Willow Bend Academy

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Willow Bend Academy is a hidden gem. My daughter transferred into middle school last year and acclimated fairly quickly. We love the terrific student/teacher ratio, Christian influence, and family feel of the school. The entire staff takes a sincere interest in each child and provides a positive environment in which to learn. While the curriculum is challenging, teachers meet the children where they are, allowing students to progress at a pace that is commensurate with their abilities. My daughter has been encouraged to stretch and grow, both academically and personally, which has bolstered her self-esteem. We look forward to another great year!

I have been going to Willow Bend Academy since sixth grade. I am now in ninth grade, and I couldn’t be happier with this school and everything about it. From staff to schoolwork, everything about WBA is perfect. The very second I walk into this school, I feel loved. Mrs. Kim or Mrs. Virginia greet you at the front desk with smiles on their faces. My favorite part about walking into Willow Bend is that sometimes Mr. Pilkington is there and he is always greeting me with a smile and stories about his journey through life. It encourages me to become a better person throughout all I do. The staff always encourages anyone they see to get through his or her schoolwork and do better in life.
Another thing I love about Mr. Pilkington is that he knows everyone’s name and knows us for who we are. He is always asking me, “how are you?” and “how was your day?” and I always reply “great!” because that is how I feel when I come to WBA. The principal, Dr. Berner, is always making my peers and I laugh as well as telling us interesting facts that he has learned or experienced. Each and every staff member at Willow Bend is an amazing listener. As Mrs. Little says, “once it goes in my ears, it doesn’t come out of my mouth.” When I first came here, I never knew I would have made the long lasting friends that I have today. I know that whenever they or I graduate, we will still be in touch and meeting up to hang out.
Something else I love about WBA is that there is a 0% tolerance for bullying. If you bully, there is no tolerance for it. I know that I am welcomed and everyone is glad to see me when I walk in. I am recognized for who I am. I am loved for who I am. I have never been as close with a teacher in public school as I am in this tiny, amazing private school that I never thought I would go to six years ago. No other school I have ever been to has ever been as caring and educated as WBA. I recommend this school to anyone, no matter who you are; you will be accepted. -Faith R.

Someone said "Don't waste your time at Willow Bend Academy". Then the family enrolled in another private school. Later, they came back to Willow Bend Academy and said the other school was a waste of time and money. They enrolled their student and are very satisfied with the quality of education, care by teachers, etc.

I strongly caution all parents considering Willow Bend Academy to seek another school.

This Private High School on Coit Road in Plano advertises to profess Christian Values and publishes demographics that are in inverse relation to reality.
The actual demographics do not matter, except to underscore the lack of honesty and integrity one should look for in a quality school.
The Principal of this school, Dr. Berner, is not a man of his word and, as the school leader, reflects poorly upon the institution. We sent a troubled teen to the school and they accepted her into Willow Bend, with full knowledge of her issues. The tuition was steep, but advertises providing second chances. There were some difficulties and at the last parent conference, Dr. Berner told her parents that, if there were any other problems, he would institute an in-school suspension, before taking the drastic action of dismissal. Not only did he not do as he promised, he let a 15 year old student walk out of the building unattended by an adult, without checking to see if she had a ride. To this day, he has not called her parents regarding her dismissal, and the only contact was a letter which came a week later. This type of behavior from a professional educator is unacceptable. Additionally, their tuition policy will not allow prorated refunds under any circumstances, so be prepared to throw away up to $7,000 for the semester if there are any issues

As a school advertised as following Christian-based principles, there is a definite lack of Christianity in their actions and the Principal of the school is egotistical and unforgiving.
DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD THERE! THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES!

Honorable Lisa Sutter
[email protected]

Willow Bend Academy believes text materials should fit the student rather than having all students fit the same text. Therefore there are multiple versions of many courses with same content but some with more critical thinking while others center on basic information. This is chosen according to the student's ability.

According to a 5 year trend reported by American College Test (ACT) 80% of Willow Bend Academy graduates are prepared for College English compared to 63% across the state. Similar results are noted for preparedness for College Algebra and College Social Studies.

I’ve been at willow bend for about a half of a year now. If I gave this school a rating from 1 to 5 id give it a 4.5. I gave it that because there are some positive things I like, but also a few negative things that I do not like.

One positive thing I like about this school is one on one time. I feel that it is a great way to prepare you for test or, if you are stuck you don’t have to worry about staying after school or come in early before class starts. I also like how we have breaks in-between subjects. The breaks help me recuperate so I can forces for the next subject. Something else that I like is that we go four hours a day instead of a full day. The shorter days help me say pace through the day.

One negative thing I don’t like about this school is the monthly testing requirements. I understand why we have them however, I do agree for the reason we have them. I feel like they should lower them because it is stressful. I personally don’t do very well under pressure of meeting a requirement.

I do love being a part of this school. I can say that I’ve made some amazing friends that I enjoy being around. I’ve also made good relationships with my teacher and in addition other teachers too. I’m glad I’ve moved to this school this year, and I look forward to being a part of this school.

Willow Bend Academy is one of the best schools that i have ever attended. The main reason that I came to this school is because I really was not making much progress in my old school. I did not think that I would enjoy Willow Bend Academy because it was a school that you basically work four hours straight. It turns out that I was wrong. I ended up loving their method of schooling. This school has helped me manage my time for both school and my personal life. I feel like I am a far more efficient person now. These time management skills will greatly help me for college and the rest of my life.

Willow Bend Academy offers a wide range of courses that you can take. The school is is unique because they fit the curriculum to the student, and not the student to the curriculum. I came to this school with a great struggle in Mathematics. Thanks to the amazing teaching that i received, I have been making straight A's in Math for three years. Every single course that I have taken has been fit to my style of learning. You can rest assured that your child will be receiving a quality education if you enroll him or her in Willow Bend Academy.



Another reason that I love this school is that God is at it's heart. All of the faculty members are strong Christians. I like this fact because I am a Christian myself. I also thoroughly enjoy the devotionals that we have three times a week. This school is an overall great environment to learn about the Lord Jesus Christ. I strongly encourage you to enroll your child in Willow Bend Academy if you get the opportunity. I promise that you will not regret it.

-William Merrill

Being in Willow Bend Academy (WBA) is such a great thing in my life. I have never been in an amazing place like this before. At the beginning, I was a little bit shy about a new school, but then, everything here surprised me. All the best things that an international student like me can have are here: best people, best lessons, friendly and perfect environment.

Our school’s motto is “Master learning – Master life.” Not only studying subjects, but I also learn lessons about life, about how to become a better person. Every week, we have a topic for everyone to think about and discuss. It’s an opportunity for student to improve their English speaking skills.

The special thing about WBA is each student has his own pace to study. I can study without distraction and bothering others. My teacher is an excellent person. He can teach students many subjects, so that I just stay at my desk to study and ask him anytime I need. Thus, I feel comfortable when I study because I don’t need to run from class to class every time. Moreover, at WBA, I don’t have to worry that I cannot catch up with other students and with the study program, because every student has his own study, and will not move on until passing the test. That will prevent me from moving on but failing or skipping the lesson, as I did as my old school.

In conclusion, there are many interesting things about WBA. I love this school so much and I’m really proud to be a part of it.

It has been just about half a year since I came to Willow Bend Academy (WBA). I am spending my senior year here.

This school is pretty small, but a small school does not mean a small education. The atmosphere of this school is very familiar. This school has a morning class and an afternoon class, and students choose whichever they would like to join. The school time is about 4 hours, meaning the students can have a lot of free time for self-development. In my case, I’ve chosen the afternoon class, and I spend my morning time reading the Bible and practicing the guitar.

The unique thing this school has is that the students in this school can take tests whenever they are ready. If a student wants to graduate early and go to college, he or she can simply study a lot and take tests. The class size is small and I think there is only a little academic competition between the students. However, the students in WBA are able to have much longer time asking the teachers for help, meaning the students do not really have to hire personal tutors. Also, all the teachers in WBA are dedicated to helping the students. They are “always, always, and always" willing to help the students. I am very positive about this.

This school provides appropriate courses for ESL students. My younger sister is taking the course and she is satisfied. As a senior, I am finishing my college applications. This well-organized school always processes my school documents, such as my transcript, quickly. I do not think this school has an old-fashioned system that public schools have. Although WBA does not provide any AP courses, this school provides SAT preparation. Therefore, there is not a problem of getting into college from this school.

After the first break time, the teachers take turn to give a devotion to the students. Even if the students are not Christians, they do not have to worry. It is still valuable to know some Christians values and apply them to their lives because it always works. After the devotion time, the students are given certificates of tests that they took earlier. Giving out the certificates encourages the students to do their best everyday.

Overall, Willow Bend Academy is a great school to go to. I hope you readers consider this school when you choose the school you will go to. I especially recommend this school to those who need personal time and those who need special care from teachers.

I have a 6th grade daughter at WBA. We wanted her to start middle school in an environment that would maximize her strengths (Eng/Reading) and improve her growth areas (Math). We found that place!



WBA has been a great fit for us. We love the small class sizes (8-1) and increased teacher time she gets each day. The self paced instruction lets her take more time on the subjects she needs to, and to move faster in the areas she has already mastered.



I would recommend WBA with 10 stars but it only lets me choose 5. Thank you Willow Bend Academy!!

Willow Bend Academy is a small school that makes a big impact. The school focuses on individualized instruction, with the student to teacher ratio a low 8 to 1. This small classroom setting allows the teachers to work more one-on-one with the students than in a traditional public school setting, letting the teachers teach towards each individual student in the way he/she can learn. The school accepts a student where he/she is and finds the best curriculum and educational plan that will suit his/her ability and needs. Students will be challenged in a way that will help them grow academically and achieve at their highest level possible. Additionally, the intimate setting between the teachers and students creates close relationships, allowing students to feel comfortable in seeking their teachers to help them with non-academic and more personal matters. The teachers use this opportunity, as well as through daily assemblies, to act as role models and mentors for the students and to help build strong character, work ethic, and morals. Students gain more than an education at Willow Bend Academy. The dedicated faculty, staff, and administration strive to prepare all students for the next stage in a student’s life, whether that be a different high school, college, a job, the military, or other diverse life path. They want all of their students to have a positive experience with Willow Bend Academy and to see their students succeed in their post high school life goals.

I am pleased to recommend Willow Bend Academy! My daughter is in 6th grade and I knew I could not send her to the traditional public school. Willow Bend allows her to go at her own pace with a curriculum that is tailored for her academic success. She no longer has the anxiety of testing when the the whole class has to test, but rather when her teacher is confident that she has mastered the material. I am pleased with her progress.

I am NOT AN EDUCATOR by profession, yet I do have a 12 year old son who attends school in the D.I.S.D. school district. WBA is my 1st "inside" exposure to a school of this kind. Following are some of the things I have learned and I wish for ALL children. #1. ALL children DO NOT learn the same way or at the same pace. Willowbend provides an environment for ALL children to learn at their own pace in the best way for them to learn. Some students are able to move faster while others move a little bit slower. #2. The student ratio is 8 students per teacher. I love this because it allows students to have 1 on 1 tutoring and teaching time everyday if they need it and as they need it. Some students need this type of attention while others do not.. #3. I have observed many of our teachers who go over and beyond their written/formal responsibilities via tutoring during their lunch time and sometimes/many times after school. They really care and want to make sure that the student is learning the material, not just memorizing. #4. The teachers really, really care when the student is absent or even tardy. The front desk will make a call and the teacher will call many times also to check on a student. #5 EVERY student has the opportunity to really develop a rewarding relationship with their teacher. #6 - EVERY student is IMPORTANT at Willowbend Academy. #7 Students have the opportunity at just about any time to walk in and talk to the principal. #8 The students learn how to set daily goals and plan out their week and month. This helps with college readiness. #9 Students are celebrated for mastering the material before moving on to the next book.

Willow Bend Academy lets students master academics at a pace that works for them. Some students want to move faster than the public school system allows, while others need to get caught up or may need special help. This school accommodates both situations well. It also emphasizes important life skills that go beyond the classroom.

Willow Bend Academy is an amazing school with an emphasis on accomodating each student's specific learning style in a loving, accepting school environment. My daughter loves Willow Bend and she has regained her motivation and confidence that she can be successful in her education. The teachers are terrific and the small learning environment is condusive to building supportive relationships with the faculty and students. We are very impressed with the curicullum and know our daughter is getting a great education. Willow Bend has been a trendous blessing to our family!!