Light Of Christ Christian Preschool

We relocated to Arizona three years ago and one of the driving factors was a lack of Christian education where we were. Finding Light of Christ Academy first from the preschool to now having both my daughters at the Academy, I can't begin to express how satisfied I am to see my kids not only grow academically but also in the faith. LOCA has been a place where my children have thrived, built friendships, and grown closer to the Lord. What more can I ask for.

We have had a great experience at Light of Christ Christian Academy. Our daughter has been there almost 2 years now (kindergarten and first grade), and she has grown academically and socially far beyond what we imagined. She was very shy entering kindergarten, but she was standing up speaking in front of the class in her first week there – which I think is a testament to both the amazing kindergarten teacher (Ms. LeBlanc truly radiates joy and kindness) and the impact of a small class size (up to 16 kids, but my daughter’s class currently has 7). The first-grade teacher, Mrs. Beauford, is also wonderful; she exudes enthusiasm for teaching and is always finding new ways to engage the kids, whether through new centers or various projects related to their current read-aloud. All the kids in my daughter’s first-grade class are reading at a second-grade level (and some even higher). They’ve finished their math curriculum and are moving into second-grade math. There’s a strong emphasis on writing in first grade, which I think is so important; my daughter was a reluctant writer because she struggled with handwriting, but she now fills her little notebooks with stories on the weekend. The first-graders do specials (art, music, PE, library), morning and afternoon recess, snack and lunch together with the kindergarten class, which allows for more social interaction (and a better game of freeze tag 😉). Perhaps the best assessment comes from the parents of the two children who have joined the class this year, coming from other local schools. They have praised the individualized attention that the kids receive at LOCCA and the ability of the teacher to cater to their child’s level, as both of those children are advanced readers. I also am grateful to be able to send my daughter to a Christian school. I never worry about what my daughter might be exposed to in the school library, for example, and I know the adults spending 6 hours a day with her are wonderful influences in her life.

This is for the K-1st school. I want to thank the church and staff for starting such a great school! The school plans to expand each year to add an extra grade and we couldn't be happier. There are smaller class sizes and our daughter is excelling in all her studies. There is such care and thoughtfulness from the staff and teachers for everything they do. for a private school the cost is very reasonable. We have been blessed to find this school and are excited for the future!

Light of Christ Preschool is a hidden gem - small class sizes, wonderful teachers, faith-based with weekly chapel and Bible stories, and very affordable. My son has been in the 3-4 year old class for a year, and his social skills have grown so much. His classroom has 12 kids and 2 teachers. The low student:teacher ratio allows them to do a lot of crafts, sensory bins and games (e.g., Doggy, doggy, where's your bone?) that wouldn't be possible in a larger classroom. They have music once a week with one of the pastors as well as chapel once a week with the lead pastor where they learn Bible stories. It's play-based with lots of free play time for the kids, and they have a great, shaded playground with the usual playground equipment, a climbing dome, tricycles, little cars, and a sand area (where my son spends every recess with building with the toy trucks). We tried 3 different local preschools for my daughter: the first had way too many kids in the classroom = chaos; the second was a classroom of 12 students like LOC but only one teacher and the curriculum was all worksheets at a desk; and the last was a Montessori school that we liked but cost more than 3 times what LOC does for the same number of hours per week. I only wish we had found LOC sooner!

Great place to worship!