Pacifica Christian High School in Santa Monica, California

“We are parents who had another child go through one of the most prestigious, established private schools in West LA. It was fantastic, but we consider PCH to have the narrowest gap between what they say they are and what they truly are- on a daily basis. They walk the walk, every single day. Socially, it is an inclusive environment, with a nearly ideal blend of consequences and compassion. The academic work is demanding, but the teachers are willing to invest themselves in the students success. They routinely go above and beyond the call of duty. It is a great balance between academic rigor and the learning of life skills. This is a terrific group of people on their way to establishing one of the finest schools in West LA.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school is filthy in the inside and out and the only dressed up place is in the school office which is upstairs above the pre-school. It seems as if the high school rents out the pre schools property because the campus is very small. The campus is awful at sports and dosnt have real practice areas on the campus. Students must go off campus in order to do sports because the school is not big enough to have or affors a football field, track field, and gym. They borrow another highschools gym for basketball and vollyball and another schools track field for track. They do not have football at this school. The area surrounding the school is not a good area. Many robberies occur in the area and is not a very safe place if kids want to walk somewhere afer school or for off campus lunch.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The School does not have a library and barely has a place to sit at lunch. The school is dreary looking and boring and does not motivate the students. The academics are ok but the athletics are not good and the theater department is satisfactory. The school does not offer a lot of things such as on campus hot lunch, football, and cheerleading. The campus is small. Some of the students here act stuck up.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“It is a pleasure working with the administration and teachers at Pacifica. I believe we have become a very strong team that works as one. At my previous teaching jobs, the faculty would sit around and just complain or say negative comments about the students. At Pacifica, we will literally talk for hours about the great things are students are doing. I can t say enough about my coworkers. They are all incredible people and talented in education. I am so lucky to be working in an environment like Pacifica. I am continually impressed with the students at Pacifica. It is amazing how gifted they are in the classroom, in athletics, and in the arts. The curriculum is by no means easy, but the students always go above and beyond. They are also great children outside of the classroom and much more mature than other high school students I have dealt with. I love my job because I love working with these outstanding young men and women.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“My daughter is a sophmore at Pacifica Christian High School and everyday when she leaves for school I am reassured that we made the right choice in sending her to Pacifica. It is a wonderful feeling to know that your child is excited about her education and is being encouraged every day by teachers and staff. The academics at Pacifica Christian are quite challenging but the kids all seem to flourish. It's just a great enviroment for any child. Go Seawolves!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Our sophomore son came to Pacifica from a very large public middle school, and we were concerned about how he would adjust to the size, which has turned out to be a positive. PCH works hard to be inclusive & welcoming, esp. for freshmen It is not uncommon for a small group of students to be taken to lunch by teachers/administrators to build relationships. Students sense the authentic interest their teachers take in them on all different levels, and therefore are more willing to take risks and step outside their comfort zone. The teaching is excellent & students are encouraged to pursue their personal best, which can be challenging for some, but there are opportunities for extra help. For a smaller school, diverse and extremely well-run programs are offered & your student has a chance to participate in activities they couldn t have @ a larger school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“As an alumni that graduated from Pacifica in 2009 I cannot express how grateful I am to the school and everyone there. They have truly changed my life for the better. Being at Pacifica forced me to stretch myself socially and academically. They encouraged me to grow in my personal faith, something that I was able to do through events such as the all school retreat as well as the great mentors I found in the staff. The courses are rigorous but the teaching staff is one of the best in the West LA area, and I now find myself much more prepared for college than many of my current peers. Not only is Pacifica a great academic institution but the relationships created are deep and long-lasting.PCH is far and away the best four years of my life thus far and I am proud to call myself an alumni.”
This review was posted by a other.

“We couldn't be more impressed with Pacifica Christian. We have two sons that are currently attending Pacifica and our oldest son graduated from Pacifica in '09. He had a fantastic experience over the course of his four years there. He was absolutely prepared for college. The staff and faculty are what make Pacifica great. These are people that are skilled educators and passionate about high school students. You won't find a better environment for your high school student. They really do teach students to think and live well!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“One of the reasons that I love working at Pacifica is because of the teaching staff s commitment to their craft and to students. This group are experts in both areas. They love their subject and care deeply about their students. In addition, they are very encouraging to each other. Working together as a team has been an amazing experience. The current team of teachers have been with the school since its founding and this consistency amongst the teaching and administrative team has paid big dividends. The student body is comprised of students from all over Los Angeles making for an excellent diversity. I get a variety of opinions, thoughts and stories from my students. It is a rich environment. I am fortunate to be on the staff and feel that Pacifica will be my home from a long time.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“Pacifica is simply outstanding! I am aware of no other school on the Westside that has anything close to what Pacifica can offer -- teachers and administrators of great skill and character who invest in the lives of students both in and out of the classroom. Our kids love it as Pacifica. There are ample opportunities at Pacifica for kids to get involved in extra-curricular activities (sports, arts, clubs) and Pacifica takes great pride in doing these activities well. To respond to the very few negative reviews -- Pacifica is not for everybody. If a kid wants to cruise through high school unnoticed and uninvolved, Pacifica is probably not for you. As with any school, there are kids that will make poor choices (though not many at Pacifica). These situations have been dealt with by the administration in a very positive and firm manner. I highly recommend the school.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Pacifica Christian High School is simply unlike any other school. The administration and other teachers are truly dedicated to teaching students to think and live well, and the students rise to the challenge. I cannot begin to express how exciting each day is at Pacifica. Academically, the students are eager to learn and are not only encouraged to excel by the teachers, by by each other. Socially, I have seen first hand our student body embrace everyone, from the most socially awkward to the friendliest student. Spiritually, PCH is a place that encourages students to search for the truth, often through asking question after question of their teachers and classmates. Athletically, the Seawolves have taken title after title and never cease to amaze. Artistically, students can express themselves and improve their talents in theater, film, music, writing, and more in a supportive environment. Come, visit and see for yourself.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“Our son is one month into his freshman year at this school and we are profoundly impressed with the quality of the education here. It is very rigorous and strives to provide somthing of a classical education with emphasis on Greek and Roman myth and literature and use of the Socratic method, a teaching style that thoroughly engages the students. The teachers and administrators are very warm and always accessible. Our older son had attended Loyola High School which is very prestigious with a great sports program but, frankly, the academics there don't compare to what we have found here. Previous poster asks how the school has dealt with problems but we are not aware of any. Will let you know if they come up.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“As someone beginning to review potential schools for my child, I appreciate the honesty will all of the comments posted. I would like to know HOW the school, both teachers, students and administration addressed these problems. As they are issues which would not exist in an ideal world, it gifts us all with a dose of reality. I, too, as a concerned parent, wish for my child to obtain the social skills and knowledge on how to deal with these real life issues. Were the issues addressed in an upfront and caring manner or were they just swept under the rug. I am, of course, assuming the proper parties were informed. I welcome your response. Thank you.”
This review was posted by a other.

“As a parent who has previously posted a glowingly positive review, I feel I should revise. Pacifica is great in many ways, namely the support and caring of most of the administrators and teachers, but it is important to note that they are a school with strong Christian beliefs, which will be promoted by students and administration alike. If you are a liberal family with progressive ideals, this could be a real problem for you (pro-life, sex-ed, politics, etc). As much as we were impressed with the caring and commitment of the staff, the lifestyle was just too different. Also, there seems to be a lax admissions policy, and not all the students are as innocent as one would hope. There are some problems with discipline, aggression, and substance abuse. The students seem pretty kind overall, but we also experienced some cyber bullying, disappointment in the quality of children attending.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Pacifica Christian is simply an amazing school. The teachers and administrators are very dedicated and love the kids. There is a great mix of kids from many types of families.The school welcomes the opportunity to get to know kids who have grown up with Christian values as well as meeting kids with other types of backgrounds. The school does a great job of staying on top of everything. Plus - they just had their first graduating class of about 25 students and those students are going to amazing colleges all over the country - many with scholarships. We love Pacifica.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“PCH is trying hard, with a dedicated staff and teachers. The problem is, they seem to take almost anybody and many of the kids have had problems elsewhere especially drugs. Sorry, but I recommend against sending kids to PCH for this reason.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The most amazing high school that I could have ever imagined. Definitely take the time to check it out.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Our son is going to be a Junior at Pacifica this Fall ('07). We couldn't be more pleased with his Pacifica experience. He is being challenged and encouraged in his academics, athletics, and his spritual life. The teachers and administration are the most dedicated, passionate and inspriring group of educators that we have ever seen. We have watched our son blossom into a fine young man, strong in Christian character, developing leadership skills in the classroom and on the athletic court. He has taken advantage of the small school environment and tried new things, that he never would have approached at a larger school, like student government and even theater arts! The Westside of Los Angeles has needed a school like this for a long time. We're so thankful that we discovered Pacifica and that we can count ourselves as a founding family.”
This review was posted by a parent.