The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in Science. The lowest is 42% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bella Vista School
Bella Vista School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the southeast corner of Salt Lake City, part of the Canyons District. It is a straightforward neighborhood elementary school, not a charter or magnet, and it operates within a district that recently secured voter approval for a major facilities bond. For families considering this school, the picture is one of a small, moderately diverse student body in an expensive housing market, with academic proficiency that sits above the middle of the pack among Salt Lake County districts but remains moderate in absolute terms.
The school enrolls a small student population. The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful Hispanic minority and small shares of children who are American Indian, Asian, multiracial, Black, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a mixed-income peer environment. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the information reviewed; a parent who wants to understand the school’s special education or language support programs may need to ask the school directly.
Academically, the school participates in Utah’s RISE assessments. The proficiency index for the school—averaging results across tested subjects—was above the midpoint among the many districts in Salt Lake County. That is a relative strength. However, looking at the actual test results, proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science each fell in the low-to-mid range where roughly two out of five students met the state’s proficiency benchmark. A parent should note that these rates are not especially high in absolute terms, even if they compare favorably with many other elementary schools across the county. The school’s grade span ends at fifth grade, so there is no graduation rate to consider, and no chronic absenteeism data were reported.
The community context is shaped by Salt Lake City’s desirability and cost. Home values in the area are high, well above both state and national benchmarks, and rents are also elevated. Buying a home near the school would require a significant financial commitment, and the estimated monthly mortgage is considerably higher than the typical rent. This is a market where housing affordability is a real consideration for most families. The city itself offers walkability in certain neighborhoods, light rail, parks, libraries, and major employers such as the University of Utah and the LDS Church. Growth and new housing development have been ongoing.
The Canyons District, which operates Bella Vista, has publicly reported a notable recent change. In late 2023, voters approved a bond to rebuild and renovate aging school buildings, fund safety and security upgrades, and improve infrastructure. The district structured the bond to replace expiring debt service so that it would not increase the property tax rate. For families sending children to Bella Vista, this means the district has a long-term plan to improve school facilities, though the specific impact on this elementary school may depend on which schools are prioritized in the coming years.
Because the available data are limited—no discipline records, no course access information, no staffing ratios, and no information about special education or English learner populations—a parent looking for a complete picture should supplement this account with a direct visit and conversation with school leadership. The school’s academic standing is modest but solid relative to its county peers, the housing market is expensive, and the district is investing in its physical plant without a tax increase. For a family that values a traditional elementary school in an established Salt Lake City neighborhood, Bella Vista is a plausible option, though the moderate proficiency rates and the gaps in the data are worth exploring further.
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