Valor Christian Academy

The class sizes are small, learning is great, and my son loves to go. The school is sincerely looking to get better and has a goal of being an elite christian school available to everyone. Our son has excelled beyond our expectations and the curriculum is well-rounded. The teachers are very accessible, loving and sincere, thee kids will be kids, but they are taught to be respectful to everyone. Conflict is handled in a very positive and respectful manner. The school is very affordable for the excellent quality of education received. The only drawbacks are finances, I wish that we had more money to pay the teachers higher salaries they deserve it; almost all of them have advance degrees and could teach anywhere. They are strong in their beliefs and it shows. I am a fairly new christian and this re-enforces by faith. The school is not full of creepy Christian's. You feel comfortable speaking about God and your faith, but those who are not Christians or comfortable with being outward in my convictions (me) are welcomed. One last thing Mr. James is wonderful with student in the after school program. He is an insightful role model, and the kids and myself have learned from him.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student that used to go to Coast and I am very disappointed with this school. I find it ironic that Valor is supposed to be helping kids become leaders. Last year, leadership in Coast Christian was extremely weak. We wouldn't have even had student honor council if we didn't keep the asking the principle to let it happen.Some of the staff use Bible scriptures to support what they are saying when they are obviously manipulating it. Bad communication and inconsistencies are just two of the problems at this school. I attended Coast for a pretty long time, and each year got worse and worse. They stopped putting on Christmas plays and the Christmas concerts just went downhill every single year. Also, I think it is unnecessary that some of the staff who aren't in charge of cleaning up the school can still be found cleaning up restrooms and the classrooms. Some of the staff come off as very harsh and rude. Despite the bad leadership qualities some of the staff have, the students at Coast are typically very kind and if you are planning to send your child here, they will have no problem trying to find friends.

Great education taught by great teachers that really care about their students. These teachers teach for one reason, they love the kids and want them to receive the very best Christian Education. Our son is in 3rd/4th Grade class and is fortunate to have both Mr. Fast and Ms. Gutierrez, both are fabulous. For the past three years our son attended Pasadena Christian another great school; Valor is less expensive, doesn't have as nice a campus and the teachers make much less, but that doesn't in any way limit their ability to provide a top notch education. I would recommend Valor to any parent that wants a great education in a loving and nurturing environment.
—Submitted by a parent

The quality of this school has continued to fall, year after year. Aside from a few good teachers, the rest of the school, staffing, leadership, and curriculum is far below standard. In particular, the leadership of the school is very weak. The administrators use the Bible in misguided ways to support whatever they decide. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak. Enrollment is way down, moral among teachers, students, and parents is low. The communication between administration and parents is awful, despite a newsletter that is put out weekly by a secretary. I feel this school is severely lacking, and I hope their new paint and new name "Valor Academy" does not fool parents into enrolling their children. Think again!
—Submitted by a parent

My children have been attending CCS for over 5 years, and I must say things have definetely changed over the years. The biggest fault this school seems to have is inconsistencies, and plenty of them. To start, the teaching staff has changed every year with an exception of a few teachers. As I once heard someone say,"The principal is cleaning house." It's very agonizing to wonder to will be your childs next teacher, because odds are it's once again going to be a complete stranger. The school is short staffed so you will often see the care and recreation crew also cleaning the bathrooms, the classrooms, etc. Also, this year there isn't a student honor council or 8th grade class officers which robs the student of exercising their leadership potential. And I'm pretty sure there isn't a cheerleading team this year like this website states. There are many other changes/inconsistencies that have happened over time, too many to list. Aside from these flaws, the office staff and supporting staff are excellent workers, maybe because they have been here for years. Also, I have no gripes about the quality of education my children have received. Diverse student body with no bullying.
—Submitted by a parent

Coast is a true blessing from the Lord. We live in a very upscale neighborhood where people pay mightly so they can send their children to the public schools and we do not. This is because the spiritual aspect of their schooling is so important. Coast gets an A+ is this area, as it is truly a Christ-centered education, which is exceedingly rare, if not non-existent, elsewhere in the broader area. On top of that, check out the test scores (very high) and compare it to the tuition (very reasonable) - it is amazing. That is because these teachers are truly dedicated to the task.
—Submitted by a parent

Enriching and engaging preschool. Caring teachers who provide loving yet controlled environment for children to grow and learn. Excellent communication between teachers and parents. Age appropriate activities to stimulate creativity and imagination with plenty of play time and learning time. Would highly recommend to any parent looking for quality pre-school infant through pre-K.
—Submitted by a parent

Nice school. Bible based education. Great Principal ! My child loves the teachers and fellow students and loves learning. He is being given good foundation here. Teachers are always open and available for communication.
—Submitted by a parent

This will be our third year at Coast and they have exceeded our expectation. Our son came from another local Christian school that lacked many of the standards that we feel a Christian school should possess. Thank God for Coast Christian School!!!! With an unbelievable Christ-centered atmosphere and curriculum, not to mention a stellar administration and staff, we have been blown away with how our son and daughter have excelled academically, biblically and socially. One of the perks is that the tuition is extremely reasonable for the quality of education and Christ-like environment. I recommend Coast Christian School to every parent I meet.
—Submitted by a parent

My son started attending Coast in 3rd grade and we noticed a change in how much he loved school almost immediately. This last year he had a male fourth grade teacher that he talked about all the time. My son knows Bible stories now and has a love for school and learning that he did not have before. I would recommend Coast to any parent.
—Submitted by a parent

The school is good academically but I find it a little bit expensive, specially if you have more than 1 child. I also believe the church should support the school more so the prices could come down a little bit. When my children were there ( I pulled them out to compare it with another private school).
—Submitted by a parent

Academically, this school Rocks! However, if your child is one who needs extra nurturing, this is not the place for them. Discipline is not consistent - and being a tattle-tell is rewarded (biblical principle???). Some of the teachers are sarcastic yet discipline the kids for using the same language. The kids talk disrespectfully to each other. Enrollment has dropped nearly 40% over last two years. Few parents are involved in more than just their child's classroom! Teachers are rarely a part of the Parent & Teacher Fellowship. Some great teachers...some past time to go. Great vision...needs to be executed!
—Submitted by a parent

As a professional it is extremely important to place your child in a child that has a 'great' match. Coast Christian meets every criteria... God-focused and academically superior. This school by far excels and exceeds the criteria needed for any child to succeed. I am a fully-involved parent who loves what Coast Christian has provided for both of my children in 2nd and 3rd grades.. Few schools can compare..
—Submitted by a parent

We are in our second year at Coast Christian School and I could not be happier. The teachers & staff are concerned about building the whole student -- both in academics & Spirit. The principal offers a round table time for parents each month & I have seen many improvements made based on these discussions. My son (1st grade) loves to go to school & is excited about everything he is learning. His teachers have been great with a wonderful balance of structure, discipline & love. Unless God makes a major change in my life, we will be at CCS through 8th grade.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent school, excellent Kindergarten Teacher, Excellent Principal. Great Communication.
—Submitted by a parent

I have taught at a couple other Christian schools in the area and Coast surpasses them, by far. The staff work together, pray for each other, help one another and the Principal is exceptional. She is the reason I chose to teach here. I also know for a fact that the church, Coast Christian Fellowship, does not make all the decisions for our school. We have weekly staff meetings to discuss planning events, curriculum, and weekly happenings. As for supply lists - have you attended other private schools? The lists are comparable. Teachers, administration, and the church cannot supply all our needs or the needs of this school. Do you know what the average teacher takes out of his/her own budget to buy items for class projects, conferences, and parties? No school is perfect nor will anyone find the perfect school. I love Coast Christian School.
—Submitted by a parent

The best part about this school is that it is a Christian school and my children can be in God s word daily. However, there are many areas this school is lagging! It has just lost the field they used to do PE on. PE is now conducted on a blacktop surface. The bathrooms are completely substandard! The cafeteria floors are FILTHY. Yet, they are using the fundraiser to resurface the blacktop (which is still new) and teacher parking lot. I have done thorough research of other local Christian Schools and others provide the same level of academics and safety but are much CLEANER! Many parents I have talked to are pulling their children and going to other schools. The church does not support the school financially, but makes the decisions. Many of the staff kids who attend the church don't even attend the school!!! Says a lot in itself!
—Submitted by a parent

Coast Christian School has been a blessing to me and my family. The atmosphere is very family-oriented and the teachers are very caring and know how to maximize class time for teaching. I just found out the school was built in 1958, Wow! The administrative staff and school board really makes the most of what they have! Overall I'm very happy with the curriculum, the teachers, and just recently my family and I started attending Coast Christian Fellowship and we enjoy being part of the church that oversees the school. The Principal, Mrs. Keenan is truely a godly example for her staff and the students!
—Submitted by Kathleen, a parent

While researching other schools in the area and speaking to those in my community, I found that Coast Christian School has the most to offer in the areas of academics and extra-curricular activities. I am very happy with my children's teachers. They have proven to show a genuine concern for all the kids in their classes. Coast has such a welcoming family atmosphere that my kids want to stay on campus even after classses have ended. Which leads me to another reason why I think this school is so great...they bring in after school activities like tennis and golf! Yes, there is a minimal fee,but it is well worth it when my kids are learning, happy and safe. They make themselves a
—Submitted by a parent

The principal has a heart for God...however, the school has Some teachers that do not communicate well, never seem to be cheerful, and are not pleasant to be around...and you can't move your child once a teacher is selected. If you are not preregisted for before/after school care, it is outrageously expensive...if you participate in afterschoool activities that bring in other people, you have to pay the after school rates on top of it...you have rediculous items on the supply list - soap paper towels, copy paper, expo dry erase markers - should be covered in the administrative supplies as advertised. Music program ends at 5th grade. Parents are Required lots of fundraising and volunteer hours. The church does not help fund the school as the website suggests...leaves it all to the parents. Of the four Christian schools I have been involved in, this one is definitely bottom of list!
—Submitted by a parent