VHM Christian School is a kindergarten through eighth-grade private Seventh Day Adventist-based education in Santa Cruz. The school "has high moral and spiritual standards, which are intended to guide the student in his or her ability to distinguish right from wrong." The school also runs a separate preschool called Discovery Land.
Santa Cruz Children's School is an independent elementary school on the east side of Santa Cruz. The school shares a parking lot and a building complex with La Posada, an assisted-living facility. Several spaces on the south side of the parking lot are marked as reserved for the school and its visitors. Santa Cruz Children's School is for students in Kindergarten through sixth grade. The school works with parents, students and teachers together to create an environment that nurtures the students and allows them to learn and grow.
Founded in 1865, Bay View Elementry is a Santa Cruz institution that has seen thousands of children pass through its doors. The original building was replaced in 1957. Renovations in recent years include a library with vaulted ceilings and skylights and open, airy classrooms throughout the school. The campus is located near the intersection of Mission and Bay streets.
The school also offers evening classes to adults who are learning English.
Live Oak Elementary School is located between Santa Cruz and Capitola in the unincorporated area. The school is for Live Oak residents in preschool through fifth grade. The school gives students a strong academic curriculum backed by a focus on the arts. At Live Oak, "Learning is viewed as a lifelong journey that is joyful and prepares students to become responsible and productive citizens of our world."
Gault Elementary is one of five public elementary schools in Santa Cruz. The student population is ethnically diverse, and bilingual teachers are available at most grade levels. Gault educators focus on developing individuals who are socially engaged in their community, while a school-wide art and science program gives students hand-on experience in different learning environments and nurtures the development of self-expression. For more information about Gault Elementary, visit the school's Web site.
Holy Cross School is part of the Holy Cross Parish. The school was founded in 1862, originally as an orphanage. Its mission changed gradually, and it began to serve the needy children of Santa Cruz as well as become a girls school for Santa Cruz's Catholic families. The high school portion of the school was discontinued in the 1970s, and today the school serves children in preschool through eighth grade. The school focuses heavily on community involvement and international service, and it organizes several projects for students to participate in, including raising funds to build schools in Afghanistan and growing food to donate to local soup kitchens.
Discovery Land is a Seventh Day Adventist-based private preschool that shares grounds with VHM Christian School on Capitola Road Extension in Santa Cruz. The preschool offers developmental programs with Christian values mixed in.
Boon Doon Elementary School is the only school in the Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District. It is located a few miles off of Empire Grade. Founded in 1947, the school offers small classes, including several multi-grade classes. Classes in art and music offer students a well-rounded education. Call 831-427-2144 for information about before- and after-school care.
Spring Hill is an independent school for children in Kindergarten through eighth grade. The school, which requires an entrance exam, works with bright, motivated students who are excited about learning. Starting in Kindergarten, students learn Spanish. Latin and French are introduced to students in later grades. The academically rigorous education believes students work at different paces and works to allow the natural creativity and spirit of the student grow at its own pace.
While the school has leased its property from the United Methodist Church on California St., the school is entirely independent with no religious affiliation.