Seattle pastor Eugene Drayton noticed a need among the youngest children in his community - they could barely read their lessons during Sunday school.

Dissatisfied with the children's underutilized potential, he approached local school administrators. Their explanations lacked solutions.

Pastor Drayton decided to listen to his instincts, which told him that many Seattle children are not able to flourish in a standardized public school nor able to afford a traditional private school education.

He had the dream and the will to change the future for these children.

With $13, six students, and one teacher, Zion Preparatory Academy was founded in 1982.

However, after about six months, the school was struggling and the board met to decide the fate of the school, which leaned heavily towards closure.  Sister Liz, the strong, quiet behind the scene worker pleaded with the board not to close the school and convinced Pastor Drayton to let her have a try at making it work.

She was given six months.  

Sister Liz organized skating parties and had other small sales to generate funds to keep what was then, Zion Christian School, in operation.  It was Sister Liz that talked with Zion’s first parents and convinced them to talk to five of their friends and ask them to bring their children to Zion. 

Through that effort, Zion was able to move from the house where it started at the old St. Mary’s Catholic school on 20^th and Lane in Seattle.  Through her efforts Zion started its preschool program which has mushroomed into one of the greatest early childhood programs in the state. 

That same year, Zion Prep hired Doug Wheeler, an enthusiastic, highly educated community leader who helped turn the vision of Zion Prep into a reality.

Today, Zion Prep Academy is a private school dedicated to fostering within Seattle's children the respect, personal responsibility, and academic skills needed for learning and life success.

The school has grown to assist 400 children annually, from toddlers to eighth graders. Their lives have been dramatically enhanced by their Zion Prep foundation.

• 1982 – Pastor Eugene Drayton, his daughter, Elizabeth, and Doug Wheeler found Zion Preparatory  Academy with just six students and one teacher.

• 1984 – Enrollment is 170 students.

• 1985 – Doug Wheeler is hired as principal full time.

• 1992 – The Friends of Zion Board is established by John Meisenbach. Zion Prep holds its 1^st Annual  Breakfast.

• 1995 – With the leadership of the Friends of Zion Board, Zion Prep moves to a new facility in Rainier Valley.

• 1997 – A Governance Board is established.

• 2000 – Victoria Romero joins Zion as its principal. 60% of the graduating class goes on to enter private high schools.

• 2002 – Zion Preparatory Academy celebrates its 20^th anniversary.

• 2003 - Medgar Wells becomes principal.  Wells later becomes Assistant Director. One hundred percent (100%) of the 4th grade students pass the WASL (reading).
• 2006 (December) - Doug Wheeler retires as School Director. Ven Lucas identified as new School Director.  
• 2007 - Jack Parriera assumes princpal role. Forty percent (40%) of the 8th grade class enter private high schools (Seattle Prep, Seattle Academy, Kennedy)