I will never recover from the trauma and abuse I endured at Valley Christian Academy. As an adult, I have been diagnosed with C-PTSD in relation to my experiences there. I left after Junior High without a will to continue living. I only remember bits and pieces of 5th grade. In 6th grade, we were taken to Ironwood Christian Camp for a week to be 'broken and reshapen in the image of God like Adam at an age we need it most,' where I was physically, spiritually, and emotionally abused by the adults responsible for my safety. We had to swim in a lake we were told "natoriously gives rashes to whoever showers last." Then, I was TOLD to shower last by Cindy Mudgett. The next morning, Ms Mudgett woke me up cheerfully telling me it was time to hike to Soldier Mountian. (Previous to the trip, we were told this hike is extreme, and optional.) I told her no. I told her I had a horrible rash between my legs and on my skin and that it hurt to walk. She smiled so sadistically I will never forget it, and she said "too bad, get up you have 5 minutes." while threatening to grab my blankets. I proceeded to hike for hours without any food or water. My whole class was crying because the hike was so hard, and we were only 11 or 12 years old. We were told the point was to feel 'God help you get to the top.' Cindy Mudgett still works at the school. I have plenty of memories of Joel preaching/shouting to us as children in chapel to what can be summerized as "why white male superiority is important: God says so." I felt empowered to leave a review after seeing some of the other ones left here. I am so heartbroken knowing my parents paid tens of thousands of dollars throughout the years for my education of memorizing Bible verses and having things like 'damnation' be my volcabulary words. If you love your children, do not send them to Valley Christan Academy. They will attempt to break the personaility out of them. read more

Overall a great curriculum and liked how children were challenged to reach their highest potential. I think this school was way better than public school and gave my grandson a good spiritual and intellectual start in life. On the other hand, my grandson had one teacher who was completely inexperienced and not a good teacher at all. she did not return to teach the next year stating that teaching was not for her. read more

The elementary curriculum was probably my best experience. Otherwise, it was terrible. I was a student from preschool through 8th grade. Oh boy, let me tell you about it. This school is so bigoted and corrupt. The teachers I had were mostly always nice. The things they taught and kind of made the kids believe, too, are things that parents should be telling their children, not the school. The teachers would practically punish a child for having a different political or religious belief than they do. One time, near one of the presidential elections, one student raised his hand for a prayer request. The teacher chose him, and he said his prayer request was for one of the candidates to lose, and the teacher agreed and proceeded to pray for that request. What kind of school would have someone pray against someone else's person of choice? I also know there is a lot of power and money grabs after the Masons left. I can tell that teachers are way underpaid; they overprice everything. Their lunches were like 6 dollars each, and they sold really poor condition Bibles for about 10$. It's a private Christian school, and you can't offer a kid a bible? Every single book is about $150 each, and each field trip was crazy expensive. They also almost force each kid to raise money for fundraisers; they tell us that it will go to good causes around the school. They haven't done anything to fix that campus in the last 10 years. They promised to change the playground to soft padding, but they changed it to hard wood chips. Kids are going to hurt themselves falling from the bars or running. I've also heard that teachers have to pay full tuition for their kids, maybe with a tiny discount. Say if a teacher only gets like 35k a year, they have to spend half of that for their kid's tuition. The only way they will give the teachers a break or free tuition is if they are active members of the church. EXCUSE ME WHAT?! That is some form of disgusting treatment. The pastor of the church, Joel Mickelson, always preached how women should have no ranking authority over men or anyone else. Women can't be teaching the bible, he says. The next year, his wife Kelly, became principal and a Bible teacher. Some hypocrisy there, huh? Even when they found a new principal, she wanted to hold that power, so the first time they appointed a Vice Principal, HER. Like what? This school is a multi-million-dollar school, and I will bet without a doubt that almost all of that money is integrated into her salary and Joel's pastoral salary. Not to mention that he was proud to say that they won't accept any other name but his on the church election ballot. After 2020, when the Masons left, this school diverged from their Christian values and ways. The kids there are plain rude, no respect for anyone outside of their "Groups". They have always and probably still are very inappropriate with each other, and the office will do nothing to put them in check. read more

Valley Christian Academy (VCA) is a preK-12 private Christian school located in Santa Maria, California. This school specializes in preparing kids for grade school and for a higher level of education. The staff are great and friendly read more

I went to vca preschool til 7th grade. I am still trying to undo the trauma it caused. Please do not send your children here. I was beat in kindergarten and do not even remember why. I was also taken into chuck masons office with the sliding glass door and he made me grab the back of a leather couch that was in there and hit my butt a few times then pressed me against his body and made me "pray" with him. There was supposed to be a female in the office with us. There was not. I was 11 years old and completely alone. They did not even bother to tell my parents I had hit. Loom into the staff, many former teacher are living openly gay lifestyles now. God is not in this place. I could go on and on. Please don't send your kids here. My aunt robin stantorf (hilardis) was a student there who went on to teach. I recently gathered the strength to tell of my abuse and she told me to get a lawyer and therapist and that she would never speak on it again. I will post a screenshot of her response. Does it seem Christ like to you how she responded? Please do not send your children to vca.. I will never fully heal from the damage done to me at vca.. read more

Valley Christian Academy - Vca teacher response to her own nieces outcry of abuse.. - Elementary Schools Near Me - Santa Maria, California

Amazing Christian private school. A gem in our community. Great education, teachers and staff are very caring akns kind. I am so happy my kiddo has been goinf here for 3 years now. read more

A wonderful school with teachers and staff that really care for your child as much as you do. So thankful my kids are able to attend school here. read more

All three of my daughters have attended Valley Christian Academy. This school is a wonderful testimony to the values and character that should be given to all of our children. All support staff and teachers are professional and filled with the love of GOD through a giving/teaching heart. Valley Christian Academy Santa Maria California truly cares about teaching/partnering "with you" so your child will have the character, love of GOD and the academic readiness to face this the liberal world. If you pray for your child to learn with high academic goals, learn in a GODLY Christian environment to respect others, build character and build everything around the love and grace of GOD, this is the school for you. Best, Trudy Govers, Santa Maria California. read more

As a former student, I'm happy to see many of my former teachers still teaching here. I loved elementary school. They made learning all the subjects, including Bible, so much fun! Jr. High and high school were great academically. By the time I got to college, so many subjects seemed like a breeze because I had a the great education. Don't get me wrong, there's usually one, maybe two, teachers that I just couldn't learn from, and being a small school, there weren't too many alternative options. However, I'd say that I definitely learned how to be independent, have goals, and achieve them. I'm sure things have changed now, but I would say that there was some lack of inclusion if you had a different religion, mainly from the older teachers. Also, I get that they teach Health Ed., Not Sex Ed (at least in my day). However, I would suggest that they get with the new century and decade and teach that subject, because it's important even for Christian, married couples to know the basics, outcomes, consequences, boundaries, etc. Other than that I felt ready to graduate and head off into the world. I'd recommend this school. read more

My son is in the first Grade, his teacher Miss Spencer is the best! The school's fees are very reasonable, they even have a coffee shop for drop off and pick up! We're very happy our kids are there! read more

I wouldn't recommend anybody to attend this school. From the principal to staff, everybody I had contacted demonstrated unbelievably arrogant prejudices. I agree with Sofia C that they show no respect and understanding to diversity. Another personal experience is they don't answer email inquiries in writing. When things don't turn out the way they want, they say we made it clear (verbally). It's their words against yours. And you know how that goes. read more

My daughter attends the preschool here, the pre/k program to be exact. She has grown leaps and bounds! She went to another preschool prior where it was mostly just play time and sing along time. At VCA the pre-k program almost seems like they are getting ready to go into 1st grade, but in a good way. They teach them to write which I think is a great head start for 4 year olds if you ask me. LOVE what she is getting here.She is so happy and all the kids always look so happy and that they are having a blast :) read more

The bad reviews on this site or so out of line. This school cares so much about their students. All the teachers are certified and all have 4 year college degrees. I would never think about having my children go anywhere else. My son is in 4th grade and every year his teacher surpasses my expectations. What he is learning is so much more than in our crumbling public schools. read more