About Us
Thank you for your interest in Grace Christian School. For over 60 years Grace Christian School has offered dynamic Christian education to families of Escondido and many other neighboring communities.
Grace Christian School provides a Christ-centered, nurturing community along with a rigorous academic program. Students are encouraged to become responsible leaders, life-long learners, and compassionate citizens who are developing a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ.
Welcome
We appreciate the opportunity to introduce you to Grace Christian School. We pray that you will visit our campus where you and your entire family will receive a warm welcome from our qualified teachers and staff.
Grace has provided educational excellence in a Christ-centered, nurturing environment for more than sixty years and we are looking forward to partnering with your family. We are an accredited school that emphasizes a rigorous academic program in a differentiated learning environment. Our multisensory approach to education meets the needs of a wide range of learning styles. Our goal is to provide an environment where students become disciples of Christ, effective communicators, lifelong learners, and effective Christian citizens. Our graduates have been accepted and are attending prestigious universities throughout the nation.
We know that finding the right school for your children is an important decision. We feel that you will find Grace a school that combines a caring and loving staff with a Christ-centered curriculum that will prepare your children for the future.
We look forward to meeting you and showing you our beautiful campus.
Michelle Quezada, Associate Principal, and Ben Elliott, Superintendent
MICHELLE QUEZADA
Associate Principal /Admissions
BEN ELLIOTT
Superintendent
What Sets Us Apart
When it comes to school choice, Grace Christian is proud of some distinguishing factors that are unique to our academic program and ministry.
Graduates Who Enter The Ministry
Many of our Grace graduates (including five graduates on our own staff) have been led to enter the ministry as ordained Pastors, Directors of Christian Education, and Teachers.
Graduates Who Attend Prestigious Universities
Students Who Are Prepared For A Rigorous High School Experience
Graduates continue to return to campus to let us know how prepared they are for their high school experience and to thank us for caring so much about them. The teachers from area public and private high schools commend our students not only for their knowledge-base but also for their organizational and study skills.
High Achieving Students
All students in first through eighth grade participate in our fall annual standardized testing program using the MAPS test, a nationally normed test. Our students consistently score one to two years above grade level. Our eighth-grade classes attain a combined grade equivalent score of an average first-year college student in reading, language, and mathematics. For more information on our test scor,es please contact our Associate Principal, Michelle Quezada at mquezada@gracelcms.net
An Award Winning School
Student learning has been enriched through the awarding of three grants. A 2009 grant from the Grimm Family was used to purchase Promethean interactive white boards for all classrooms. A 2010 grant from the Escondido Charitable Foundation allowed us to upgrade our sixth through eighth math program using Prentice Hall materials. Our Honors eighth grade students are now learning Geometry and our middle school math scores average at least two years above grade level. A 2011 grant from the Sony Corporation allowed us to create a state of the art computer lab with laptops for each student. In 2015 Grace received a grant of $5,000 from the Barona Indian Tribe to aid in our Chromebook 1:1 for our Middle School.
Accreditation
In today’s world of accountability in schooling, accreditation serves as a critical component of a school’s demonstrated effectiveness and ability to provide successful schooling for children. A school that is able to achieve accreditation shows a commitment to a process that requires the school to meet a set of rigorous, research-based standards; to engage in a program of continuous school improvement; and to demonstrate quality assurance to its stakeholders through self-evaluation and peer review.
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is a process designed to strengthen schools in the delivery of quality educational programs. Accreditation is important to schools as it impacts students’ access to colleges and universities and career opportunities in a variety of ways. An effective WASC self-study review is a powerful tool for schools to improve the quality of education and more effectively serve staff and students.
National Lutheran School Accreditation
National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) is a process of self-evaluation followed by a visit of objective observers designed to help Lutheran schools improve the quality of their programs. The process is completely voluntary. NLSA is a rigorous national accrediting process designed to evaluate schools based on their unique purpose as Lutheran schools. It helps schools evaluate not only the quality of the academics and programs, but also most importantly the spiritual dimension of the school.
History
Grace Christian School was established with the goal to give our children a Christ-centered education.
Grace Lutheran Church/Hall/Gym
Grace in The Early Years
In 1956, thirty-seven years after Grace Lutheran Church was founded, our first classroom building was completed with the vision of eventually opening the day school. A resolution of the voters’ assembly of early 1957 was passed to open the school for the fall term with 3 teachers and grades 1-6. The first year showed a total enrollment of 76 pupils.
Grace Today
Today, Grace Christian School has grown from the original enrollment of 76 students to the present enrollment of approximately 300 in Preschool through 8th grade. The preschool was opened in 1991. Today the preschool has approximately 100 children enrolled serving students from infants through five years old.
FAQs
Do I have to be member of your church or a particular church to send my child to school there?
No, we have families from many different faith backgrounds. We share the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ from a Lutheran perspective. To learn more about what Lutherans believe please visit the Our Beliefs section.
Is your Kindergarten program full-day or half-day?
We offer two choices for kindergarten, a half-day or a full-day program. Both programs provide the essential instruction necessary for first grade success. Both programs prioritize core curriculum objectives in the morning hours, however the full day program allows for extension and enrichment of those morning lessons into the afternoon. Full-day hours are 8:10am – 3:00pm. Half-day hours are 8:10am to 11:30pm.
What are the class sizes?
The average class size is 18 with a student/faculty ratio of 18:1. Class size varies by grade. Please contact the school if you have questions about the enrollment in your child’s grade.
Does curriculum meet state standards?
Yes, in most cases exceeds them.
Where do graduates go to High School?
Students attend local public High Schools in Escondido, San Marcos, Poway, Vista and Valley Center as well as private High Schools including Cathedral Catholic, Calvin Christian, Tri-City Christian, and Francis Parker.
Where do graduates go to college?
Graduates of Grace have attended or are attending universities such as Johns Hopkins, Stanford, UC Davis, UCLA, Texan Christian University, Cal Poly, UCSD, Point Loma Nazarene, Yale, Concordia Irvine, Cal Lutheran, and Biola to name just a few.
Do you make accommodations to the curriculum for learning challenges?
Our teachers and principal will team up to help with minor learning challenges.
Do students have to wear uniforms?
Yes. Grace Christian School is a place for instruction and learning. The purpose of having a school dress code is to simplify the matter of student attire and place that issue in perspective with regard to the learning process. A dress code also promotes a sense of civility and equality among the students and encourages responsibility and self-discipline. Our administrators and our faculty insist that each student be dressed in a way that will not hinder the educational process, that will promote a positive image among our students, and which will provide Christian witness to the community. Please visit the myGCS tab on our website for the Family Handbook and more information.
Do you allow parent help in the classroom?
We welcome and encourage parental help in the classroom. Parents are asked to provide 30 volunteer hours per family. One of the ways to fulfill this obligation is to volunteer in your child’s classroom.
Are you accredited?
We are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and The National Lutheran School Association (NLSA).
Are your teachers credentialed?
All teachers have completed a teacher training program and have been credentialed by a state.
What is teacher turn-around?
Most of our teachers have been at Grace from 8-20 years.
What are the school hours?
Grades K-8 are in session Monday through Friday from 8:15 am to 2:45 pm.
Kindergarten half-day hours are 8:15 am – 12:00 pm.
Drop-off is between 8:00 am – 8:15 am.
Pick-up is between 2:45 pm -3:00 pm.
Do you have before and after school care?
Yes, we have an excellent before and after school care program. We also have a summer camp program. Please visit the Before and After School Care section of this site for more detail.
Does your school offer a Hot Lunch program?
Grace Christian offers a hot lunch program to our families as an alternative to the traditional sack lunch. Our Hot Lunch Program is available five days a week. Orders are taken on a monthly basis.