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Below Average

#1584 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Valley Christian School

Elementary School

1350 DISCOVERY ST, San Marcos, CA 92078

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 19 schools in San Marcos. Learn more

Enrollment

134

Student-Teacher

11.4:1

Score

4.9

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In San Marcos

#2 of 2

public schools

California elementary schools

#967 of 1,102

About Valley Christian School

Valley Christian School serves 134 students in kindergarten through sixth grade in San Marcos, California. This elementary school maintains an excellent 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio with 12 full-time equivalent teachers, providing personalized attention that contributes to its strong academic reputation. The school has earned an impressive 9.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #624 out of 1,790 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 65th percentile among California schools.

This solid performance reflects the school's commitment to elementary education during these foundational learning years. Valley Christian School draws families from an affluent and well-educated community where nearly half of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The surrounding 92078 zip code area features a median household income of $107,894 and median home values of $787,600, with only an 8% poverty rate among the 53,019 residents.

Located on Discovery Street, the school benefits from its position in San Marcos's large suburban setting, where families value educational excellence and community involvement. The combination of small class sizes, strong academic standing, and an educated parent community creates an environment focused on nurturing young learners during their elementary years.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 134 students, Valley Christian School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

As a private school, Valley Christian School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$605,850
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$613,919
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.01x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
96%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$128.7M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 134 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Valley Christian School compares to 15 public schools serving similar grades in San Marcos, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
This School
vs
22.2:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
134
This School
vs
752
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
4.9
This School
vs
6.2
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 89.6% vs 0%
Hispanic 7.5% vs 0%
Asian 2.2% vs 0%
Black 0.7% vs 0%
Valley Christian School San Marcos Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Valley Christian School (this school) 4.9
Discovery Elementary 8.2
Pivot Charter School - San Diego II 5.0
La Mirada Academy 6.0
San Marcos Middle 5.4
San Marcos Elementary 4.3
San Elijo Elementary 6.9
North Coastal Consortium Schools 6.9
San Elijo Middle 4.3
Paloma Elementary 7.5
Double Peak 6.4
Baypoint Preparatory Academy - San Diego 7.5
Richland Elementary 7.2
Twin Oaks Elementary 6.0
Woodland Park Middle 5.3
Knob Hill Elementary 6.3

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B 6.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 11.4:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
D 1.2 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.3 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 630
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C 3.2 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 19%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 134
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 89.6%
Hispanic 7.5%
Asian 2.2%
Black 0.7%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1350 DISCOVERY ST, San Marcos, CA 92078

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Valley Christian School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Discovery Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Paloma Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, KIDS TOWN MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 2.5 miles away, in nearby Vista), which scores notably higher. For more schools in San Marcos, see our San Marcos schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
High Tech Middle North County San Diego 0.2 mi 8.0
High Tech High North County San Diego 0.2 mi 6.9
High Tech Elementary North County San Diego 0.3 mi 3.1
San Marcos High San Marcos 0.4 mi 5.4
Discovery Elementary San Marcos 0.5 mi 8.2
Pivot Charter School - San Diego II San Marcos 0.7 mi 5.0
La Mirada Academy San Marcos 0.9 mi 6.0
ST JOSEPH ACADEMY San Marcos 1.2 mi 6.0
Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary Vista 1.9 mi 6.3
San Marcos Middle San Marcos 1.8 mi 5.4
San Elijo Elementary San Marcos 2.1 mi 6.9
San Elijo Middle San Marcos 2.2 mi 4.3
Paloma Elementary San Marcos 2.2 mi 7.5
San Marcos Elementary San Marcos 1.9 mi 4.3
North Coastal Consortium Schools San Marcos 2.1 mi 6.9
Kid's Town Montessori School Vista 2.5 mi
KIDS TOWN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Vista 2.5 mi 7.2
Sanderling Waldorf School Vista 2.4 mi
Carrillo Elementary Carlsbad 2.3 mi 4.3
Double Peak San Marcos 2.5 mi 6.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 92078 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$114,905

Median Home Value

$874,000

Median Rent

$2,468/mo

Population

53,542

College Educated

48.3%

Homeownership

71.3%

Avg Commute

27.7 min

Poverty Rate

8.4%

Median Age

38.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Valley Christian School has a median household income of $114,905. It is a well-educated community where 48% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $874,000, with a median rent of $2,468/month. The local poverty rate of 8.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Carver (George Washington) Elementary San Francisco, CA 4.9
Farmington Elementary Farmington, CA 4.9
GRANITE BAY MONTESSORI Roseville, CA 4.9
ILE OMODE Oakland, CA 4.9
OCEANSIDE ADVENTIST ELEMENTARY Oceanside, CA 4.9
OUR LADY OF VICTORY SCHOOL Compton, CA 4.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Valley Christian School

What grades does Valley Christian School serve?

Valley Christian School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend Valley Christian School?

Valley Christian School has an enrollment of approximately 134 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Christian School?

The student-teacher ratio at Valley Christian School is 11.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Valley Christian School rank in CA?

Valley Christian School is ranked #1584 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Valley Christian School's MySchoolScout rating?

Valley Christian School has a composite rating of 4.9 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Valley Christian School a private school?

Yes, Valley Christian School is a private coeducational school with a Baptist affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Valley Christian School a religious school?

Valley Christian School has a Baptist religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

City Safety
Elevated (890/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Marcos). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
134
Gender Split
51% M / 49% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
12
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Baptist
School Day
6.3 hours
Days Per Year
100 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
SAN DIEGO
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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