The Association of Eastern Christian Schools was founded in 1892. At that time, Christian day schools were under the patronage of ethnic religious groups, for example Irish Catholics or Lutherans Germans. Eastern Christian was formed by the Dutch immigrant community who settled in Paterson to work in the silk factories and had 102 students in its original enrollment. Since then the school system has grown and diversified. It now includes three separate buildings housing an elementary school and a middle school in Bergen County towns and the high school in Passaic County. System-wide enrollment is approximately 765 students, including approximately 342 in the high school, 196 in the middle school and 227 in the elementary school. Schools are owned by parents and governed by an elected board of trustees. Support continues to come largely from members of the Reformed and Christian Reformed Churches. The school's student body represents several Christian denominations and includes over 145 individual churches. Socioeconomic contexts range from urban centers to suburbs and rural areas. Fifteen to eighteen percent of students are minorities. In middle school, approximately 20%, 40 of 195 students, are minorities…{finish information for elementary school}Academic excellence is strongly emphasized along with respect for individual differences and scheduling flexibility where needed. Each student is challenged to grow and develop to the fullest of his or her abilities. As a way to achieve these goals, the high school began a 4x4 block program in 1997 after training staff in a variety of teaching techniques and seeking support and approval from the community. The high school has also partnered with Seton Hall University and is part of the Project Acceleration concurrent enrollment program that allows students to receive college credit while taking high school courses. The middle school transitioned to a modified block schedule in September 2006, with an eight four-day period schedule (M, T, W, F) and a block schedule on Thursdays. This schedule allowed three core classes to meet in an extended block every two weeks. In September 2009, the school added Tuesdays as a block schedule day, allowing all six core classes to meet in an extended block each week. In September 2007, a counseling program was added to the program, providing each student with a staff member counselor who meets with students three times a week at the beginning of the day. Additionally, a Thursday activity period each week is dedicated to student-initiated initiatives. problem-based learning with a strong service learning component.