Santa Fe Christian Schools

838 Academy Drive

Solana Beach, CA 92075

23 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

Find Homes for Sale in this School Zone

Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 03, 2024

Our child has gone to Santa Fe Christian since grade 6. We could not be happier with Santa Fe Christian.We were particularly impressed with the way Rob G, the head of schools, handled the pandemic. He made sound decisions - always based on the health and well-being of the children.From the teachers, administrators, leadership and support staff, we have never been disappointed. Santa Fe Christian school is not cheap. But, it is worth every penny.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2023

I was a student at SFC from pre-school (when there was a pre-school) to graduating highschool, and while attending the school I was encouraged to take classes for things I wanted to learn about alongside requirements for graduation. I just with they had a better option for fulfilling PE requirements for students who don't participate in sports, like myself, than independent PE or a strength and conditioning class aimed at helping football players, such as an actual class to let you get the PE credits you need to graduate. They also have pretty much no special needs help other than extra time for tests and exams, sitting in the front of class when needed, and ADA required infrastructure. The school definitely needs better help for neurodivergent students such as myself when I was a student. They also need to have a better way of handling mental health. I delt with pretty bad depression and anxiety that I ended up needing to be medicated for while I was there as a student, and if they had some form of counseling for mental health, I wasn't made aware of it.
Submitted by other on November 28, 2021

I would never recommend this school based on my experiences over 7 years as a student. In line with other reviews, the quality of the teaching staff is inconsistent with some grossly unprepared. The more experienced ones rarely encouraged critical thinking but simple rote memorisation. However, my critique lies more in the faith-based and ethics side. They encourage community - but only for those students who fit their mold and they can uphold for marketing purposes. (Don’t expect your child to receive extra attention unless they are a top academic performer AND sports star AND shout their love for the school from the rooftops.) They teach students to fear the world and fear those of other faiths. They are exceedingly negative and judgemental. The daily teachings focus on heavy-handed shame rather than acceptance. In particular, their teaching of sexual shame and blaming girls for tempting boys, trying to control their bodies and appearances, is damaging and psychologically unhealthy, something I’m not sure parents are aware of given how they present their religious teachings coming from love. This isn’t leadership or tolerance at all. The lack of diversity (95% Caucasian?) is an accurate representation of their narrow minded views. It’s a very hard no from me.
Submitted by other on March 22, 2017

I went to Santa Fe for 6 years as a student, and it was certainly a mixed bag. I had some genuinely good teachers. But I also had some really, really bad ones. Compared to other schools it's not very strong academically. Only half of my AP teachers were actually AP accredited. It's VERY cliquey. If your kid fits in, they should be fine, but if he/she doesn't they won't have a good time.
Submitted by other on January 23, 2016

This is our 5th year at SFC and is the best decision we made. Both of our boys are in high school and have been blessed by the amazing and loving teachers and staff. They have been challenged academically and have discovered many new gifts and interests with all the opportunities available. Our whole family has made life long friends and wonderful memories at SFC!!!
Submitted by parent on November 24, 2014

This school has been an amazing blessing for our family! We have three students there and have been at the school for six years. We are waiting for the honeymoon to be over!! The curriculum is challenging and cutting edge. The high moral standards are instilling strong values in my kids' lives. My kids are all thriving academically and socially, not to mention they are all three ten times more confident than I EVER was. We love SFC and feel a great sense of community there that is unparalleled with what we would receive in a public school because of our common faith.
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2014

Our children both started at Santa Fe Christian last year in the 3rd and 6th grade. The school offers many wonderful opportunities to get involved. The new middle school principal is implementing some amazing new programs. The extended studies program has opened up new opportunities for the lower and middle school to get involved in many activities. The teachers have a genuine concern and interest in helping your children succeed academically, socially and spiritually. There is a wonderful community with many opportunities to get involved and meet other families.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2013

We entered the school with enthusiasm and med-high expectations which, unfortunately, have not yet been met. I was not prepared for the "hit-and-miss" quality of the teachers. There are some truly outstanding teachers but there are many more that should be of higher quality for a private school. All schools, whether public or private, have their share of poor teachers but I would have hoped that a private school such as Santa Fe would not take so long in making personnel changes. That's why we chose a private school over public - because they have the autonomy to hire and fire, tweak their curriculum and run the school according to their mission. Santa Fe moves in slow motion in some respects which puts the students at a disadvantage. There are always better improvements with each new school year, but by the time the school is where it needs to be, my kids will be long gone. I feel that some of the glowing reviews are more in relation to the faith based aspect of the education, which is outstanding. I am just one of those faithful Christians that see a bigger picture. It breaks my heart to say that I would only recommend the school with strong reservations.
Submitted by parent on December 16, 2013

SFC has its pros and cons. The curriculum is limited because of the size of the school but still offers enough to keep my kids active and engaged academically. The major drawback is the inconsistency of teacher quality. If the opportunity were available, I would have had my children taught outside of the classroom (home schooled) for language and math. Some teachers are either going through the motions or appear not to have any experience working with teenagers (even though I know that is not the case). My kids feel safe at SFC, enjoy their friends and like that the school is not "too big". For the most part, there are really good kids at the school, well behaved and well mannered but some are really indulged by their parents and it shows. The faith aspect of the school has not disappointed, I think both my children are better human beings by way of going to SFC. The college counseling dept is a great asset to the school, although I am starting to have doubts about how prepared my kids will be for college. Projects to get the students thinking about careers, interviewing professionals, guest lecturers, etc. are badly needed.
Submitted by parent on November 14, 2013

Santa Fe Christian has been an amazing blessing to myself and my family. The Community is like family, and has supported us through many challenging family issues. My children are prayed for throughout their day, and their teachers are genuinely interested in each of them as individuals. The incredible opportunities that they are afforded are unmatched at other schools, where they can play sports, pursue the arts, go on mission trips, participate in clubs, and still get a fantastic and highly rated education. Students coming out of Santa Fe have high aspirations, and are achieving great AP scores, showing that they truly are prepared for their college work. While my kids are not and have never been part of the social "in" crowd, they are treated with respect for who they are by both their peers and teachers. I would not trade the valuable experiences they have had here for anything.
Submitted by other on May 11, 2013

SFC is a mixed bag of experiences for many people. Having graduated from Santa Fe Christian after 7 years there, I went on to attend a top tier school and felt very poorly prepared for my science classes. I struggled through my first year of classes because I didn't have the basic background knowledge that was expected of students who had taken basic high school science courses (even though I took AP Biology, Honors Chemistry and Honors Physics). Some of the teachers at SFC are excellent but others are rather sub-par. I was told that because I was going to a secular school I would become an atheist - a message that was repeated by administrators and teachers. I can honestly say that my faith has only grown stronger since going to my "secular university". In addition, do not automatically assume that because SFC is christian that bullying is not a part of the school - it never happened to me but I constantly saw it happen to my peers and teachers. SFC is a great school for some but I personally wish, in hindsight, that I had gone to a public school and saved that tuition money to pay for college and graduate school. However, my experience is not everyone's experience.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2013

My child is graduating after 13 years at SFC (lifer) and I have a freshman too. I have a very objective view despite our many years at the school. The school offers a solid, but not stellar academic experience. The high school quality is much better than the middle or lower schools. It is a classical approach to education, with a strong writing curriculum (this is essentially absent in public high schools). It isn't Bishops and TP or LCC offers more breadth of science and art. I kept my child there despite this because of the social environment and the teachers. They call it the Santa Fe bubble and at first I hated that idea. But now I see how it preserved the goodness and sweetness in my child despite our vulgar society. We just had the mother/son luncheon for seniors and the boys each read a letter to their mother. I left thinking that sending my kids to SFC is one of the best decisions of my life. The teachers in the hs are good, and are amazing role models. They honestly do care about the students in a sincere way. It is a loving and caring environment of conservative Christians offering a solid, traditional education.
Submitted by other on February 23, 2013

I am a recent graduate of SFC after going there for 6 years, middle school and high school, and it was a fantastic school. The teachers actually cared about us and pushed us to do out best. The sports were great and we were able to compete with schools of all sizes. The parents were greatly iinvolved and and the school was definitely Christ centered. Overall I think this is one of the best schools in San Diego if not the best.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2013

Our son started last fall at SFCS as a freshman from public school. The difference is so drastic! He loves everything about his new home away from home. The leadership and guidance is top notch! Academics, teachers, and sports are challenging in every way. He could not be happier anywhere else! We love everything about our school!
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2013

My son is a sophomore and was new to Santa Fe Christian his freshman year. School is his favorite place to be for the first time in his life! The students, faculty and administration are the most warm and welcoming people we could imagine, and our son is thriving in the faith-centered environment . He is challenged academically with honors and college prep classes and outstanding teachers. The cross country program, clubs, concert band, pep band and bible study groups keep him very busy and happily immersed in this wonderful school. We have met with his college counselor several times to help him choose classes as well as begin his college search process, and the college counselors are dedicated to providing us with lots of information and guidance. We receive prompt return phone calls in response to any questions we have.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2013

I have two children that attend SFC. On is a Junior & the other a Freshman. Both children are very different, yet have flourished at SFC each in their own interests. SFC develops and encourages students in their personal faith with Jesus, in addition to having excellent academic and sports programs too. When we first looked at SFC, we wondered if it would really be able to offer oldest child,who is a high-achiever, the challenging course work we thought she would need. Over the course of almost three years, we can say that she has been well challenged. SFC really offers big school opportunities in a small school setting.
Submitted by parent on January 22, 2013

We have two children that attend SFC, a 10th grade girl and a 7th grade son. We love SFC because the teachers, administration & parent community reinforce the values we follow at home. Our children are getting an outstanding education. They both have grown to love math through the excellent teachers. One of our kids loves sports and has found many opportunities to play. Our other child is not into sports as much and has found several clubs to get involved with. If you are looking for a Christian community that also has a challenging academic environment, we highly recommend you check out Santa Fe Christian.
Submitted by other on January 19, 2013

I graduated from Santa Fe Christian Schools after nine years there as an elementary, middle, and upper school student. My experience at SFC is one of the things I am most grateful for in life it was worth every penny my parents spent to send me there. SFC is an incredible school with an amazing balance of academics, athletics, arts, spiritual development, and social life. As a student, I knew nearly every teacher on campus, and more importantly, I knew those teachers cared about me and would go out of their way to support my growth spiritually and academically. I have since graduated from college and graduate school and I felt very well prepared by SFC. The alumni network is strong and I am still very close to many of my classmates. My parents often remarked that the school changed their lives too, and the parent community is one of the school s strongest assets. While no school is perfect, I cannot imagine having a better experience anywhere else. If you are even thinking about sending your child to SFC, I encourage you to visit the school you will feel the difference just by spending an hour on campus!
Submitted by parent on January 19, 2013

We have two children at SFC, a senior boy and sophomore girl, and we couldn't be happier with the rigorous curriculum, bible curriculum, spiritual guidance and support, and overall partnership from the faculty and administrators. The teachers at SFC truly love their jobs, care about their students, pray for them regularly, and help them recognize their gifts and encourage them to pursue their passions. Our son will graduate with 7 AP classes under his belt (of his 4 last year, he passed all AP tests with three 4's and one 3) and received early admittance from his college of choice. We love the SFC community, the administrators and board seem to be good stewards of this blessed school and have made some wise financial decisions in the past several years, helping us get to a healthy place; there are plenty of volunteer ops, it's really one giant family. We are so thankful for SFC!
Submitted by parent on January 18, 2013

My son attended Santa Fe Christian 9th - 12th grades and had a wonderful experience. His only regret was that he didn't get involved in more things other than sports. SFC is unique in that it offers small classes and personal attention from the teachers yet it allows students the opportunities to be involved in the arts, sports, academics etc... much like a much bigger school. As parents we were pleased with his overall experience and have recommended the school to several freinds and neighbors.