The preschool director is on top of things and the staff is nurturing and caring of their little students. There is potty training available for the littlest ones and actual curriculum for helping the older ones to be ready for learning. All done at appropriate levels for the children. read more

Bethany Christian School is amazing. The teachers, administration, and head of school work every day to make sure the kids are happy, loved, and learning and growing at their own pace and full-potential. The entire staff at Bethany are genuinely kind, loving, smart God-fearing and God-loving people. The kids are kind, smart and blessed. I can't say enough good things. If you're looking for a loving, Christ-centered school for your child/children, do give Bethany a chance. Their admissions director is wonderful. Call the school for a tour, I'm sure they'll be happy to accommodate! read more

We love Bethany Christian- our grandchildren attend and are getting a quality education and such a warm and loving environment! Highly recommend ! read more

We have been attending preschool at BCS for a year and we absolutely love it here. All the teachers and TAs are attentive to each student and really help build a strong Christian foundation for the children. My daughter was very shy before attending school but has grown in confidence significantly since. read more

All the teachers are amazing. I love this school so much my nieces go to the school and they love it.

We have had such a great experience! The staff and teachers have all loved and developed my little one. We started preschool here and have had such a positive experience the last 3 years. As a parent I loved the newsletters I received each week. I think it was the perfect combination of academic learning with social and values being taught as well. read more

Bethany Christian School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

We love Bethany! This is our 3rd year at Bethany Christian and couldn't imagine going anywhere else. My kids THRIVE here. The teachers and staff go above and beyond and Jesus literally shines through each and every one of them. My older son's reading level is many grades ahead, all thanks to his teachers and the curriculum. They offer music, art, P.E., Spanish and a wonderful STEAM program. They also have after-school athletics for the higher grades. It's in the heart of Sierra Madre, walking distance to so many cute food places for early release or after drop-off. read more

I have read the few negative reviews and, as a mixed race family with no father figure, having sent two generations of children to this school, I am moved to testify. Bethany Christian school is wonderful. Their approach to problems, accusations and conflicts is reliably Biblical, in accordance with Matthew 5:23, 18:15, and Galatians 3:28 (I'll let the reader look those up). Practicing these principles can be difficult, even painful, for a person in the throes of conflict but this is one of the many areas where Bethany Christian School stands tall. I might also mention ... BCS is accredited. Their academics are superior. The teachers are credentialed (I think) and responsive. Bible classes and chapel are relevant and joyous. Christian character is recognized and uplifted. Staff is efficient. Glitches receive personalized attention. Errors are apologized for and corrected. Jesus is held high and glorified. From a place run by imperfect, saved sinners deeply committed to Jesus Christ and his Word, what more can one ask? read more

Debating to write this review for years and after long days of prayer and seeing God's hand in this matter in so many ways, I should write my experiences for future parents. This review is about the parents of the school where they practiced xenophobia, racism and discrimination, and sexism towards me. There is a carline where during K-8th grade pick up can be a very long line that starts outside the parking lot entry way. For preschooler parents, it only made sense that parents had to park their cars and walk to the preschool class to pick up their children. There is another way to enter the parking lot to avoid the traffic and park. However, a "Ken" by the name of "Mr. Jo..." had his 8th grade son in the passenger seat, stopped his car abruptly at the driveway when I was entering and pointed his finger at me and yelled at me. I had my windows rolled up so I couldn't hear what Mr. "Jo..." was yelling at me about. So I parked my car and came out. He was still at the driveway and rolled his son's window down this time and yelled at me some more. So I told him, "why don't you come over here to tell me because I can't hear you." And Mr. "Jo..." drove off angrily. His 8th grade son is in the car and witnessed the whole debacle. I told the office what happened and they wanted me to ID him. The following Monday, I deliberately showed up early and saw his car, and started recording so he wouldn't yell at me again and if he did, it would be on video. He recognized me and avoided me altogether. I showed the video to Mrs. "Si...." the office staff and she told me his name because this man who I don't know yelled at me past Friday. The purpose of this video was only to identify who he is. I showed the video to Principal "W" but he wanted to talk to him together with me. I told Principal "W" that I did not want to talk to him because he is not the type to apologize nor recognize his faults. This is only for you to know who he is because I don't know who he is and to tell him not to treat me like such again. Principal "W" did not listen and Mr. "Jo..." said it was a pure misunderstanding and that I misunderstood him. Seriously? You mean I can't tell when someone points a finger at me and yells and stops abruptly on the driveway to do such actions is a misunderstanding? Mr."Jo..." accosted me in the parking lot. Sounds familiar with Rep. Mr. Yoho accosting AOC? So I pointed my finger at him and said "you are lying. You are trying to make yourself look like the innocent victim in the scenario and wanted to relate to Principal "W" because he is a man. Don't try to lie your way out of this." Principal "W" was shocked I pointed a finger at Mr. "Jo..." Principal "W" would be shocked if he saw Mr. "Jo..." accost me in the parking lot. I did it back to him because I was trained to put people back in line when they accost or bully people, especially women. The argument continued for 20 minutes where he touched my arm at one point and sarcastically apologized to me. I told him he is not allowed to touch me in any way and he gave a disgusted look to me. Mr. "Jo..." I did not give consent. Even Principal "W" told Mr. "Jo" to not touch me. I really hope your son does not learn your actions of accosting women by belittling them and twisting their words to make women look "hysterical." Mr. "Jo..." I know English and I was born and raised here. I got into a professional school going through multiple interviews and writing multiple essays and personal statements. I also have emotional intelligence and was trained in a medical facility of when to recognize racism and discrimination when I see one. I know this is not Mr. "Jo..."'s first rodeo of accosting women, especially Asian women because he did it abruptly and condescendingly as if it was not his first time accosting a woman. Principal "W" said Mr. "Jo..." was a military man so he's "abrupt." That is no excuse and an embarrassment for all former, present, and future military men. I had preceptors from the Army and they are kind like a teddy bear. I had multiple classmates in the medical profession who are in the military and in Army Reserve who are kind and considerate. They are family men who respect women in the field just as we all respect each other. Mr. "Jo..." is no exception. Don't embarrass the military for your behavior. Mr. "Jo..." never apologized to me and gave excuses. read more

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My children attend preschool at Bethany Christian School, and we couldn't be happier. Their teachers, Mrs. Copti and Mrs. Keller, are nurturing, caring teachers who make learning fun. It is a play-based preschool that addresses academic subjects in a fun, developmentally appropriate way. The staff members and parents at Bethany are friendly and welcoming, and the overall school environment is overwhelmingly positive. Both of my children enjoy going to school and are eager to tell me about what they learned at the end of the school day. This makes me especially happy because before we transferred to this school, we were attending a different preschool that neither of my children enjoyed. Going to school in the morning used to be a struggle. My daughter would cry and beg not to go to school. My son also dreaded attending his former preschool and was starting to experience anxiety. However, after only a couple of days at Bethany, my children's attitude towards school dramatically changed for the good. I am so grateful that we transferred to Bethany Christian School and will forever to be grateful for the positive impact they are making in my children's lives. read more

This school has literally been a god send for our daughter and our family. It has strengthened her faith, built her confidence, and been an all around transformative experience. The teachers and staff LOVE their jobs and it shows. This isn't a job for these people, it's a passion. We came to Bethany last year and had Mrs. Ambrose for 5th grade and it changed our entire school experience. Instead of crying every single morning, not feeling good, any excuse to try and get out of attending school, has now turned in to, "there's no way I'm missing school!" She loves school. It's now May and she's dreading summer because of how much she loves school. The teachers, the staff, the friends, the closeness to God she feels throughout her school day, the entire experience. Our only regret is, we wish we had enrolled earlier on in her life! Best decision we have ever made! read more

We also couldn't be happier with this school! This school lives up to its mission statement, meaning it is student-focused wherever one turns. It is the HEART of the school that is really evident upon interviewing, visiting, and ultimately enrolling. Bethany takes its Christian mission seriously, always executing it with love. The quality staff and teachers are a breath of fresh air. Our daughter had a shadow day in which she was matched with a student from her grade who introduced her to each aspect of the school that day. We were transferring her from another school and she came home with rave reviews. She loved how her teacher met her where she was and got to know her that day. She was so happy and has continued to be. She loved the bible verses offered and even mentioned how that had obviously influenced the collective behavior of the students. We have been involved with Bethany for 6 months now and cannot wait for the future. It is a nurturing, warm environment with excellent academics, keeping up with the best of the best elementary schools in the San Gabriel Valley. read more

Our daughter loves Mrs Leon (Happy Hoppers) class. Mrs Leon is a loving and firm teacher. She teaches Christian character by leading with examples and lays a strong foundation for future learning. Our son was in Mrs Ambrose class. Mrs Ambrose is so loving and kind. She touched our sons heart and was able to connect with him. She's transform a child who didn't enjoy school, to a child who can't wait for school to start. BETHANY CHRISTIAN IS A SPECIAL PLACE! LOVE, LOVE THIS SCHOOL! read more

This is our second year at Bethany Christian school and my 3 boys more than love it! Last year my son had Mrs. Ambrose for 5th grade and she is the most nurturing, gracious teacher who not only cares about their learning but also about raising them up as people of character. And this is true of the whole school as they are living out their vision of "partnering with parents o educate, develop, and nurture STUDENTS for a life of Christ-centered excellence in academics, Christian character, and servant-leadership." My youngest son is on the spectrum and has the best kindergarten teacher that tries in every way to work with him so that he can be successful in this inclusion environment. Mrs. Djeu is what every kid needs during this stage. She is very hands on, intentional and is attentive to each and every kid. She is very clear on her expectations but still understands that kids can not sit for hours at a desk and incorporates movement in their learning. We are constantly in communication on what is happening with him and working together to figure out what could be done better to help him. For example, my son is just deathly afraid of the whistle during recess. I think the pitch of it is really difficult for him and she told the playground aides about it and now they will give him a warning before they blow it so that he has time to walk further away from it and cover his ears. The strategies that we use to help my son through various difficulties are communicated to all the staff so that they can help him. When he needs a break and his aide is not available, someone from the front office will come and walk with him. I can't even describe how thankful I am for our family to be a part of this community. If you have every felt that learning needs to be more than worksheets and busywork, and wonder if there's a place that could be more for your kid's whole development, this is it! The school is not perfect as no school is, but their greatest strength is being open to listening to parents and putting in 110% effort in trying to make things work for the kids. They even started an academy for helping the kids with dyslexia and this is just the beginning of what they hoping to do to support the different kids in the school. I am excited to see how this will continue to progress and grow in the years to come. read more

If you're looking for a nurturing and safe environment for your children, this is the place to be. Everyone here at Bethany, be it administrators, staff, teachers or aides, is very kind. They genuinely care for the well being of each child. Our son started this year in the 6th grade and he loves it. He is thriving academically and socially. We couldn't be happier about our choice to have him attend this school! read more

Bethany Christian School has been an incredible blessing our family. This is our first year at BCS, our daughter is in 5th grade. Being new, we were a little nervous. But, everyone has been so kind and welcoming to my daughter and our whole family. BCS has a great community of families, teachers and Administrators. We are very happy to be here and thankful for the Christ centered, kids first school that Bethany Christian stands for. read more

I was not too happy with our experience at Bethany. My daughter attended the preschool and kindergarten program. We actually moved to Sierra Madre so she could attend this school. A Christian environment was what we were looking for. The kindergarten class was a bit out of control. The teacher struggled to maintain the class. At the end of the year we were told our 6yr daughter was not welcome to return. We learned they have let her teacher Mrs Alred go. We were hurt and disappointed by the teacher and Mr. Walner. If you are looking for a Christ centered professional environment, I do not recommend this school. read more

My child was attending Kindergarten at this school and after a short while I noticed a change in her demeanor. After a 2 weeks of attending this school I found out that she was afraid of another 5 year old girl in the class. My daughter explained to my wife and I that this girl had dug her finger underneath her nail, bent her fingers backward and grabbed at her stomach. I spoke with 2 other parents who made complaints about this same child bullying their children. I spoke with the teacher who on the first occasion stated that she would speak with the parent. On the second occasion I spoke with the Kindergarten teacher about the bullying she stated that since the incident happened yesterday and since my child did not speak up the moment it happened nothing would be done. Since her teacher was unwilling to help, I had to take control of the situation myself. I spoke to the parent and the child myself, and that seemed to end the touching for approximately 1 week. Yesterday (9/24/2014) this girl touched my daughter's private area till it hurt. The girl told the school that my daughter (the one getting bullied) touched her area first. We had a conference with the principal, the kindergarten teacher and the head of the pre-school program. During the conversation they tried to make it look like my daughter was to blame. The kindergarten teacher stated we were the first to make a complaint about the bully which was a lie. She didn't account for the fact that I spoke with 2 parents who told me that they told her about the bully. She recanted and stated oh yeah that was a long time ago when in fact the school had just started in late August. To make a long story short I stated that I will not have my daughter in the same class with this bully. The principal replied with, I can't kick the child out of the school for something this insignificant. 9-24-2014 was my daughters last day at Bethany. We left the school knowing that the bully has a older brother in the school and also attends the after school program. It equals approximately $2000 a month for Bethany. They picked money over morals and ethics. read more

We have been attending Bethany for four years and love it. Bethany is our home away from home. read more

Bethany Christian School - First Day of School at Bethany Christian School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

We have had nothing but wonderful experiences with Bethany Christian School since discovering it two years ago. My daughter attended first grade there with whom I thought, was the most special teacher ever (Mrs. Poppleton). She happened to be a teacher, a pastor, and a mother. It was an incredibly special mix of qualities that made her classroom a wonderful and loving learning environment. It just so happens that this year my son's kindergarten teacher is also a pastor and a teacher and she is a 10 out of 10! I could not have asked for a better kindergarten experience for my son. As his first formal learning experience it has truly astonished me to see the attention that Mrs. Djeu gives her students, the details and design in her classroom, the tremendous thought put into her lessons, and the firm yet loving way she leads her classroom. Both my son and daughter love their teachers, love their daily experiences with school, enjoy their peers, and are learning everyday. The enrichment programs are excellent, my son comes home speaking Spanish words he has learned that day! The spring musical was fantastic last year and the importance placed on the chapel, that is so well run each week, warms my heart. Plus there are many after school enrichment programs like art club and mad science. I appreciate the communication I receive from the school and the teachers, the organization regarding small details like pick-up and drop-off, and I appreciate all of the ways to get involved through the PTF, community events, volunteering in the classroom etc. The community has been wonderful, we were transplants from the east coast and navigating the private school system was a bit overwhelming. We couldn't be happier that we discovered Bethany Christian. We believe in their model and approach to educating our children as individual students and Christians. I truly don't understand people's negative reviews but I would point out I would probably be really bitter and upset if my child hadn't been accepted into Bethany Christian as well. read more

Our son had Ms. Leon this past year for TK (Happy Hoppers class). She is sooo sweet, yet stern. Our son learned a lot and loved going to school. We wish we would have sent our older son here instead of St Rita's for TK. He didn't learn anything at St Rita's and the classes were huge. This class was under 10 kids and they did so many cool activities. We LOVE Ms. Leon. Highly recommend her for TK! read more

That 1 star is zero stars in my mind. When you apply to go to school here you meet with the principal( dr. Walner) and have a meeting about your child, how they are, their personality, their strengths etc. he asks about your family, your religious background etc. during this meeting my husband and I explained to him our son was teetering on an autism diagnosis. He's "aspergers" which means in his case he has poor eye contact & he can obsess over certain things. Academically he's above average and already reading at a 2nd grade level. The principal assured us there were other kids at the school with similar personalities and that it didn't matter. THIS SCHOOL DISCRIMINATED AGAINST MY SON. months went by and the school was finally doing their call Backs to let you know if your child would be accepted. Sherrie (the office lady) called me and said "your son is great but he has a learning disability and we don't feel like he's a good fit" A LEARNING DISABILITY? I asked her to explain further and she talked in circles and had no legitimate answers to give me. After fumbling over her words for a few minutes I hung up with her and later called back to set up A meeting with the principal to see if he could give us a straight answer. A week or so later we met with the principal who went over my sons assessment with us. He showed us a self portrait my son made. He pointed out there was no arms or face. We pointed back to the drawing and showed him there were indeed arms and a face. He showed us the letters he drew they were spaced out far on the page (he's 4 years old at the time) we didn't see the issue there I doubt the other 4 year old had perfect handwriting. Then he showed us notes from the kindergarten teacher ( ms. Djue)....to think that this lady is in charge of a classroom of kids is terrifying. Her notes on his assessment were appalling. In huge letters she wrote "CROSS EYED????" In the margin. My son isn't cross eyed but what if he was? You wouldn't accept him because of that? She noted he was distracted by the man vacuuming outside the door. He asked what the noise was and looked towards the door!!!! Are you people kidding me? THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ANY REASON TO NOT ACCEPT HIM. IT WAS VERY VERY OBVIOUS. During this meting everything he pointed out to us as a reason why he wasn't accept was total BS my husband and We left Dr Waller's office feeling like we had been kicked in the stomachs. Also Please note that when we left that meeting dr. Walner opened the door to let us out never said good luck or goodbye or sorry it didn't work NOTHING! Where's the Christianity? The acceptance? I'm writing this review a Few months later and now I just think THANK GOD he didn't get into that school. Where he's at now he was welcomed with open arms, no issues what so ever and he is THRIVING AND HAPPY. SHAME ON YOU DR. WALNER! SHERI (the office lady) and MS DJUE! Anyone reading this I hope your child isn't different in anyway and you never have to go through this feeling. I'm not writing this review because I'm bitter or mad that my son didn't get in. I'm writing this to let other parents know what kind of people are working at this school. And let's be real. Bethany is the cheapest private school in Sierra madre. That's probably a big reason people go for it...FYI There's much better school just a little further north. I'd also like you to know that while I was in the office waiting for my meeting the girls working in the office didn't hear us walk through the door so they kept working on the stuff they were doing. Well that stuff they were doing was going through the financial aid applications and laughing with each other about what people made and were claiming that they could afford. Comments like "well she must live with her parents" and "look at the kids of car she has she can afford more" are you kidding me?!?! Good job Sherri! They really have this lady doing EVERYTHING at that school when she should Probably only be answering the phones. read more

This school deserves 5 stars!! The staff is loving and hard working. During times like this they still want to teach our kids in person and for those not comfortable that's perfectly fine they have online learning as well. This school is such a blessing to my family! Dr. Walner has improved this school so much. We have new floors for our gym! For those financially worried about tuition they have a way to help. This is a wonderful Christ centered accredited school. My daughter is in 6th grade and has been attending since preschool she loves BCS, her teachers, peers, and all the wonderful parents who volunteer. This school is my home I attended as well preschool-8th grade and highly recommend this school to anyone searching for a Christ centered school. Just like any school there's bound to be ups and downs but BCS is a family and with God we get through it and grow. I absolutely love BCS it's the BEST!!! read more

My wife and I are both alumni of another local Christian school. When it came time last year for our eldest to start school, our first instinct was to send the kiddos to our alma mater. We did our due diligence and checked out Bethany to know what else was out there. Lo and behold, we both left our meeting with the principal floored that we felt more at home here than at the other school! It was precisely the sense of God-honoring community, Bible-centric education, and humble environment that we valued about our alma mater (which has changed over time). In short, the decision to step away of what we knew was the best thing for our family. Funny thing, but Father knows best! read more

We are so blessed to have been guided to Bethany Christian School! I have 2 Preschoolers who attend here; in fact, we just started this fall school year and we couldn't be more pleased. There is sooo much love at this school, you can feel it and see it. The staff is professional and friendly and they communicate about everything. Our principal, Dr. Walner, even sent out a week 1 recap email. I'm so beyond grateful for being able to have my boys attend this school. We look forward to what this year brings! read more

I have had my kids in this school for 4 years now and I love it. Very professional, strong Christian faith, strong academics, and very caring and involved parents which makes the school even better. No school will ever be perfect because we are still human. This is the only school I would consider because it's Christ centered and the class sizes are small so that the teacher can give more personal attention to the kids. Anna read more

I am an alumna of Bethany and recently came to visit. I was super impressed with how they remodeled the floors and the repainting that they did. Aside from the looks, Bethany still had a family feel that is so incredible. I always feel so good whenever I come back and visit. Bethany has some of the best teachers out there and the education really got me ready for high school and the real world. The staff there has impacted my faith and the Christian beliefs that I learned at Bethany have stuck with me. Overall, I thank my parents all the time for sending me to this Christ-centered and loving school. I would recommend it to anyone. read more

This is a wonderful school with great leadership, teachers and family involvement. When you walk on the campus you immediately sense that this is a special place. Not only does the school provide a great Christian education, but they place important emphasis on character development. read more

Our family has attended this school for 5 years and we love it! The teachers and staff are committed to the children and genuinely care about them. The class size is small so the children get a lot of individual attention. The parents are very involved and are always willing to lend a hand in the classroom or wherever help is needed. The administration and ptf is always looking for new ways they can improve the school and make it even better. Most importantly their focus is on a Christ centered education and they are always trying to teach the children how to live in God's image.We are very happy with this school. read more

Bethany Christian School has been an excellent school for our four children. When looking for a small school, we were immediately drawn to the strong sense of community that the Bethany administration and staff exudes. We were in search of a school that spanned from preschool through 8th grade. It was important for us to find a school where the teachers would truly "know" our children. Academically and spiritually we have found Bethany Christian School to be fantastic. The teachers are wonderful and it seems clear that they feel called to teach at Bethany where they can nurture a love of learning in their students. Bethany also has a longstanding history in the San Gabriel Valley and is dually accredited. The area surrounding the school feels safe, quaint, and is within walking distance to the small downtown of Sierra Madre. read more

Great School. Education reaches for the sky. Students go into honors classes as they go into High School. Christ centered classes are a big plus. No bullying. Loving teachers. read more

My child has been with Bethany since last August. I can't believe how much he has learned and grown both academically and spiritually. We really appreciated the kindergarten teacher Mrs. Tam and her assistant Mrs. Meredith for their professionallism and patience. It was a great experience to work with them. read more

I want to say that my child went to Bethany and it was the best experience of her life. The staff was amazing! They were loving, kind, patient, and warm. The education she received was beyond what I could have asked for her. This school truly prepared her for the future and she is now an amazing writer with a promising future. I thank God for Christian schools like Bethany that teach to the whole child, spirit, soul, mind and body. They do exemplify what they teach there. I have so many friends that have sent their children to this school and still know children that go there who love it so much! It is unfortunate that only bad news travels sometimes... Let's all share the good news too! read more