TOP CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS ORANGE COUNTY ............

Great Schools Orange County Review

Why Stoneybrooke Christian Schools is one of the Best and Top Elementary Schools in Orange County California directly from the parents:

Academic excellence was one of our most important reasons we were interested in the Stoneybrooke schools. What grabbed our attention was how much farther Stoneybrooke kids were ahead of the public school system. Their large campus was impressive when comparing it with other christian schools. We have seen this incredible growth spiritually in our kids. At Stoneybrooke they really try their best to serve and love the parents and children with the hands and feet of Christ. It has been a great experience to watch and learn from them.
Submitted by a Parent 2007

Warm caring staff. In 2005 Stoneybrooke won best place to work in the Nation for a Christian business. One of the top elementary academic institutions in California. They give everything they can and do the best they can. I feel so lucky to live with in driving distance so my children can attend.
Submitted by a Parent

Stoneybrooke is an exceptional experience and opportunity! Academics are the reason we first looked at this school and our son's time here proved to be academically, a great investment. HOWEVER, we found that by the time he finished his first year, the CHARACTER developement and spiritual maturity not only matched the stellar academics, activities and the community of this school, but surpassed our expectations for our son's educational growth. This Christian school has the heart of God in it! Our last year, the school was voted Best Christian Workplace in the U.S. for it's category. Happy, developing, supported teachers make all the difference in the classroom. The staff, teachers, leadership, parents and students are all shining examples of REAL people, with hearts for God, brilliant minds, knowledge, compassion, character and the heart to grow exceptional children in the areas of Heart, Mind & Soul.
Submitted by a Parent

MORE ABOUT STONEYBROOKE:
Is it the attractive new classrooms and offices? Is it the gymnasium, the parking area, the playground, the athletic field? Were this the essence of Stoneybrooke Christian Schools, words and pictures could capture it well. But Stoneybrooke is not merely a physical entity, measurable in terms of buildings and blackboards, computers and crayons, libraries and lesson plans.

Stoneybrooke Christian Schools is a concept... a shining idea born in the hearts of people who saw both a tremendous need and a marvelous opportunity.

Stoneybrooke is a commitment... a passion for excellence, for achieving one's best while cultivating a character that is pleasing to God. Stoneybrooke is a community... a family of people who love God, who are committed to Him, and who have given themselves to the ministry of educating children.

Although no single description expresses the totality of Stoneybrooke Christian Schools, certain words provide important clues. We can say with confidence that Stoneybrooke instructs, instills, insulates and inspires the lives of its students in a remarkable way. We can also affirm that Stoneybrooke is equipping its students to influence their world. At Stoneybrooke, there's no doubt that "the I's" have it!

MISSION OF STONEYBROOKE:
We, the Board, Administration, Faculty and Staff, are committed to provide an educational program that seeks to develop excellence in a student - spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, culturally and physically. In addition to a traditional core curriculum, the student will be exposed to a wide range of educational experiences including computer science, art, music and physical education.

As Christian schools, we are dedicated to establishing a godly environment where the Bible, as the Word of God, is actively integrated into all aspects of school life (Matthew 6:33). Each student will be challenged to live his or her life according to God's principles and purposes (Jeremiah 9:23-24). As independent non-denominational schools, we seek to serve individual families throughout our community who share our biblical orientation and appreciate our particular philosophy of education and discipline (Deuteronomy 6:2-7).

Our program is designed to balance the necessity of high academic excellence with a creative and exciting awareness of life as it will be in the 21st century. We are training children now for the things that will be integral parts of their lives tomorrow.

We want our students to encounter the educational process in an environment that assures security, positive self-worth and mutual respect. Our classrooms are controlled with loving discipline that is applied by qualified and dedicated Christian teachers.

In everything, the Word of God sets the standard for our schools. The student is taught to interpret life according to God's principles and purposes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT STONEYBOOKE

Is Stoneybrooke Christian Schools attached to a church ministry?
No, the school is a separate entity established by a private party in 1983. The school became a non-profit organization in 1986. We share facilities with a church on the San Juan Capistrano campus but we are totally separate.

Are teachers required to be Christians?
Yes! Each applicant is scrutinized carefully and prayerfully. All those wishing to teach at Stoneybrooke must submit a hand-written testimony along with their application. During the interview process questions concerning the applicant's spiritual standing are asked to ensure that those who teach at Stoneybrooke are mature Christians with a good background of Bible knowledge.

Does the school include discussion and teaching about other religions during Bible time?
As a distinctly "Christian" school, Stoneybrooke teaches from a decidedly evangelical Christian perspective. We accept students of other faiths however, all religious instruction comes directly from a Bible-based philosophy and mindset.

Are all of your teachers credentialed?
Yes, not only with the State of California but also with the Association of Christian Schools International.

What curriculum do you use?
We use a variety of curricula. For history and science we use ONLY Christian text books. For other subject areas we utilize a variety of other publishers such as Prentice Hall, Harcourt, Scott Foresman, etc.

Where do most of your students attend high school when they graduate from the 8th grade?
Our students can be found in every public and most private high schools in the area. Stoneybrooke does not recommend one high school over another.

Is Stoneybrooke a school for just the brightest students?
No, Stoneybrooke accepts students who are average to above average into its program. High expectations, a structured, loving environment, a challenging curriculum and excellent teachers are many of the reasons why our students score so high on their SAT testing.

Are parents required to donate a certain amount of time each year to the school?
No. There are no time requirements for parents at all. Volunteerism is encouraged but there is no reduction in fees or requirements for volunteering.

Is Stoneybrooke looking to build a high school sometime in the future?
With the number of public and private high schools in the area, Stoneybrooke has decided not to pursue a high school but rather put its resources into building permanent buildings at the Ladera Ranch site and improving programs at all three schools.

What are the homework requirements?
Homework is mandated to no more than an average of about 10 minutes per grade level for elementary. Junior high students can expect about 75 minutes per night on an average.

Do you have chapel or worship time?
Yes, we meet once a week for chapel for a time of worship and Bible teaching by administration, teachers, and sometimes students.

Does Stoneybrooke have enrichment classes like PE, music, computers, etc.?
Yes, besides their regular classroom teacher the students have music, computers, P.E., and science lab with teachers who specialize in those areas.

What is the teacher to student ratio?
Stoneybrooke strives to limit our class size to a maximum of 24 students.

When does the school day begin and end?
Our school day begins at 8:30 am for the elementary schools and at 8:15 am for the junior high. The day ends at 3:00 pm for the elementary schools and at 2:45 pm for the junior high. Note that junior kindergarten's regular day ends at 12:45 with optional extended care ending at 3:00 pm.

What grades make up junior high?
Our junior high program consists of 7th and 8th grades only.

Are students tracked on ability in junior high?
Tracking only occurs in math where some exceptional students may be eligible to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade and Geometry in 8th. Most students take Pre-Algebra in 7th grade and Algebra 1 in 8th.

What student activities are available in junior high?
After school sports, music lessons, student council, praise band, spelling/speech/math contests, and more.

How many class periods are there in a day?
A typical junior high day includes seven periods, approximately 45 minutes each, plus a morning break and lunch.

What junior high elective classes are available?
Typically, we offer Spanish I, literature, art, drama, music appreciation, technology, yearbook, and debate/current events. Each year additional offerings vary.

Does Stoneybrooke accept government funding?
No, the expenses of the school are funded almost entirely through the tuition and fees.

Are there a lot of fund raising activities parents are required to participate in each year?
No, students never raise money for the school through the sale of candy bars, wrapping paper, etc. Normally, Stoneybrooke will hold two major fundraising events per year: a banquet in the fall and a golf & tennis tournament/dinner & auction in the spring. These fundraising events support our Annual Fund, which allows our school to ensure affordable tuition and the Capital Campaign, which supports the building of permanent facilities on the Ladera Ranch campus.

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• Buena Park, incorporated in 1953
• Costa Mesa, incorporated in 1953
• Cypress, incorporated in 1956
• Dana Point, incorporated in 1989
• Fountain Valley, incorporated in 1953
• Fullerton, incorporated in 1904
• Garden Grove, incorporated in 1956
• Huntington Beach, incorporated in 1909
• Irvine, incorporated in 1971
• La Habra, incorporated in 1925
• La Palma, incorporated in 1955
• Laguna Beach, incorporated in 1927
• Laguna Hills, incorporated in 1991
• Laguna Niguel, incorporated in 1989

• Laguna Woods, incorporated in 1999
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• Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906
• Orange, incorporated in 1888
• Placentia, incorporated in 1926
• Rancho Santa Margarita, incorporated in 2000
• San Clemente, incorporated in 1928
• San Juan Capistrano, incorporated in 1961
• Santa Ana, incorporated in 1886
• Seal Beach, incorporated in 1915
• Stanton, incorporated in 1956
• Tustin, incorporated in 1927
• Villa Park, incorporated in 1962
• Westminster, incorporated in 1957
• Yorba Linda, incorporated in 1967

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