National Blue Ribbon Schools Program

Valley Christian Junior High challenges youth to aspire toward lives of character, service, and influence while pursuing their individual Quests for Excellence. Students thrive as they explore their gifts and talents while pursuing Academic Excellence, Artistic Beauty, and Athletic Distinction.

VCJHS partners with Stanford University’s Challenge Success program to create a culture that alleviates unhealthy stress, encouraging students to delve into the creative aspects of learning rather than just striving for a particular grade. Additionally, VCJHS has adopted the Second Step program empowering students to address social issues such as bullying and inclusion, and facilitates the Where Everybody Belongs program, which helps students transition into and flourish in middle school.

To encourage students to thrive as digital learners, VCJHS rethought, retooled, and restructured the learning environment, providing a creative block schedule, state of the art computer labs, and an iPad in the hands of every student. Students are taught how to be responsible digital citizens, using the tools of their generation ethically and effectively.

Believing that educating a child does not occur strictly through traditional methods, teachers are encouraged to innovate, giving students endless opportunities to excel with their studies calibrated to the individual’s abilities. A sample of the unique opportunities include: “flipped instruction”; pre-engineering courses; 3D animation and game design courses; individualized on-line math courseware; access to an atomic force microscope; electives in Latin, Logic and Reasoning, and the Sporting Life; clubs in robotics, math, and science; courses such as ceramics, dance, and band; sports, including wrestling, swimming, and many no-cut sports. With over 67 course offerings, VCJHS allows students to customize their learning experience while meeting benchmarks and standards.