SFC FAQs

The admissions season begins October 1, 2023, for Fall 2024 enrollment. Parents are encouraged to connect with us. If there is room in the grade at the semester break, we admit students in grades 6-11. For a semester transfer, completed applications are due the Friday before Thanksgiving. We offer rolling admissions for students in grades K-5, if space is available.

The application fee for 2024/25 in all grades is $125. For 9th-11th grade applicants, there is a fee for the ISEE test which ranges from $140 -$200. There is no test fee for Kindergarten-8th grade applicants.

Spiritual Commitment

One parent or guardian must be a professing believer in Jesus Christ, agree with the school’s Statement of Faith, and provide a written Christian testimony. It is preferred that both parents provide written faith testimonies. Students (and at least one parent) must regularly attend and be actively involved in a Christ-centered church as indicated by the Pastor Recommendation form. Parents must sign the Parent Commitment form, which indicates their support and compliance with the philosophy, Statement of Faith, spiritual goals, policies, practices, and objectives of Santa Fe Christian Schools. High School students must be professing Christians.

Academic Standards

High School (Grades 9-12) transcripts must show a cumulative and current GPA of 2.7 (B-) or above in academic courses. Middle School (Grades 6-8) and Elementary School (Grades K-5) report cards must show at grade level or above performance across all subjects.

Entrance test scores must be average or above.

Teacher evaluations and report cards must show that the student is an independent learner and has the ability to be successful in a traditional classroom environment.

Final report cards must show a consistent effort with no drop in academic or behavioral performance.

The school does not accept incoming seniors second semester.

Behavioral Standards

Students and parents must be in good standing with current school.

Teacher evaluations and report card behavioral marks must be favorable.

Students and parents must not have exhibited behavior that is disruptive to the school or community.

Students and parents must exhibit behavior, both in and out of school, that is consistent with SFC’s Christian values.

Students with prior drug, alcohol, or other similar issues must have successfully completed (including being 100% drug and alcohol free) a full semester in a regular school program prior to being admitted to SFC. Specifically, this means that SFC will not accept students directly from residential treatment programs or expulsion from other schools.

Financial Responsibilities

Families who previously withdrew from SFC and did not fulfill their tuition contract must clear all financial obligations before an admissions application will be accepted.

All financial obligations to SFC must be kept current.

If the student is transferring from another private school, a note on school letterhead may be required stating that financial obligations have been cleared.

Note: If a student’s report card, transcript, test scores or other information provided on the application (including but not limited to student and family church attendance) show that the applicant will not meet the SFC admissions criteria at this time, the admissions process is stopped. Out of respect for the applicant, an Admissions Officer will notify the parents that the process has been stopped. Applicants are welcome to re-apply when criteria are met.

Yes. The deadline for first-round admission applications is February 1. Applications received after these deadlines will be considered on a space available basis.

The Admissions Committee, made up of administrators, counselors and faculty, evaluates a student’s potential academic success based on the application in its entirety. We review grades, behavior records, teacher/pastor evaluations, standardized test scores, entrance assessments and the family interview.

Our goal at Santa Fe Christian Schools is to match students/families with our school mission statement by evaluating applicants on the spiritual, academic and behavioral requirements identified in the admissions criteria. Refer to our admissions criteria.

Applicants will be notified in early to mid March.

Accept: The student and parent(s) are deemed a qualified mission-match for SFC and acceptance is offered. Parents have one week from the date of the acceptance to complete the enrollment process and submit the required tuition deposit. Acceptance may be revoked if the student’s final report card shows a drop in academic or behavioral performance.

Wait Pool: A student is placed in the “wait pool” when he/she qualifies as a mission-match for SFC but there is no space available in the grade at that time. Wait pools are not prioritized wait lists. Should space become available in that grade, all candidates in the wait pool will be reviewed again by the Admissions Committee and the “most qualified” candidate will be selected. Decisions will be made within four weeks of official withdrawal date.

Students in the wait pool must submit the required tuition deposit. The purpose of paying a deposit is to ensure that SFC has a viable pool of candidates for review. Wait pool status remains in effect until the end of the second week of school (Friday, close of business). SFC does not carry over wait pools from year to year. Once a new school year begins, families can decide if they wish to re-apply. If space does not become available, SFC will refund the tuition deposit.

Deny: When a student (and/or parent) is deemed not a mission-match for SFC, a denial letter is delivered through the admissions portal. All parent communication is handled by the Admissions department. We are happy to clarify our admissions policies and procedures, however, due to the confidential nature of the admissions process, we are unable to discuss specific qualifications of any applicant, including reasons for denial. The denial decision is for one school year only and students are welcome to re-apply for future grades.

Stopping the Process: If a student’s report card, transcript, test scores or other information provided on the application (including but not limited to student and family church attendance) show that the applicant will not meet the SFC admissions criteria at this time, the admission process is stopped. Out of respect for the applicant, the Admissions Department will notify the parents that the process has been stopped. Applicants are welcome to reapply when criteria is met.

We strongly encourage you to visit our campus and experience the SFC community in person before beginning the application process.

Yes, care is available on school days. Contact admissions with your questions.

100% of SFC graduates who apply are accepted into a four-year college or university. Santa Fe Christian alumni are at four-year public universities, private liberal-arts colleges, Christian colleges, military academies, and universities all over the country. Please refer to our School Profile for a list of schools our most recent graduates have been accepted to and are currently attending.

Yes. We currently run convenient bus routes to the following areas: Aviara, Carlsbad, Carmel Mountain, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Encinitas, Fairbanks Ranch, La Costa, Leucadia, Olivenhain, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Santa Luz, Scripps Ranch, UTC and La Jolla.

Yes. Santa Fe Christian students wear uniforms provided by Lands’ End as its uniform provider.

Children must be 5 years of age by September 1.

We do not accept international student applications at this time.

Yes, we offer After Care which is available every day that school is in session (a few exceptions may apply). Fees are assessed hourly.

No, SFC is an independent school representing more than 80 churches.

Yes. SFC wants to make Christian education accessible to man and we remain committed to providing financial support through several need-based programs. For more information about tuition assistance, please contact the Finance Office at enrollmentmgmt@sfcs.net or apply here.

Santa Fe Christian Schools is pleased to offer a four-year scholarship to an incoming high school freshman new to SFC who embodies the school’s mission in academics, personal faith in Jesus Christ, and servant leadership. Each year, the Eagle Scholarship is awarded to one 9th grade student who excels academically, puts his/her faith in action, and displays outstanding leadership skills. The scholarship provides funding for tuition, books, uniforms, athletic fees, and field trips for up to four years. Scholarship applicants must be new to Santa Fe Christian Schools and be accepted by the admissions committee to be eligible.

Yes, students at all levels have opportunities to serve locally and beyond. Elementary School students focus on local service, while Middle and High School students can engage in both local and national service, including global ministry trips

Each week, students attend chapel sessions tailored to their school level the elementary-aged children in Elementary School (k-5), Middle school, and high school.

Yes, several dances are organized throughout the year for high school students, including back-to-school, homecoming, MORP, and prom.

Parents typically begin considering kindergarten when their child is around three or four years old and attending preschool. Applications are recommended to be submitted in the fall prior to desired enrollment.

Children need to be five years old by September 1 of the enrollment year.

Yes, kindergarten operates on a full-day schedule, Monday through Thursday, with shorter hours on Friday.

The kindergarten curriculum covers various subjects, emphasizing hands-on exploration and parental involvement. It includes Bible, science, social studies, art, music, math, language development, and physical education.

No, students need to bring a daily snack, but lunch options are available for purchase or bring from home.

Yes, bus transportation is available for many areas around San Diego.

Yes, after options are available for extended hours and fees.

Students participate in Spanish, PE, art, music, and STEM lab activities during the school day.

Yes, after-school programs are available. Examples of classes are Monart, karate, and robotics are available.

No, there’s no mandatory volunteering requirement, but we love parents being involved! There are many opportunities to support teachers and the school if you are interested.

Technology usage varies by grade. Kindergarten uses minimal technology, and older grades use Chromebooks for presentations and some reading groups.

Yes, K-5 students have their own weekly chapel sessions.

Yes, Middle School students can participate in various sports, competing against other schools.

Yes, advanced English and math courses are offered.

Middle School encompasses grades 6 through 8.

Yes, students can participate in Student Council Leadership, organizing activities, and managing a student store.

Yes, students need to bring their own devices starting in Middle School.

Cell phones are not allowed during school hours.

ISPE approval is case-by-case, subject to counselor verification.

Yes, seniors can have off-campus lunch once a week.

Yes, students must wear uniforms, including SFC spiritwear for outerwear. On Fridays, students can wear spiritwear with jeans.

Yes, chapel is held once a week.

Yes, ASB organizes dances, rallies, and other activities.

Cell phone use is prohibited during school hours.

Spanish and French are offered, including AP levels.

Sports teams are placed in divisions based on performance over the last three years.

Yes, many games are filmed and broadcast by SFCtv members.

Yes, Middle School offers various sports teams competing against other schools.

SFC offers diverse visual and performing art classes, including theater, band, vocal studies, music, and visual arts. 

High school offers various art courses, including Art 1, Graphic Design, and AP Art.

The Senior Show is a culmination of the senior art experience, tailored to each student’s artistic style and goals.

Over four years, the art program nurtures students’ artistic abilities, building trust and understanding between students and instructors.

SFC Theater welcomes students of all backgrounds, fostering a faith-centered environment for personal growth and learning. Theater at SFC offers not just performance skills but also self-discovery and personal growth opportunities.

Show selections consider student demographics and educational goals, aiming to challenge and develop their theatrical skills.

Middle School productions build a foundation for theater appreciation, emphasizing relationships and introducing key concepts.

Courses include Drama 1, Drama 2, Tech Theater and Management, along with main stage productions and improv nights.

Theater at SFC offers not just performance skills but also self-discovery and personal growth opportunities.