2026 Iowa Assessment results place Friends Christian School students ahead of state and national benchmarks in reading and math, capping a multi-year climb in academic achievement.
Yorba Linda, Calif., August 27, 2026 – Friends Christian School (FCS) announced today a significant academic achievement following the release of new comparative data from the Iowa Assessments. Students in grades 1 through 8 posted higher median percentile scores than both the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) national average and California school averages in every grade level, in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Math.
The results, drawn from this year’s Iowa Assessments, represent one of the strongest academic performances in the school’s recent history. Median percentile rank scores indicate how a group of students performs relative to a national sample, with 50% of students scoring above the median and 50% scoring below. When a school’s median score rises above the 50th percentile, it signals that the class as a whole is outperforming the typical, or “average,” classroom nationally.
FCS students exceeded that benchmark decisively:
- Higher median scores than ACSI and California school averages in both ELA and Math, in every grade level, 1st through 8th
- FCS students outperformed the ACSI average by as much as 21 percentile points across grade levels
- This year’s median scores were the highest achieved in 7 out of 8 grade levels, in both ELA and Math, compared to the previous two years at FCS
- Continued year-over-year improvement in academic performance schoolwide
Beyond the numbers, administration points to consistent instructional practices as the driving force behind the incredible achievement. Teachers focus on meeting the needs of individual students, differentiating instruction, and using curriculum in ways that support meaningful academic growth each year. In addition, staff participate in ongoing professional development each week to equip them with refreshed instructional techniques and approaches.
For the FCS community, this academic achievement carries added significance because it reflects a school-wide commitment to excellence that does not come at the expense of its Christian mission. Administrators say the results demonstrate that strong academics and a faith-based education can and do go hand in hand.
“These scores reflect a level of academic excellence our students should be proud of and our community has come to expect,” said Todd Perkins, Head of School at Friends Christian School. “At Friends Christian School, parents can feel confident that their child will excel academically throughout their elementary and middle school years and will be well prepared for high school and beyond,” Perkins added.
Prospective families interested in learning more about this year’s academic achievement and the Friends Christian School experience are encouraged to visit www.friendschristian.org to schedule a tour.
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About Friends Christian School
Friends Christian School operates as one school with four campuses: Friends Christian Preschool, Little Friends Preschool, Friends Christian Elementary School and Friends Christian Middle School. It’s a place where students learn and grow in an environment that is centered on Jesus Christ. From preschool through 8th grade, FCS’ mission is to develop, equip, and nurture students to impact their world for Jesus Christ spiritually, academically, physically, artistically, and socially in age-appropriate ways.