Pacific Bay Christian School

Pacific Bay Christian School
Location
1030 Linda Mar Blvd.
Pacifica, California 94044
United States
Information
Type Private
Motto "Faith, Knowledge, Virtue"
Religious affiliation(s) Evangelical Protestant
Established 1955
Head of school Michael Chen, Ed.D.
Grades Kindergarten-12
Campus Suburban
Color(s) Blue and yellow          
Athletics conference PSAL
Sports baseball, volleyball, soccer, softball
Mascot Eagles
Website Alma Heights

Pacific Bay Christian School, formerly Alma Heights Christian Academy, is a private Christian elementary, middle and high school in Pacifica, California.

Description

AHC Gym

Pacific Bay Christian School is located on 37 acres (15 ha) about 16 miles (26 km) south of San Francisco, California. It was founded at Alma Heights Academy in 1955.

Type of School

PacBay is a co-educational, non-denominational, Christ-ceneterd elementary school, middle school and high school for day students. Graduates are accepted into a wide range of colleges and universities including all of the UC's, Princeton, Purdue, NYU, to name just a few.

PacBay is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

History

Alma Heights Academy was founded in the 1950s by the Pillar of Fire Church as a boarding school in a rural, unincorporated part of San Mateo, CA, known as Pedro Valley. Property for the establishment of a Christian school was purchased in 1949–1951. In the following decade, it transitioned into an elementary and day school. Pedro Valley was later developed as part of a newly incorporated suburb of San Francisco named Pacifica, and many families moved into the area. Alma Heights Academy was named after Bishop Alma White, the founder of the Pillar of Fire Church. It was later renamed Alma Heights Christian Academy adding the word Christian to distinguish it from the Catholic schools in the local area.[1] Beginning in 2010, the combined elementary, middle and high school are called Alma Heights Christian Schools.

Recently the school became independent of Pillar Ministries and was renamed Pacific Bay Christian School.

As Alma Heights enrollment grew and the school became a charter member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). The boarding school was closed in the spring of 1965 because the population of Pacifica grew and created a greater demand for day students. By the mid-1970s, a second campus now home to the middle and high school was developed. Additional classrooms and campus housing for teachers were added during the 1980s and 1990s. The high school started in 1986. In 1990, the first class of seven students graduated.

Facilities

AHC Library

The campus is located on approximately 40 acres (160,000 m2) along San Pedro Creek with hills and a view of Montara Mountain. The school property now provides buildings on two campuses, one campus on each side of Linda Mar Boulevard. The Seville Campus includes the first completed building and houses the elementary school. The Linda Mar campus is home to the middle and high school divisions. The last two buildings to be added to the campus were fully occupied during the 2005–06 school year. These comprise (1) an official-sized gymnasium which also includes classrooms, a commercial-sized kitchen, men's and women's shower/restrooms, a conference room, and workshops; and (2) a library, which also includes a computer lab, science lab, and lecture rooms, and offices.

Accreditation

Alma Heights Christian Schools maintained membership with CACS throughout its early history, which then developed into the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Alma Heights achieved accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in early 2003, and is also accreditated with ACSI.

Admissions requirements

Students interested in admission are encouraged to visit the campus for a tour. The application process is completed online. Applicants for middle and high school must complete the ISEE as part of the process. Pacific Bay Christian School accepts a limited number of international students to attend at all grade levels. International applicants must complete an English language proficiency assessment to be considered for enrollment.

Nondiscrimination Policy

Pacific Bay Christian School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. We do reserve the right to screen applicants on the basis of religious preference.”[2] The school's policy is silent regarding gender, sexual orientation and gender identity.

References

  1. ↑ "History". Alma Heights Christian Academy. Retrieved 2011-12-24. The school was renamed Alma Heights Christian Academy — “Christian” was added to reflect the distinction between Alma Heights and Catholic schools in the area...
  2. ↑ "Alma Heights Christian Academy Nondiscrimination Policy". Alma Heights Christian Academy. Retrieved 2009-11-16.

Further reading

Coordinates: 37°35′10″N 122°29′34″W / 37.58619°N 122.49282°W / 37.58619; -122.49282

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