Modesto Christian School

{{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox school | name = Modesto Christian School | motto = | location = Salida, California | country = US | coordinates =  | type = Private | religious_affiliation = Christian | denomination = | established = 1962 | opened = | district = | superintendent = | principal = Cynthia Jewell (9-12)<br>Vicki Olson (K-8) | faculty = | grades = Preschool–12th grade | gender = coeducational | campus_size = 32 acres | campus_type = Suburban | mascot = Crusaders | newspaper = | website = {{URL|www.modestochristian.org/}} | footnotes = | principal_label = Principals | enrollment = 343 (2013–14) | colors = Navy and Red | feeder_schools = }}

'''Modesto Christian School''' is a private Christian school in Salida, California, on the outskirts of Modesto. It was formerly affiliated with the Assemblies of God;<ref name=state>Private school directory, 2013–14, updated August 6, 2014, downloadable at [http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/si/ps/ Private Schools], California Department of Education (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet).</ref> it was founded in 1962 by Pastor Roy Blakeley, who had previously founded Neighborhood Church.<ref name=Lodi>Amanda Dyer, [http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_a9f20e9a-eb2e-5cd4-8129-2d2e0610ca8a.html "Inside Modesto Christian"], ''Lodi News-Sentinel'', March 30, 2007.</ref> It was a charter member of the Association of Christian Schools International.<ref name=history>[http://www.modestochristian.org/District/129022-History.html History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009132858/http://www.modestochristian.org/District/129022-History.html |date=2011-10-09 }}, About Us, Modesto Christian School, retrieved December 9, 2014.</ref> The school educates children from preschool through 12th grade and is divided into an elementary, a middle, and a high school, which are housed on the same campus.<ref name=history/> It is a small school;<ref>Nan Austin, [http://www.modbee.com/news/local/education/article3929100.html "Modesto Christian students learn retail – and larger lessons "], ''The Modesto Bee'', November 13, 2014.</ref> combined enrollment was 285 in 2009<ref name=Auburn>Gus Thomson, [http://www.auburnjournal.com/article/placers-football-championship-hopes-line-friday-stockton "Placer's football championship hopes on the line Friday in Stockton"], ''Auburn Journal'', December 10, 2009.</ref> and 343 in 2013–14.<ref name=state/> The first graduating class, in 1976, consisted of 8 students; in 2007 there were 86.<ref name=Lodi/>

In 2016, a group headed by Glen Villanueva, a local physician, purchased Modesto Christian School and part of the campus from Neighborhood Church. The school is now under the ownership of Modesto Christian School Incorporated, and is now non-denominational.<ref name=resurrects>Garth Stapley, [http://www.modbee.com/news/local/education/article50828640.html "Modesto Christian resurrects after nearly folding"], ''The Modesto Bee'', December 20, 2015.</ref> A charter school, Great Valley Academy, bought the remainder of the campus.

Class sizes are small, there is a strict dress code, and in addition to Bible class and weekly church services, each class session starts with a prayer.<ref name=Lodi/>

The school values athletics highly. Greg Pearce, the athletics director and dean of students, said in 2009: "Our first goal is to prepare our kids spiritually. Our second is to prepare them academically and our third priority has to do with sports participation."<ref name=Auburn/> It offers baseball, softball, football, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling, and boys' and girls' basketball, golf, and soccer. It is a member of the Trans-Valley League of the Sac-Joaquin Section (CIF).<ref>[http://www.modestochristian.org/District/Department/12-12-Athletics Athletics], Modesto Christian School, retrieved December 9, 2014.</ref> The sports program has been very successful; Modesto Christian was named Cal Hi Sports Division V State School of the Year in 2006<ref name="Auburn" /> and {{As of|2007|03|lc=yes}} had won four state championships, 10 Northern California championships, topped the Sac-Joaquin Section 17 times and the league 35 times.<ref name="Lodi" /> In 2014 three seniors signed letters of intent to attend top-tier colleges on sports scholarships<ref name="Cortez">Joe Cortez, [http://www.modbee.com/sports/high-school/article3886840.html "District athletes sign national letters of intent"], ''The Modesto Bee'', November 12, 2014.</ref> and the football team was defeated in the divisional championship.<ref>Brian Vanderbeek, [http://www.modbee.com/sports/high-school/prep-football/article4205732.html "Modesto Christian falls to a team programmed to win"], ''The Modesto Bee'', November 30, 2014.</ref>

The school has also been praised for its drama program.<ref name=resurrects/>

==Alumni== * Isaiah Burse, football player<ref name=Cortez/> * Chuck Hayes, basketball player<ref name=Auburn/><ref name=resurrects/><ref name=Cortez/> * Richard Midgley, basketball player, former Modesto Christian head basketball coach<ref>Joe Cortez, [http://www.modbee.com/sports/high-school/article95885067.html "Modesto Christian’s Midgley steps down as boys basketball coach"], ''The Modesto Bee'', August 15, 2016.</ref> * Reeves Nelson, basketball player<ref>Brian Vanderbeek, [http://www.modbee.com/sports/article3139496.html "Away from UCLA, Modesto's Nelson says he'll go pro"], ''The Modesto Bee'', December 15, 2011.</ref> *D. J. Seeley, basketball player<ref name=Lodi/> * Nate Sudfeld, football player<ref>Richard T. Estrada, [http://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/state/article3254488.html "New era at Modesto Christian"], ''Merced Sun-Star'', August 9, 2010.</ref> * Zach Sudfeld, football player<ref name="Cortez" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.modestochristian.org/}}

Category:Schools in Stanislaus County, California Category:1962 establishments in California Category:Educational institutions established in 1962 Category:Christian schools in California