Vista College Prep ushers in new generation by redefining what’s possible in K-8 education
Updated: Sep 9
By Jude McGee
Vista College Prep is a network of five K-8 schools based in Phoenix. A charter system, Vista’s mission is to “educate all K-8 students for achievement in high school and graduation from college.” Vista serves about 1,800 students across its five schools, 90% of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Kela Powers, Vista’s chief operating officer, said, “It shouldn’t matter what zip code a child is born into; every student deserves access to high-quality education.”
Powers, a member of the founding team, was originally inspired by the high-quality education she observed at charter schools on the East Coast. Powers said she saw outcomes that were only afforded to students thanks to individualized care and quality education. This motivated her to join the Vista mission, and she’s been with the organization for 13 years.
Like Powers, Jesse Balis-Harris, Vista’s CEO, got his start as a Teach For America corps member. He credits his academic success to his exceptional education growing up and the personalized approach he received. “I was not always a great student. I had trouble with discipline and focus,” he said. “But because I had such a great quality of education, with teachers that believed in me, working in education was clear.”
Balis-Harris spent 13 years teaching for a high-performing school network in New York until he met Julia Meyerson, founder of Vista. He joined the organization in 2023, serving as chief schools officer until 2025, when he took over Meyerson’s role as CEO.
Vista College Prep first opened its doors at 7th Avenue and Hadley, in Downtown Phoenix, in 2013. Since then, the network has opened schools in Maryvale in 2017 and 2018, and a separate elementary and middle school near 23rd Avenue and Peoria in 2022.
Quality K-12 education in Arizona remains a significant obstacle, as 2026 saw another dip in state education spending. A recent report found that Arizona schools spend $4,500 less per student than the national average.
Vista prepares students for high school, encourages alternative high school pathways, and helps with applications and scholarships. Their Vista to High School program works with students and families to find the best high school for their student to continue the path to college. Vista students have attended high-performing public and private high schools after graduating from Vista middle schools. These schools include Brophy College Preparatory, Xavier College Prep, Phoenix Country Day School, Phoenix Bioscience High School, Phoenix Coding Academy, Sunnyslope, and others.
Vista teachers work closely with students to identify needs, strengths, and goals. Vista also has a strong partnership with College Depot, a free, full-service college access center located in the Phoenix Public Library. Through the partnership, Vista students can work one-on-one with college counselors for guidance on scholarships, applications and more as they continue their path to college.
From the 2026 eighth-grade graduating class, all of the students received support in their transition to high school. The average graduation rate of students’ final-choice high schools was 90%. Six students earned full rides to private high schools, including Phoenix Country Day School, Xavier College Preparatory and Brophy College Preparatory. 80 students selected private or magnet school options, alongside students who chose traditional public school options that best matched their needs and goals.
Miraje, a founding Vista student, immigrated to the U.S. from Ethiopia with his family at a young age. He stayed with Vista for nine years. The education and support Miraje received motivated his younger siblings and cousins to attend as well. With help from his teachers, Miraje applied to, was accepted to, and attended Bioscience High School, part of the Phoenix Union High School District. Through his experience there, as well as Vista’s partnership with College Depot, he was awarded a full-ride scholarship and just started as a freshman at Cornell University this fall. Miraje’s family still keeps up with the school’s staff today.
“We have high expectations and the outcomes to match,” said Powers. “As with Miraje, with all the stories of students, it’s really just the beginning.”
To learn more about Vista College Prep, visit https://www.vistacollegeprep.org/
Image courtesy of Vista College Prep.
