My experience with Bella Vista Christian Academy was beyond disappointing, and I ultimately removed…read moremy children because of it. The overall environment felt negative and, at times, openly unkind. I witnessed staff speaking to students in ways that were belittling and inappropriate. In one instance, a teacher used name-calling toward students--something that should never happen in any school, especially one that claims to reflect Christian values. Administration was equally frustrating. Concerns from both parents and students were consistently dismissed rather than addressed. Instead of feeling heard, I felt brushed off and judged. During a very difficult time in my personal life, I expected neutrality and professionalism, but instead experienced what felt like bias and a lack of basic understanding. Leadership was particularly concerning. While interactions could appear polite on the surface, the follow-through told a very different story. Decisions felt inconsistent and unfair, making it hard to trust the administration at all. The front office experience made things even worse. Shannon, who is often the first point of contact, was repeatedly rude and unprofessional in my interactions. The tone was unwelcoming and dismissive, which sets a terrible example for both families and students. First impressions matter, and in this case, they reflected a much deeper problem within the school culture. To be fair, not every staff member reflects this environment--Mrs. Quilcy stands out as kind, patient, and genuinely supportive of students. She deserves recognition for the way she treats families. Unfortunately, one positive example does not outweigh the broader issues. For a school that promotes faith and character, the lack of compassion, professionalism, and willingness to listen was deeply disappointing. I cannot recommend this school to families looking for a supportive and respectful environment

I've been extremely impressed with my daughter's experience at Bella Vista. It's clear that this…read moreschool truly cares about helping each child reach their full potential. The teachers and staff are wonderfully communicative and genuinely work to build strong partnerships with parents. The coursework strikes a great balance--challenging students while still ensuring they fully understand the material.

Great school :) so far so good. My son is on he's second year here. Besides being a good academic…read moreschool, I like how their conservative in dress code.

Great School. My kids get a challenging learning environment where they can grow. Enjoy the faculty…read moreand administrators a lot!

Nice school, in what looks like a very nice area. Some of the front office staff were a little…read moreshort with guests but they were patient and helpful. Mita was super friendly and patient. She was the best! Helped us with everything we needed and answered all of our questions. The parking lot is very small and pick up time tends to have parents blocking the street which isn't great but that's on the parents and not the school. Not sure if we'll come here again but from first impressions it seems decent.

My kids started at this school this year and they like their teachers and friends. Office staff is…read morefriendly and helpful. They keep good attendance records and honor perfect attendance. The bullying is a problem but it seems they're involved at resolving conflicts at the 4-6th grade levels.

Great welcome at this school, I Help host a scholarship class for 6 different classes, the kids…read morehave a great welcome to people I love it.

My kids (who are now 4 and 6) have been attending Montessori on the Prairie for 2 years. It has…read morebeen a great experience. I am so impressed with how much they have learned and what they are learning about. Appreciate the wide range of exposure from Art to geography to current events. I was initially concerned whether this would be a good fit, considering my kids were coming from a minimally structured environment but with time and probably a lot of patients from the teachers settled in! Mrs Shanika and her staff are a special group, and my kids adore them all. Mrs Shanika always makes her self available to address any issues or concerns I have had. Huge bonus is the pictures I receive throughout the week!

This school has been the best foundation for my daughter! Miss Shanika cares so much about the well…read morebeing and learning experience of the children and they are very much like her own. Every teacher is so loving towards the children and I couldn't have asked for anyone better. If you want your child to have the best foundation going into public school then this is the school for you!

This place was also known as the Lathrop Annex. Only K-2 went to school here then 3-8 was at the…read moreLathrop Elementary which was just only down the street. I really miss this place. I remember last year when i was driving pass this place, I noticed that it wasn't even Lathrop Annex anymore. Most of the portables were gone and all that was left was the "Office". I just couldn't believe it. Was it because 2 other schools opened up in Lathrop too that they needed to just downsize by just putting K-8 in Lathrop Elementary? Anyways, I remember getting in trouble here a lot and getting sent home for all the wrong reasons. One for sticking out my tongue at the teacher LOL. The other time was when I was digging in the sandbox and for some reason there was some boy behind me too that as I was digging, all the sand was going in his yes LMAO. He should have known better not to go behind me while I'm digging in the sand. I used to be Student of the Month all the time. I miss going to the book fair which was my favorite. We used to always get those book catalogs and would always have to buy something since back then I loved reading. Another thing I loved was the annual carnival that they used to have here usually during the month of May. They had cotton candy, lots of bouncy jumpers, a rock climbing wall, and other good stuff. That was one of the things I used to look forward to when I attended the annex and the elementary. I met most of my best friends here. We all attended the same elementary and the same high school. They were the reasons why I loved going to school. Overall, this place had so much memories.

Since Joseph Widmer doesn't have it's own Yelp, my review for them is here. Do not send your kids…read morethere! Staff doesn't care and most teachers don't care. I'm speaking for myself and other parents I've talked to about this school. My daughter came home crying and extremely upset because her teacher decided to tell the class the tooth fairy wasn't real they needed to stop believing in magic! Idk what is wrong with her but glad she is no longer influencing my child. My daughter was a different person before going there, her self esteem has gone down a lot. And worst the staff doesn't even care to find out what's wrong to make it right. Unacceptable.

We are so grateful for the incredible experience our son has had in kindergarten this year. This…read morewas his first time in a Montessori environment, and we were so impressed by how quickly he adjusted and flourished. It has been a joy to see him become more independent and watch his love for learning grow every day. Both teachers are truly exceptional, and Ms. Soni has been particularly wonderful in helping us understand our son's strengths. She is always so approachable during pickup, taking the time to answer every question and providing the reassurance we need about his daily activities and progress. Knowing he is in such supportive hands with Ms. Soni and Mr. Christensen makes all the difference, and we feel very lucky to have such a dedicated team!

Miss Raman Gill and Miss Sree Devi are very kind, caring, and dedicated teachers. Ever since our…read moredaughter joined their class, we have seen a significant improvement in her confidence and personality. They truly helped her come out of her shell and always take wonderful care of her. Both teachers are very supportive with studies and always make sure the children feel loved, comfortable, and encouraged. Our daughter loves going to school every day and is always excited to be in their classroom. They create such a warm, positive, and caring environment where children can learn and grow with confidence. We are truly grateful for all their hard work, patience, love, and dedication toward the children. It was one of the best decisions to send our daughter to such a wonderful classroom and school.

This school is great from 1st thru 8th. I wouldn't go here for kinder...your paying a couple of…read morehundred for child care for 3 hours. Not worth it. There are many activites to get the parents and kids involved which is great because you really have an idea of what is happening in your school. Everyone is very friendly and willing to help if you have questions. There are lots of obligations to be fullfilled by the parent but in the long run it's worth it...are children are our future!