CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Christian School will move its upper school campus, which includes grades 7-12, to the Cullman OmniPlex for the 2026-27 school year. The school has seen a big increase in enrollment, nearly doubling in recent years.
Principal Heith Yearwood explained that this move is the next step to make room for more students.
“When we came, we were on one campus and had 180 students,” Yearwood said. “This coming year, we’re going to be somewhere between 340 and 350.”
As more students enrolled, the school started looking for extra space for its upper school. Three years ago, Cullman Christian rented classrooms from Desperation Church, then moved to the church’s student center near Depot Park, where classes have been held for the last two years. Since that building is now being sold, school leaders began searching for a new location. After talking with Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism officials, they found the chance to lease classroom space at the OmniPlex.
Yearwood pointed out that the school is renting the OmniPlex just like anyone else would. “We’re renting the space just like anyone else would rent it. We think it’s beneficial for them because they’re receiving rent instead of those rooms sitting unused during the week, and it benefits us because we’re able to provide a first-class facility for our students.”
Moving the upper school will also let Cullman Christian keep growing its elementary program. The school just had its largest graduating class with 15 students, and this fall, they expect 48 new kindergarteners. Because of this growth, there are now several classes for each grade in elementary, and for the first time, there will be two seventh-grade classes.
Yearwood said the move is mainly about making room for future growth, not just getting better facilities. “If we had to bring all of the high school students back to the main campus, we wouldn’t be able to continue growing our elementary school,” he said.
Families can expect the move to be a lot like the upper school’s time at Depot Park. Daily routines, supervision and transportation will mostly stay the same. Students with siblings on the main campus or those in after-school activities will still have shuttle service between campuses. Yearwood also mentioned that the OmniPlex has built-in security features, such as controlled-access entrances and lock-down options.
There will be an open house for families before the school year starts, but the date has not been set yet. School officials expect it to happen the week before classes begin on Aug. 12.
School leaders still hope to build a permanent upper school in the future, but Yearwood said the OmniPlex is a great solution for now.
“We hope it enhances the educational experience for our students,” he said. “It’s a beautiful facility, it’s close to our school and it allows us to continue growing while we work toward having our own permanent space in the future.”
