Top Seven Reasons Why Parents Love GVCA
We asked parents to weigh in on Grace Valley Christian Academy. Read their responses!
1. Safe and Friendly Environment
“Our kids are benefiting from a positive social environment with classmates who are friendly, kind, and inclusive. They have made many new friends at this school, and we feel that the other children consistently offer a positive influence,” noted one parent.
“I know that our son can focus on school and not worry about getting picked on or teased,” responded one father. GVCA not only has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, but our teachers promote the Golden Rule, to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Students are encouraged to speak kindly, include everyone at recess, and look out for one another across grade levels.
“It’s a safe and supportive learning environment, and our kids love going to school here!”
As one parent summed up, “Everyone is a friend.”
2. Over-Qualified Teachers
“GVCA teachers are actually over-qualified. They do wonderful work.”
“Our children have greatly enjoyed the outstanding staff at GVCA. Their passion for teaching has made a tremendous impact on our children’s ability to learn, engage in class, and grow in their understanding of Jesus Christ,” responded one parent.
“The teachers are top-notch educators who work closely with the kids on an individual and group basis.”
“So many teachers are subject matter experts. And it’s not just one teacher in the lower grades, but multiple teachers per grade. So well rounded!” noted one couple.
GVCA teachers are qualified, experienced, and dedicated instructors, and many have taught since the school’s founding in 1998. GVCA’s credentialed faculty is enhanced by professionals including doctors, nurses, scientists, accountants, and engineers—in fact over 55% of our teachers and staff hold graduate degrees, advanced training or professional licenses. Our teachers bring real world experience to the classroom as they challenge, encourage, and care for all students, helping them to perform to their maximum potential.
3. Challenging Academics, Amazing Field Trips
“The curriculum is more in-depth than public schools or other parochial schools. The pace of learning is faster, but the teaching is so good that the kids are able to keep up with it,” commented one couple.
“We are impressed with the Language Arts program at GVCA. Our second grader started to write essays and our fifth-grader is writing five paragraph essays. When your child comes out of GVCA, they will be able to do college-level writing.”
Grace Valley’s award-winning K-8 curriculum includes classic literature, a robust writing program, and hands-on science including a fully equipped lab. Our math classes use the Saxon Math Curriculum and our students consistently end up one grade ahead in math concepts.
“Our children love the class field trips! They’ve been on big field trips to San Francisco Fleet Week and the California State Capitol and on smaller field trips to places like the pumpkin patch, Sacramento zoo, movies, and a family farm. GVCA offers a great balance between a challenging curriculum and lots of fun events and activities to keep the kids engaged.”
4. Instruction from a Christian Worldview
“The main reason we are here is that GVCA teaches from a Biblical worldview that is consistent with our own belief system,” responded one father.
“I appreciate that they teach from God’s Word and share the gospel with the children regularly,” said another parent.
“As parents, we appreciate that GVCA is a Christian school focused on biblical values. We love that the school offers a structured learning environment and a challenging curriculum to encourage the children to grow in their character and abilities.”
5. Attention to Student Character Development
“I appreciate that GVCA is a loving community where the teachers genuinely care about each student, as they are not only teaching them academics but also challenge them to grow in character, and teach them values such as hard work, respect, and self-control.”
“Our children have benefited in so many ways since starting at GVCA. They have grown tremendously in their character development and confidence. They are developing a strong spiritual foundation and learning to take responsibility for themselves and their choices,” said another parent.
Regarding GVCA’s High School program, one couple responded, “I would absolutely recommend the GVCA High School program. It is an excellent educational program with a tight-knit community, high academic standards, and Christ at the center. I especially recommend the GVCA High School program to families wanting strong academic excellence combined with intentional Christian discipleship and character training.”
6. Supportive Parent - Teacher Collaboration
Grace Valley has a unique culture of support and transparency between teachers and parents. One reason for this is that teachers in the lower grades send home a weekly report to parents with updates on each student’s academic progress and behavior.
“I look forward to seeing how much my child is progressing each week,” noted one parent. “There is a high level of communication and involvement with the teachers. They tell me academically where my kids struggle and what they get right. They are continually assessing them and helping them succeed.”
“I appreciate the consistent communication provided to parents regarding their child’s progress. It is reassuring to be informed if my child is experiencing difficulty in any subject, and the weekly reports provide timely and helpful feedback,” commented another parent.
7. Phone-Free Campus and Limited Screen Time
“There’s mounting evidence about the bad effect of screens on kids, and I’ve heard of parent-led petitions to school boards to ban cell phones at schools. When my son started kindergarten in 2024 and I read the school handbook, I was so pleased that GVCA is already ahead of the curve!” shared one mom.
Per GVCA school policy, students in kindergarten through eighth grade are not permitted to bring any personal electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, to the school campus. In high school, personal devices are permitted under teacher supervision. This significantly decreases distractions in the classroom. Grace Valley upholds the highest standard of academic integrity and prohibits plagiarism from any source including artificial intelligence programs.
“I’m thankful that my child can go to school and focus on learning, and I don’t have to worry about what they will see on other kids’ social media apps.”