Visitation School

2455 Visitation Drive

Mendota Heights, MN 55120

16 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 26, 2024

If you have a boy then they should not be sent to this school. The boy ratio is low and if you child isn't part of the in-crowd they are ignore and the teachers say the right things but nothing about bullying gets done. This school went with Singapore Math. They switched kids who hadn't had it before and now parents are paying for tutoring since Singapore Math puts your child behind in repetition items and what all middle schools are teaching. Very bad choice and should have been "grandfathered in" as children come into the school. Teachers don't even know how to teach it and not enough books until months into the school year. For what you pay, you don't get your money's worth!
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2023

With so many options of amazing schools in the Twin Cities please do not put Visitation on your short list. With the current director of the school leaving this institution and its reputation is at an all time low. Very little to offer in resources. This is not a school for everyone, something their staff takes pride in. Do not expect a welcoming environment if you do not fit their mold. Always stay on top of what your children are doing. The internal communication is not broken but completely missing.
Submitted by other on December 05, 2021

I have experienced Visitation on several levels, including observing, now three family members, being educated at Visitation. The enviroment, staff and formation of students are excellent. Visitation is a hidden gem in our midst with an amazing history. As a product of a Catholic All Girl's Academy, I know first hand quailty education and ethics. Visitation is that, and so much more.
Submitted by other on June 28, 2020

Visitation School rooted me in healthy habits and values. Vis raised my expectations for myself and taught me how to fulfill those expectations in life. Long after graduation, I still look to Vis for inspiration to do good work and to be my best self.Rene Gavic, the Head of School, deserves a special note of appreciation. Her steady and wise leadership helps students and faculty excel as individuals and as a community. She mentored me as a student, and I still go to her for insight on difficult life decisions.At Vis, students work hard, and their hard work pays off. I highly recommend Visitation School for your child.
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2020

I am grateful to be a part of the Visitation Community.
Submitted by principal on April 24, 2020

One of the best schools in the state. I've worked/consulted/observed in dozens of schools in the twin cities and Visitation stands as a clear frontrunner. When it comes to educating middle school and high school girls, there is no competition not just because of limited options, but in practice and pedagogy.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2020

Absolutely wonderful. We feel very blessed to be a part of the Visitation community.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2020

Our kids, 2 boys and 1 girl, have thrived at Visitation School. The lower school is coed and might be those most nurturing, loving school in existence! Our daughter is a currently in the Upper School. She is challenged academically and supported emotionally. She participates in sports and clubs and is so happy at Visitation. If you are looking for a school that is academically rigorous and supportive and caring, Vis is the place for your family. The community is welcoming and oh, so much fun!
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2017

My Daughter chose this school after looking at a few high schools. She was coming from a catholic grade school where her entire class was 26 kids. She absolutely loved the campus, the class offerings and the staff. She shadowed for a day and was completely in love with the entire experience. She is now a junior and wouldn't trade it for the world. She is in honor and AP classes, Theatre and Band and has friends from all spectrums of the class. She has dealt with bullying by defending her friends and feeling picked on at times. Both times the school was right there dealing with it and communicating with the parents and students. I totally disagree with the people claiming that unless you have money they don't care about you. I work 3 jobs to send my daughter her and its the best choice I can make. They treat her the same as all her friends who definitely come from the alumni, donor, incredibly rich side of the spectrum. She is looked at no differently then her friends. And they all get along beautifully and work together well. They don't notice their parents paychecks while at school. They all wear the same uniforms and experience the same things and are treated the same way. Its a wonderful school and I am thrilled that my daughter chose to go here for high school. She is getting a fantastic education and making some amazing friends both at Visitation and at St. Thomas Academy. She even has traveled to Italy with the Band in her Sophomore year, all experiences she will treasure forever and which are that much more special because she is 1 of 80 some students and not 1 of 400 + students at another school.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2016

Stay away from this place unless you are an alum or donor. I sat at a mother/daughter event and was ostracized because I was not a wealthy cradle catholic. Thought I was giving my daughters the best education I could afford. Miserable social situation for both of them.
Submitted by other on June 22, 2015

I started at Visitation in Kindergarten and continued until I graduated as a senior. Visitation offered me the best environment to establish strong leadership skills, independence, and an outstanding, dependable work ethic. Being co-ed throughout Lower School and then 6th grade gave me the opportunity to see what going to school with boys was like, but I am extremely thankful that after 6th grade, it remained all-girls until senior year. No longer having mixed classes ensured I developed confidence in my opinions as well my abilities as a girl without constantly fearing ridicule by boys. Visitation also offered activities, clubs, and sports, in addition to job opportunities, that catered to all types of students. Furthermore, reading some past reviews I saw that Visitation threatened students that were struggling with depression or an eating disorder and that has not been the case in recent years. During my High School experience, I had a few friends that struggled with both eating disorders and depression, and the faculty and staff at Visitation were as accommodating as they could be. My friends did miss a lot of school but still graduated alongside me. Since it is such a prominent issue among young women, I think Vis has definitely taken steps to provide a more dependable system and group of adults to help girls that experience these struggles. Moreover, the teachers at Vis are outstanding. They pushed me to be the best student I could be and were always there to help me after school whenever I needed it. Lastly, the friends I made at Vis will last a lifetime. The girls from my class were amazing, and eventhough there were friend groups, the groups were inclusive of anyone who wanted to join. I highly recommend this school to anyone for any grade level!!! I would not be the person that I am today or at the college that I am at today without Vis, teaching me important life lessons and supporting me. Non Scholae Sed Vitae.
Submitted by other on October 07, 2014

I attended this school from kindergarten to 12th grade graduation. Looking back, I am thrilled at the ethics that were installed in me through elementary school, but the treatment I was given in high school was near traumatizing. Like many teenage girls, my parents discovered I was severally depressed and had me diagnosed my junior year - however, the schools reaction to my condition was despicable. For something so rampant in teenage girls, they should be more qualified if not at least somewhat accommodating to the problem. Instead, they threatened to suspend or expel me do to absences spent in a hospital while receiving treatment for the medical problem. I later found out that another classmate of mine had been hospitalized for depression and given the same threat because of her "unexcused absences". If by chance they have made huge strides in this area since my graduation, I still recommend caution when considering this school. Money equals status here, so if you come from a low income family it could become VERY difficult for your daughter to be treated equally by the school administration. Students with money are protected above others and given special privileges. Be wary.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2014

GREAT SCHOOL.. ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THE SCHOOL AND STAFF! Would definitely recommend the school
Submitted by parent on December 04, 2013

Our daughter started at Visitation in early childhood. We were so impressed that we kept her there through 12th grade. The teachers are exceptional -- not a bad one in the bunch. We also loved the sense of community there. Vis was instrumental in shaping our daughter into the person she is today. She's a leader. She also knows about to work with a variety of people and personalities. And she's the type of kind and gentle person anyone would want to have among their friends. Sending our daughter to Vis was a financial stretch for us, but it was well worth every dollar spent. Now that our daughter is in college, I can see the return on our investment. She is well-prepared for the rigor of college. She knows how to organize her time. And, she can handle almost any situation that arises. What more could a parent want!
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2013

I have been a parent at Visitation for the past 13 years. I will be forever grateful for the education my children received. The exceptionally committed teachers, academic excellence, extra-curricular opportunities, and faith-filled community have been such a blessing. I encourage anyone that is thinking of a private education for their child (ren) to check out Visitation.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2013

As an alum and current parent, I am so grateful that my children have the opportunity to be educated in the Sisters' home. As a parent of Lower School and Upper School students, I see how each one is truly valued for the unique person that they are, with their individual gifts and talents being nurtured and celebrated. The academic preparedness is second to none. I am experiencing that with my junior as she looks at where she will attend school when she graduates from Visitation. The opportunities that will be available to her seem to be endless. One of the things I appreciate most of all about a Vis education is that our students develop a grateful heart, not one rooted in entitlement, but rather gratitude for all that they have been blessed with. It is a huge sacrifice for our family to send our children to Visitation, but I can think of no greater gift that we could give our children.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2013

No school is perfect, but Visitation was a great fit for our daughter for high school. She attended 9 - 12. It is very academically challenging and there are high expectations for every student. I don't agree with some of the comments relating to wealth or status. In fact, very few students discuss or care about that (perhaps their parents do per the comments below). They are too focused on the demands of homework and activities getting them ready for a great college experience. You will find status seekers in any school. But uniforms, no make-up or boys and kids spread throughout the metro all contribute to anonymity - not status. Their philosophy stresses inclusiveness and social teaching with care and service to others in our community - things I wish all schools focused on.