The Xavier Story
Back in 1999, a committed grass-roots group of parents organized to bring a private Christian high school to the Coachella Valley. This was our version of school choice—the only avenue to offer a great education to all high school students in our Coachella Valley.
Xavier formally incorporated, filed for its own 501(c)3 status, and obtained 96 acres of undeveloped land granted by the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation in 2004. With entitlements on the land, architectural plans complete, and a little money in the bank (with promises of more on the way), construction began. Many people who reside in this Valley and those who are snowbirds of this valley supported our efforts and jumped in early to keep the Board motivated and the project financially supported.
Xavier has been blessed—beginning with only a freshman class of 48 in 2006—to educate and graduate over 1,500 students, with another 585 enrolled to date. Over 54% of the students are on need-based aid, totaling an annual amount of $2M. Outside of school vouchers, which is an uphill battle in the state of California, the funds awarded to our at-risk students and families are uncollected tuition funds. These funds are only procured through donations to the school. With this financial commitment from the Board, the student body mirrors the demographics of our Coachella Valley. Xavier educates an amazing 41% first-generation students, primarily of migrant farmworkers and those from very impoverished socio-economic backgrounds.
Xavier boasts a 98% college-going rate. Xavier believes affording students the opportunity to receive a great secondary education is the best way to prepare and support efforts for students to go forth from Xavier and “set the world on fire.”
Xavier’s mission is to grow students to their greatest potential in order for them to find their best next step after they graduate. Our Valley suffers with a failing rate of college-going students from our local public schools. Only 79% graduate from our local public high schools, and only 38% of those students graduate with the minimum course requirements to apply to a Cal State or UC System school (A-G Requirements). This is the main reason why Xavier was built: every child deserves the opportunity to attend a school which prepares them for their best next step in life.
Xavier currently has two buildings: a classroom building and a large athletic center which doubles as our chapel, auditorium, performance hall, meeting space, banquet room, etc. We have been blessed to have multiple donors who show up to assist Xavier to continue to build. Of note and most recently, Xavier was able to build 6 state-of-the-art tennis courts, which will enable Xavier to host home meets on campus. This has changed the tennis program dramatically and now boasts over 70 athletes to compete on our men’s and women’s tennis teams. We also just completed the installation of a NCAA-sanctioned 8-lane track; when funding is available, it will house our competition Football and Soccer Stadium. This is very exciting!
Xavier continues to develop and grow actors, engineers, dancers, athletes, singers, doctors, musicians, mothers and fathers, and many others fulfilling their ambitions. Xavier provides endless opportunities for our great students.
