Modesto Christian School

Modesto Christian School is a private Christian school in Salida, California, on the outskirts of Modesto. It was formerly affiliated with the Assemblies of God;[1] it was founded in 1962 by Pastor Roy Blakeley, who had previously founded Neighborhood Church.[2] It was a charter member of the Association of Christian Schools International.[3] The school educates children from preschool through 12th grade and is divided into an elementary, a middle, and a high school, which are housed on the same campus.[3] It is a small school;[4] combined enrollment was 285 in 2009[5] and 343 in 2013–14.[1] The first graduating class, in 1976, consisted of 8 students; in 2007 there were 86.[2]

Modesto Christian School
Location
Salida, California United States
Information
Type	Private
Religious affiliation(s)	Christian
Established	1962
Principals	Cynthia Jewell (9-12) Vicki Olson (K-8)
Grades	Preschool–12th grade
Gender	coeducational
Enrollment	343 (2013–14)
Campus size	32 acres
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Navy and Red
Mascot	Crusaders
Website	www.modestochristian.org

In 2016, a group headed by Glen Villanueva, a local physician, purchased Modesto Christian School and part of the campus from Neighborhood Church. The school is now under the ownership of Modesto Christian School Incorporated, and is now non-denominational.[6] A charter school, Great Valley Academy, bought the remainder of the campus.

Class sizes are small, there is a strict dress code, and in addition to Bible class and weekly church services, each class session starts with a prayer.[2]

The school values athletics highly. Greg Pearce, the athletics director and dean of students, said in 2009: "Our first goal is to prepare our kids spiritually. Our second is to prepare them academically and our third priority has to do with sports participation."[5] It offers baseball, softball, football, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling, and boys' and girls' basketball, golf, and soccer. It is a member of the Trans-Valley League of the Sac-Joaquin Section (CIF).[7] The sports program has been very successful; Modesto Christian was named Cal Hi Sports Division V State School of the Year in 2006[5] and as of March 2007 had won four state championships, 10 Northern California championships, topped the Sac-Joaquin Section 17 times and the league 35 times.[2] In 2014 three seniors signed letters of intent to attend top-tier colleges on sports scholarships[8] and the football team was defeated in the divisional championship.[9]

The school has also been praised for its drama program.[6]