own children. That’s when you see generational impact. It’s not just about one student—it’s about families over time.
Why has CLT been a good fit for your schools?
Dr. Eric DeVries: The first thing that sold me on CLT was the simplicity of the data. The previous test we used was so complex that it was difficult to analyze in a meaningful way. With CLT, I could look at class performance or individual student performance without needing specialized expertise.
Over time, I’ve also come to appreciate how well it aligns with what we’re already doing. We don’t want to teach to the test, but it makes sense to use a test that reflects the kind of education we’re providing.
And practically speaking, the time difference matters. Instead of losing multiple days to testing, we can complete CLT in a couple of hours.
CLT is proud to partner with Hill Country Christian School of Austin! To learn more, visit their website or listen to our recent episode of The Anchored Podcast with Dr. Eric DeVries.