San Jose Christian School

Over the last two years, the efforts made to up leveling the younger children’s academic structure has been phenomenal. I was already satisfied when I started our children in their preschool back in 2013, but seeing what they’ve done to constantly improve the academics has continued to impress me. The faculty and staff are like family, and it’s evident that the love and focus they have spans across all of the students and their families as well.

I have two daughters in middle school at SJCS. Both are developing wonderfully, thanks to teachers who challenge AND support them. For our commuter family, having an after-​school sports program on site, is an asset. We love the creative ways in which technology is integrated into the learning experience in most academic subjects. Children get well prepared for high school through a mix of collaborative projects and long-​term research/​writing projects. If we had another child, we would send him/​her to SJCS as well!

San Jose Christian School is a hidden treasure in Campbell that not only challenges its students academically but helps them to build a solid foundation spiritually in Christ. We have been there for the past 5 years and have seen our two boys grow in leaps and bonds in all areas of the curriculum. The teachers are top notch and have a heart not only for Christ but strive to have each child they teach reach their full potential in all areas of study, so they will be successful beyond the doors of the school. The new principal has really jumped in and taken charge by supporting his staff to «Reach for the Stars» in how they teach each student and demonstrates positive opportunities to further staff development both academically and spiritually. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for our school in the next few years. Come check it out for yourself… you won’t be disappointed!

Such goodness here! We transferred our 2 children in to SJCS mid-​fall, and could not have been more pleasantly surprised! The transition was seamless as we were so welcomed and cared for, immediately putting us at ease. This is the most charming school, what you see is what you get– and what you see is truly engaged teachers and staff, enthusiasm, real awareness to school-​age issues like bullying and social issues, high academic standards supported by amazing teachers, a real sense of community… I could go on and on. The school faculty seems to genuinely enjoy being a part of this school, it’s obvious in the details and in the smiles. And after having had a less than positive experience elsewhere, I can assure you that you and your children are heard and seen here. My children (K and 4^th) are so happy at SJCS. They look forward to going to school each day, and I look forward to knowing that they are where they belong.

I love San Jose Christian! Not only is the staff welcoming and warm but the families there have really created an environment where you feel instantly welcomed. My first son entered as a 4^th grader a few years ago from another school, and within the first two or three days, several moms approached me to introduce themselves and to tell me what a great school it has been for their child (ten). Also, my son had a special educational need and the principal/​superintendent at that time was incredibly responsive and accommodating. They recently hired a new principal that has been a great addition to the school. He is engaging and super fun-​loving with the students but also able to implement tough love where needed. I highly recommend this school!

Update: My kids are now in 1^st and 4^th grade. My 1^st grader loves to play «school» more than anything else. Most nights after dinner and homework she likes to read to me. She sits me down on the couch and asks everyone in her class to be quiet during story time. She likes to give quizzes after she reads to her class so when we get to a particularly important part of the story she’ll look at me out of the corner of her eye and say, «You’ll need to remember this, so keep it in your brain.» I love the way she mimics Mrs. Reeves in her speech and also her mannerisms. She’ll say, «This is how Mrs. Reeves flips the page when she reads to us. Then she walks around like this and holds the book open so everyone can see the pictures.» When you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up the answer is obvious, a San Jose Christian School teacher.
My 4^th grader has been greatly impacted by all of her teachers over the years as well. I overheard her talking to my 1^st grader and her friend about how great the teachers were. The obvious question arose, «Who is your favorite teacher?» After a long pause they all agreed that their current teacher was their favorite. Every year, about 3 months into the school year, my 4^th grader becomes distraught over the fact that her new teacher is replacing the previous years’ teacher as her favorite. She feels so bad about this.
I could go on for hours with examples of how great our kid’s experience has been at San Jose Christian School, but it hasn’t always been sunshine kisses and puppy snuggles. This year our 4^th grader and her classmates saw firsthand the real-​world effects of bullying. I won’t get into details, but I commend our teachers and administrators, in particular our new principal Mr. Intlekofer, for dealing with this issue swiftly and with grace. A special school assembly had been held earlier in the year to get kids thinking about the subject of bullying. They used a program called The Power of One and were encouraged to talk to their parents about it. My daughter was struck by the fact that even as a «bystander» who isn’t being bullied, she has an obligation to stand up for and help someone who is being bullied.
While no school is immune to the problems and struggles of this world, I can rest assured knowing that my kids are part of a community that genuinely cares for them and has their best interests in mind.

Do you want your kids to learn in a bubble? Or do you want them to be able to witness the world for what it really is? If you answered yes to the second question, DO NOT SEND YOUR KIDS HERE. I graduated from 8^th grade from this «school» in 2011 and I was glad to be gone. If you plan on sending your child to a private high school such as Mitty, Presentation, or Bellarmine, they will NOT be prepared for the rigorous academic schedule of high school. By mixing God into classes that are not explicitly religious-​such as science-​students learn things that will be shown to be incorrect in the high school learning environment. Sure, this might not matter if your child is in elementary school, but in middle school-​when a child is beginning to develop into an individual-​this environment is not suitable. Additionally, the vast majority of students I encountered while at this school were white, wealthy, and out of touch with greater problems in the world that did not involve sports, video games or Kim Kardashian. Also, none of the teachers I had when I went there had a degree from what I would call a «reputable school.» Only one teacher had a reputable degree (Cal Poly SLO) and she was laid off. OH AND THE THING THAT REALLY GOT ON MY NERVES: multiple teachers openly said to me and other students that Muslims, Hindus, and basically anyone who wasn’t Christian was a bad person and their way of thinking is automatically bad while Christians have never done anything bad ever. No way.
In short
PROS:
–A lot of schools don’t have a music program but this one does so it has that.
–Probably a lot more calm and controlled than a public school but at one point 6^th grades were throwing heavy rocks at an 8^th grader with mental disabilities on a daily basis.
–location is decent
CONS:
–No real science curriculum. INTELLIGENT DESIGN IS NOT A SCIENCE
–English curriculum does not prepare students for high school English classes
–Teachers and students are closed minded
–Students have recess but it’s not like they can do anything fun because most games are «dangerous.»
–Course load is limited and students will be overwhelmed when they enter high school
–Biblical passages are not analyzed. The Bible is treated as a heal everything book but is not read into deeply. Students memorize 15+ verse passages, but for what? We were never told what the passages REALLY mean
–The earth is not 6000 years old. Methuselah was not 969 years old. But according to SJCS, they were. In the Jewish tradition a year was one lunar rotation, so a month. Methuselah was more likely around 81 years old. Teachers should not blindly tell students things.
I hope this was helpful to anyone. I would recommend sending your children to a school like Challenger, Stratford, or one of the many Catholic K-​8 schools in Silicon Valley. If I had gone to one of those school, I believe my high school career would be much more controllable.

Upon first walking onto the campus, I noticed how nice and sunny everything is done. The staff is very friendly and polite. I’ve been working for years with certain individuals at this school by email and phone and it was such a pleasure seeing everyone and the place. Our communications are always clear and prompt with that sense that people here really do care about what they are doing.

The very first time we toured the school, I knew this would be a perfect fit for my son who was entering first grade. We were taken on a tour of the school by Betsy, and her energy, enthusiasm and kindness sold me. Now that we have been at the school for 3 years, I am truly grateful that we ended up here. My son is getting a great faith-​based education, he’s learning about music, and making many great friends. I especially like that this school is located on a former Campbell School site, so it’s a nice large school, with plenty of room for the kids to run & play. For me, the on-​site daycare is a HUGE plus, and the cost is very reasonable. I would highly recommend SJCS to anyone looking for a good Christian school for their child.

San Jose Christian School is an excellent school overall. Our daughters are not only receiving an excellent academic education, they are learning what it means to love God and serve others. The teachers are all phenomenal and skilled in each grade. The Music program provides many opportunities for students to learn and develop a variety of musical skills. The parent community is supportive and involved. We often say that SJCS is a diamond in the rough and it has been an enormous blessing to our family!

We came to this school after being in the public school system for several years. We were looking for a school with a solid Christian foundation as well as strong academics. We could not be happier with this school! Our children have grown in every aspect. The curriculum is challenging and well rounded without being overwhelming, the social environment is nurturing, and the music program is amazing. Highly recommended.

Great school. We have two children here, and are thrilled with the teachers and staff. This school provides a challenging curriculum by teachers who are incredible. We are truly blessed to have our children attend SJCS!

Our child has been with the school for 2 years. He absolutely love the teachers and the program. The teachers were very caring. We like the school a lot.

I have gone to this school for 6 years, it’s good but they should have more recess time. But this place is the best.