Calvary Chapel Christian

12808 Woodruff Avenue

Downey, CA 90242

9 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on April 29, 2024

I have two (2) children at this school two years apart and they have attended here for five years. We have experienced between the (2), the elementary school, the middle school, and presently the high school. I love this school for our children. No school is perfect, but I appreciate all of the work the administrators, teachers and support staff put into this school for our children. Teaching is a calling and they genuinely love the students, love Jesus, and have a high standard of holding the kids and families to account with firmness, love and grace (cause you know our children aren't perfect right?). Our children's teachers are wonderful, from English to Math, and Science, to all the exceptional Creative Arts this school has to offer. Our children are both athletes as well, and the school has a wide variety to choose from. When issues arise at the school, they are mindful about addressing and putting corrective measures in place. As parents we need to work in a partnership with the school and be a part of whatever change we would like to see. Unfortunately (in general, parents will get offended and leave a school without ever letting a school know what the reason was or even a chance to correct an issue. Like anything it takes time to change bad situations.) This school is open to addressing changes that stay in lock step with biblical principles. I appreciate this school and all of their effort they pour into our children, in loving them, teaching them, and keeping them in a safe environment. I love this school for our children can't you tell. I hope this blesses someone in their decision making process to send their children here. Note: They also offer Grizzly Academy. Be Blessed.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2023

I don't normally right reviews but felt like I needed to, my two kids attended Calvary for 7 years. At one point this was a good school and I felt like the tuition was expensive but I felt like my kids were safe here. After the pandemic the school opened up their doors to everyone, kids from various school transferred in bringing drugs, bullying, foul language to the school. Notice the good reviews are very old, nothing recent. The curriculum was never challenging but recently it is rediculous. Teachers don't care and don't communicate with the parents in regards to the kid's grades. Turn over is super high, the good teachers move on once their kids have graduated, hence tuition is free to employees. Your hard earned money will go a long way else where.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2021

I highly respect the leadership of the principle and most of the staff. Of my 2 kids attending 1 is doing great academically and the other is struggling. It's not really the schools fault but I do wonder about the professional (credentials) of some of the teachers. Tuition is fair, there are 'mandatory' fund raisers that seem outdated and we refuse to participate in, so we have to make buyout payments. The office staff is helpful, communicates quite well. They just added a Dean of Students which was a good move. I know the Choir teacher is highly educated and very inspiring to many of the kids but the actual Music Dept needs help. The last and current music teachers seem ill equipped to lead, and my child actually lost their desire to play music under this uninspiring weak band dept. More attention needs to pour into the band-musical department. The football program is low rated but still pretty good. Cheer team looks fun here! The XC Cross Country and Track and Field coaching team is strong and dedicated, yet there is a shortage of kids interested in those sports. The Wrestling coach is very personable, dedicated to the kids and inspires the boys to excellence. The discipline of the kids is fair and good. Kids stop wearing uniforms from 10th Grade on, I feel Uniforms should still be required through the end of 10th grade as my boy is already obsessed with his Branding of clothes at age 15, due to cell phones and marketing to teens. Overall this is a great school, but parents must be hands on. The college prep is ok if you want your child to go to a Christian college like GCU, APU, Biola.. but I feel my kid is ill-equipped for the more competitive scene like the UC's, Cal States and certainly not prepared for Ivy league. Both of my boys took 2 years of Spanish here yet don't speak a word of Spanish, foreign languages are not valued here I feel and thats sad as I wanted my kids to know & use 2nd languages. The math teaching seems strong and the science too but the kids must be self-motivated to succeed. The AP, Honors and ECP classes offered are good to help the smart kids boost their GPAs. The School Books program is horrible, the parent to parent Book Exchange at end of each school year needs significant work so parents can avoid paying $80-120 for books they could have gotten from other parents. CCCS handled the Covid Crisis with Flying Colors! God Bless You CCCS. With Love.
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2020

I am delighted with Calvary Downey. It is Christ-centered and is well rounded with sports, arts, and academics.
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2018

Very good. Very happy with my experience at the school and so is my oldest.
Submitted by other on May 26, 2016

It is a great place to be fed spiritually, but the administration is made up by pastors with no outside experience in education and new faculty are hired with little more than Sunday school experience or incomplete college degrees. It sends a message that the adults at this school think that they have nothing to learn from a local Christian University about educating our young minds. I am sure that they would find that they would learn a lot if they gave it a chance.
Submitted by parent on March 18, 2013

What I love about this School is that they really watch our kids. They are really against boyfriends/girlfriends relationship in Elementary and Middle School. If they sin, they will be disciplined. Some children are testing the school and parents, but they will not get away with it. I wouldn't put my child in a public school, because I know my child wouldn't be watched like at Calvary.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2012

Calvary is a nightmare and proved to be an incredible waste of our children's time and our money. To no fault of the staff hardly any are credentialed to teach. Some great reporting has actually been done on how when they (the staff) do complete a teacher's program they are often let go by the admins to cut costs. Inexperienced teachers with o classroom management, high costs for horrible and often inaccurate lessons, no guidance whatsoever for students looking to further their education, the list goes on and on. If children do go on to a four year college what they quickly find out is that they are illequipped to compete. Wish we could go back in time and to a public school. Sorry guys
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2012

My 4 year old attends the pre-school and I feel so blessed to have found this school. Im reading some of these reviews and am in disbelief. I can only speak for the pre-school and can tell you that i see nothing but great things. It's a wonderful Christian atmosphere and the children are constantly being challenged academically.