Quick Facts

  • Founded

    1958

  • Religious Affiliation

    Non-denominational Christian

  • Enrollment

    600

  • Average Class Size

    22

  • College Attendance Rate

    99%

  • Average SAT Score

    1898

    Among honors students

    1587

    Among all students (compared to 1503 statewide average)

WCHS Profile (PDF)

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History

Whittier Christian High School opened its doors on Sept. 15, 1958, welcoming an inaugural class of 44 freshmen and sophomores to the school’s original home at College Avenue Church of the Nazarene. In 1975, with enrollment at 380 students, the school moved to its short-term second home, the Grovedale Elementary School campus in East Whittier. The freshman class soon moved to the Maybrook Elementary School campus in 1979, while the sophomore, junior, and senior classes relocated in 1981 to the school’s current campus in La Habra, formerly known as Starbuck Middle School.

Today, Whittier Christian High School is home to a vibrant community of more than 650 students at the freshman through senior levels, along with more than 70 faculty and staff members. Located on a 20-acre campus leased from the Lowell Joint School District, the school has upgraded and remodeled several of its facilities in recent years, including the library, computer lab, chemistry lab, multimedia presentation room, choir/art gallery, and auditorium. In 2004, the school built and opened the Leon Davis Event Center, an 11,325-square-foot gymnasium and event center. In the fall of 2007, the school completed construction on state-of-the-art biology and math laboratories.

Whittier Christian High School has earned accreditation through June of 2015 by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). As an independent, non-denominational Christian school, WCHS is overseen by an independent board of directors, which has ultimate responsibility for policymaking and financial planning, working through the Head of School as the chief executive officer.

With a 54-year heritage and more than 4,200 alumni around the world, Whittier Christian High School continues to serve as one of Southern California’s leading Christian schools, a place where students are equipped in mind and spirit to honor God with their lives.

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Mission, Vision, and Values

Mission

Whittier Christian High School is a Christ-centered academic community where students are taught, inspired, and prepared to be critical thinkers and authentic Christians, equipping them to honor God through academic achievement, humble service and courageous leadership.

Vision

Our vision is for a school where students are being formed and equipped as critical thinkers and authentic Christians through both the academic excellence found in our classrooms and the Christ-centered culture of our school community.

This future is achieved by visionary leadership, and it comes alive through our talented and supported faculty as they teach, inspire and prepare students in facilities that reflect and support our school mission and provide stability and growth for our future.

Values

Christ-centered Community

We strive to develop a community of students, teachers, and parents who are committed to keeping Christ at the center of all we do. We search for a oneness of spirit so that all members of our community are valued, empowered and equipped to bring honor to God in all they do (Revelation 4:9-11, Acts 4:23-33).

Academic Community

As an academic community, we are committed to expanding our sum of knowledge, to engaging students in biblical understanding and academic excellence, and to modeling lifelong learning. We believe a complete education involves the integration of moral instruction with subject-specific information, resulting in the wise application of knowledge (II Timothy 2:15, Proverbs 1:5a, Proverbs 22:6, Matthew 5:13-16, I Peter 3:15).

Teaching, Inspiring, and Preparing

We are committed to faithfully teach a Christian worldview in all academic subjects through direct instruction, facilitated discussion and hands-on learning. We also endeavor to inspire all students to develop a love for learning, to realize their full potential, and to discover and utilize their strengths for the glory of God. Our goal is that the teaching and inspiration students receive will prepare them not only to succeed in further educational opportunities but also to flourish in their Christian walk (Proverbs 9:9, 2 Timothy 4:2, Colossians 2:2, Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Peter 3:15).

Critical Thinking

We are committed to skillfully teaching critical standards of inquiry, judgment, and interpretation, and actively modeling the mental habit of using those tools to guide belief and to judge wisely in matters relating to life and conduct (Proverbs 9:10-12; Job 28:28; Psalms 111:10; Ecclesiastes 12: 9-14; I Peter 1:13).

Authentic Christianity

As a community of authentic Christians, we encourage students to claim ownership of their faith in Jesus Christ as He transforms their character with humility, gentleness, forbearance, love, and unity. Of utmost importance is training students to confidently express and defend their faith, regardless of their environment (John 1:12; Philippians 3:12-14; Ephesians 4:1-3; Romans 5:1-5; I Peter 3:15).

Equipping

We desire that all of our students be faithful to God’s will in their lives. The faculty and staff strive to equip students, meaning we arm, supply, provide, and thoroughly furnish students with all that is needed in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in leadership/service opportunities to affect the end result of honoring God and being outfitted or equipped for “every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 13: 20-21, Numbers 4:26).

Honoring God

We aim to honor God with our lives: Our minds to be set a part and trained for His use, our hearts to be given to Him in the obedience of every command, our strength to be ordained by His influences, so that we will be pleasing to Him in all that we do (John 5:23, 1 Peter 1:7, Acts 17:11, Romans 7:25, Psalm 119:11, Mark 12:30, Psalm 105:4, Colossians 1:11, 1 John 3:22).

Academic Achievement

We challenge students to praise God through the development of their mind. The faculty and staff desire that students realize their individual intellectual promise. The skills needed for further scholarly and life pursuits include critical close reading, reflective thinking, written/oral communication, mathematical computation/analysis, analytical inquiry, artistic appreciation, and a discerning heart, all of which produce a well-rounded, capable young adult (Proverbs 1:5-7, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Philippians 1:5-6, Philippians 4:8).

Humble Service

We believe the life and teachings of Jesus Christ established humble service as a priority for all believers. Therefore, we desire to model an attitude of humility and service that students can emulate, and to train students to use their talents and education not merely for personal advancement but primarily for the benefit of others in their school, church and community (Matthew 20:25-28, Matthew 23:11-12, 1 Peter 5:5-6).

Courageous Leadership

We believe that equipping students to tackle new challenges in academics, spiritual life and extracurricular activities is crucial to success in life. We desire to have staff, teachers and administrators who model deliberateness with a zest for learning and championing obstacles so that our students may gain a vision of what they may become. We endeavor to empower our students to step out and develop a faith of their own to change lives and honor God (2 Corinthians 3:2, Colossians 4:5-6).

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Statement of Faith

The Bible is the Word of God, divinely inspired as originally given, inerrant, the only infallible rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:15, 2 Peter 1:21).

God is triune — one eternal God existing in three separate and distinct persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30).

Christ is God manifested in the flesh, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, suffered and died on the cross as an atonement for our sins. He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, now sits at the right hand of God as mediator and is one day coming again visibly in power and glory to earth as revealed in the Bible (John 10:33, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:35, 1 Corinthians 15:3, Mark 16:19).

Man was created in God’s image and, being descended from Adam by ordinary generation, inherited a sinful nature and is totally unable to save himself from the natural consequences of his sin, both original and actual (John 3:16–19, John 5:24, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8–9).

Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to Christian faith and life. By God’s grace only and through faith in the accomplished work of Christ on the cross alone are we saved from eternal death (John 5:28–29).

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Administration

Administration

Board of Directors

  • Mr. Steve Rojas

    • Board Chair

  • Mr. Danny Coelho

    • Board Member

  • Mr. Rick Curran

    • Board Member

  • Mrs. Christina Cerrato

    • Board Member

  • Dr. Monica Yoshinaga

    • Board Member

  • Dr. Mike Winter

    • Board Member

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Faculty

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Staff

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Maps & Directions

Whittier Christian High School Campus

501 N. Beach Blvd
La Habra, California 90631

Main Telephone

(562) 694-3803

Main Fax

(562) 697-1673

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Bus Routes

Whittier Christian serves families throughout the greater Whittier and north Orange County areas, providing convenient and affordable bus service to and from Anaheim Hills, Brea, Hacienda Heights, La Mirada, La Puente, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, and Yorba Linda.

We currently offer 11 morning and afternoon bus routes to get your student to school on time and back home safely. To register for bus service, download the signup form.

Download Bus Routes (PDF)Download Signup Form (PDF)

Anaheim #1 Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:
Independence Christian School and Cornerstone Church
4905 East La Palma Ave, Anaheim

Morning Pick Up: 7:05 a.m. Mon-Fri 


Afternoon Drop Off: 4:05 p.m. Mon-Thur; 3:05 p.m. Fridays

Anaheim #2 Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:
Vineyard Christian School
5340 East La Palma Ave, Anaheim

Morning Pick Up: 7:00 a.m. Mon-Fri 


Afternoon Drop Off: 3:55 p.m. Mon-Thur; 2:55 p.m. Fridays

Brea #1 Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:
Christ Lutheran School
820 West Imperial Highway, Brea

Morning Pick Up: 7:30 a.m. Mon-Fri

Afternoon Drop Off: 3:45 p.m. Mon-Thur; 2:45 p.m. Fri

Brea #2 Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:
Brea-Olinda Friends Christian School
200 S. Associated Rd, Brea

Morning Pick Up: 7:10 a.m. Mon-Fri 


Afternoon Drop Off: 3:45 p.m. Mon-Thur; 2:45 p.m. Fri

Hacienda Heights Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:
St. Mark’s Lutheran School
2323 Las Lomitas Dr, Hacienda Heights

Morning Pick Up: 7:25 a.m. Mon-Fri 


Afternoon Drop Off: 3:30 p.m. Mon-Thur; 2:30 p.m. Fri

La Mirada Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:
Heights Christian Jr. High School
12900 Bluefield Ave., La Mirada

Morning Pick Up: 7:35 a.m. Mon-Fri

Afternoon Drop Off: 3:25 p.m. Mon-Thur; 2:25 p.m. Fri

La Puenta/West Covina Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:Sunset Christian
400 North Sunset Ave., La Puente

Morning Pick Up: 7:10 a.m. Mon-Fri 


Afternoon Drop Off: 4:00 p.m. Mon-Thur; 3:00 p.m. Fri

Norwalk Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:
Trinity Lutheran Church
11507 Studebaker Road, Norwalk

Morning Pick Up: 7:20 a.m. Mon-Fri 


Afternoon Drop Off: 4:00 p.m. Mon-Thur; 3:00 p.m. Fri

Santa Fe Springs Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:
Santa Fe Springs Christian School
11457 E. Florence Ave., Santa Fe Springs

Morning Pick Up: 7:10 a.m. M-F 


Afternoon Drop Off: 3:40 p.m. Mon-Thur; 2:40 p.m. Fri

Uptown Whittier Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:
Whittier Christian Junior High
6548 Newlin Ave, Whittier

Morning Pick Up: 7:25 a.m. Mon-Fri 


Afternoon Drop Off: 3:35 p.m. Mon-Thur; 2:35 p.m. Fri

Yorba Linda Bus Route

Pick-up & Return Location:
Friends Christian Middle School
4231 Rose Drive (Bastanchury/Rose Drive), Yorba Linda

Morning Pick Up: 7:00 a.m. Mon-Fri 


Afternoon Drop Off: 3:40 p.m. Mon-Thur; 2:40 p.m. Fri

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