Barnhart School

I want to take the time out to say Barnhart is a wonderful place to send your children. Living in a city like Arcadia, where the schools are great, but there’s not much diversity at all, Barnhart was a welcome find in our lives. We are multi racial family, and I started my daughter who is now in seventh grade, when she was in kindergarten. Not only is the student body very diverse, but the staff and teachers are as well. love how Barnhart focuses on the whole child as well as academics. I found that other schools in our area whether it be private, or public, the main focus is putting children in a box and just knowing the facts Of math and science. But.’Barnhart engages my children in ways that make them use their mind, as well as their creative side. My daughter is involved in sports, student council, and has also been on the world scholar debate team. My son, who is now in third grade is also very happy there.I am a very involved parent, which Barnhart encourages. I love the fact that they involve the parents on every level. The administration team is extremely helpful and engaged with the entire community. There is not one day but I don’t see her head Of school, Tonya Beilstein out greeting the parents at drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon. She always has a kind word and a smile on her face.
I’ve made some of my best friends here at the school. Barnhart is a place where children can be just that, children. Academics are structured to where children can be stretched, but not stressed out. In my research, I found that all too common with many schools in our area. Middle school is definitely challenging, but in a way that my daughter is not overwhelmed. I know when she’s ready to graduate next year, that she’ll be well prepared and get into any high school that she chooses.

I will always be indebted to Barnhart for helping to lay a strong foundation for my children academically and socially.

We enrolled our son at Barnhart years ago as a Kindergardener, then our daughter 2 years later. We loved the school; the families, the students, the teachers and the staff. We were thrilled to be part of the community; that was until after the 2011-2012 school year. The wonderful Head of School, Joe Harper, was fired, along with many other incredible administrative staff like Carol Reiter, the librarian Mrs. Yao and many others who made Barnhart what it was. In their place, enter Ethan Williamson, a man brought in to "transform" the school... and "transform" he did... Williamson co-authored a 5-year "strategic plan" intended to market Barnhart and enforced a strict "communications policy" which prohibits virtually any speech he doesn't approve of. Violation of this carries the punishment of "separation from the community." I guess the Barnhart Board thinks this will help improve enrollment?! No thanks. We spoke up against Williamson's attempts to enforce a draconian policy for caring for our diabetic daughter who had been a member of the Barnhart community for years. The result? Immediate expulsion! No, I am not kidding. Williamson didn't like our "tone, tenor or word choice" and threw our innocent kids out of the school. Needless to say, we do not recommend Barnhart School.