Castillero Middle School

Our family has been part of VCA starting JrK all the way through 8th grade for our 2 boys. It's hard to put into words how grateful we are for this school. Our children have truly thrived here - academically, socially and spiritually. The teachers and staff know each child personally and genuinely care about helping them grow. The smaller class sizes allow for individual attention and the curriculum challenges students to think deeply, be creative and develop real-world skills. We've also loved how faith is woven naturally into daily learning and character development. The focus on kindness, integrity and service has helped shape our boys into confident, compassionate young men. Beyond academics, VCA offers wonderful opportunities in sports, arts and leadership. The community of families and teachers feels welcoming and connected - everyone truly wants the best for the students. One of the many differentiating factors are the dedicated enrichment teachers and programs such as music, art, Spanish and the new Innovate & Create Institute. And the campus... 28 acres nestled up against the foothills provides for multiple outdoor areas for learning, exploring and playing.After nearly a decade at Venture Christian Academy, we can say this is a school that builds both strong minds AND strong character. We couldn't have asked for a better foundation for our children as they start their high school journey.

We were looking for a supportive and warm environment for our creative, sensitive student and found it at ACDS.We visited over ten different middle schools in the area and the stand out for us was ACDS. From the moment we arrived on campus, we had a gut feeling about the school, the warm, supportive environment, the friendly and articulate teachers and the super helpful staff. Our student started during the pandemic and we witnessed ACDS’ administration, staff and teachers bending backwards to return the students to the classroom while providing as rich of an experience as possible. They poured resources and time into ensuring a safe environment and return. Communication was excellent and we always felt well informed and that our child was taken care of. The school values protecting the joyous time of childhood and when you walk around the place feels happy and full of energy. We found in middle school they also encourage independence and exploration of interests. It’s amazing how many electives the middle school offers (I think it was over 40). Our child loved the maker's space and the leadership classes and always had something to look forward to. He never wanted to miss a day of school.Many of the local middle schools push “rigor” and try to accelerate the kids' academics. We felt ACDS was able to balance rigor through project based learning and by encouraging curiosity. Our child is now in an academically focused high school and thriving both academically and socially so we know ACDS provided a strong foundation. He also grew in his independence and is comfortable with advocating for himself. I think it’s important to note that no school is absolutely perfect, but a school can be the perfect fit for your student. Our child enthusiastically wanted to attend ACDS and had a rich experience overall. We’re grateful for the school.