City Tree Christian School marks 50 years in downtown San Diego

City Tree Christian School will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sept. 3 during Back to School Night on its downtown San Diego campus. The milestone highlights the school’s expansion from a 1976 preschool into an infant-through-8th-grade program that still centers early childhood education and family partnerships.

Why it matters: - City Tree Christian School has served San Diego families for 50 years, making it a long-running early childhood and K-8 option in downtown San Diego. - The school’s anniversary comes as families continue looking for preschool programs that combine academics, character development and flexible schedules. - The school says applications are open for the upcoming school year, with rolling admissions based on available space.

What happened: - City Tree Christian School will hold a 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 5:30 p.m. on campus during Back to School Night. - The school began in 1976 as a preschool program at First Presbyterian Church of San Diego. - City Tree now serves infants through 8th grade while continuing to offer full- and part-time preschool for children ages 2-5.

The details: - The campus is at 320 Date St. in downtown San Diego. - The preschool program includes play-based learning, kindergarten readiness, STEM experiments, music, Spanish exposure and art. - The school also offers year-round care with flexible full- and part-time schedules. - Aftercare enrichment includes Playball and dance. - City Tree says the school provides a safe, nurturing environment with a family-like community. - The school maintains accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and membership in the Association of Christian Schools International. - City Tree says average teacher tenure is long, and the student-teacher ratio supports individualized attention.

Between the lines: - City Tree frames itself as a missional school that welcomes families of many backgrounds, including those who do not attend church. - Sara Delgado, head of school, said the school intentionally extends a wide invitation to all families and partners with parents seeking children to grow in knowledge, character, compassion and purpose. - Lisa Phipps, preschool director, said the preschool emphasizes hands-on exploration, music, stories and relationships. - The school’s pitch blends academics with faith-based values, which may appeal to parents seeking both school readiness and moral formation. - The release cites research suggesting many parents choose faith-based schools for strong values, smaller class sizes, individual attention and a caring environment. - It also cites a 2024 experimental study in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion finding that parents choosing private Christian schools place high value on academic quality and spiritual formation.

What's next: - City Tree is inviting families to attend the Sept. 3 celebration and schedule a tour. - The school says it will continue accepting applications for the next school year as space allows. - City Tree plans to keep serving as an outreach ministry of First Presbyterian Church of San Diego while remaining open to families regardless of religious affiliation.

The bottom line: - City Tree Christian School is using its 50th anniversary to spotlight a downtown San Diego preschool-to-8th-grade model built around early learning, character formation and flexible family access.