I literally LOVE this school. I met some of my best friends there. As well as, the principal and…read moreteachers are there to make sure we're actually listening and doing what we are supposed to do! I also love the fact they have a great special education program, where my mother works.

Good school overall, but very boring! The inside of the courtyard looks like a prison yard. You…read morewould never know kids attended. Other elementary schools in mesa are fun, colorful and kid involvement with in the school projects (pond, custom painted rocks/walls, teacher achievements, etc) also there's no holiday runs like other schools. No Parties/competition to throw pie in the principals face for fundraiser winners. None of my kids have been on a field trip either and the school year almost over. Nice teachers, boring school. I know school is about learning but it's also about memories and having fun!

So after being forced to go in and show my ID to prove I'm my sons parent just to get into parent…read moresquare, parent square doesn't even work! Turns out my old phone number and email were actually in the system the whole time and this could have been avoided. Liz's response was I can't answer for the system, and can't give me answer for parent square either. If parents are complaining about the system meant to keep parents informed on their child's education then the school should absolutely be responsible for fixing it. Not only that, but as I was in there trying to get my parent square set up, members of the boy scouts or Girl Scouts or whoever walked into the office without their IDS and what did Liz say," We can bypass the IDs if you don't have them. SO YOU CAN BYPASS IDs. SO MUCH FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS. I'm shocked by the incompetence of the staff but by the systems as well. Garbage school in a wealthy neighborhood with fake employees.

"Enter to Learn... Build Your Dreams"…read more Those are the words that greet you when you drive past the marquee and into the parking lot of this amazing school. The school lies in a beautiful desert setting with mountains all around. As soon as you enter the building, you begin to feel as if you're not in any ordinary school. The curriculum at Zaharis Elementary goes beyond that of most public schools. With an inquiry-based curriculum that incorporates character education, students at Zaharis don't just learn reading, writing, and math... they become readers, writers, and mathematicians. All of the staff members, teachers and support staff alike, are dedicated to providing each child with the very best education possible. Walking through the hallways, one can't help but feel "at home". There are couches scattered throughout the common areas where teachers and students alike can gather to read, work, and socialize. Murals and quotes on the walls provide inspiration around every corner. And within each classroom lies a community of learners, working together towards a common goal. Students in this school are challenged to think beyond traditional curriculum. They are encouraged to ask questions... and to work hard to find the answers. They are immersed in a "workshop" environment, where each individual works to his/her highest potential. What an inspiring, amazing place to learn... and to "build your dreams"!

this is the best learning environment ever my kid comes home so happy telling me everything this…read moreschool is great

Not sure why my review on Google isn't appearing, I'll go another route…read more This school is one of the worst, unorganized, unapologetic schools I have ever experienced. My son have a retention disorder, and needed a specific SPI and this school could not get the ball rolling. After many phone calls and emails sent, the decision was made to go to another school. Once we made Mendoza aware of this transition, it was then Mendoza decided to get the ball rolling. It took exactly 89 days for them to come up with this plan - 89 out of the 90 days. Not to mention the typos, the misspelled words - it was almost as if they were talking about a completely different student. They have failed my son, and now he is getting the proper education he needs that far exceeds what Mendoza is willing to do. Another note, my nephew is currently enrolled in Mendoza - in which, the poor kid is getting bullied from a kid 4 times his size! We've called and spoke with the "receptionist" and it's always the same "brush off" answer. We've emailed the teacher and NOTHING has happened. Am I surprised with this? Not at all. ( We are still working on resolving this, it's been two months) Oh! Parents be AWARE that if you drop your kids off in the morning, they must wait till the cafeteria workers do a "role call" that no one can hear, and shuts and locks the doors after a brief call out. But, you think maybe other teachers can hear this role call? You think a teacher may help other students out? Not at Mendoza. There is zero supervision in the mornings - meaning there are NO teachers in the front watching these unsupervised kids. In today's messed up world, you'd think they would care, just a bit more. I would highly recommend any parent to explore other options than to take their kid to Mendoza Elementary.

We love Faith Christian School! We have 4 children there now, and they are in elementary, middle,…read moreand high school. We have been with the school 5 years now. We were in their wonderful homeschool program before we started attending there full time. We have one child also in their special education program and he is thriving! They care not just about their education, but about discipleship, and helping build future Christian leaders. We have participated in several sports, and have been impressed with the Christ like attitudes that we have seen. We highly recommend this school. It is a wonderful size too, where the kids know the teachers and don't get lost in the crowd.

my high schooler loves this school! we are so happy that when we moved across country we found…read moreFaith. the school curriculum is good and challenging for my daughter. the school has girls volleyball and basketball and my daughter loves playing with her classmates in a very supportive environment. i cannot say enough about how great and dedicated the teachers are and how awesome the kids are at this school (I can only speak to the high school). my daughter was at the school a week and got invited to two different get togethers. the kids are supportive, encouraging and Christlike to each other. my daughters class has great kids, great parents, and very little drama. I am so thankful that we are so blessed to have her have a great high school environment where she's being educated in regular classes and also a great solid Christian education. the spring trips are so fun and educational.

This school is ranked #1 in the state for testing right now!…read more After moving to Mesa and looking at the public school reviews, I was bound and determined to find a better school for my kids to attend, even if it meant I had to drive! Luckily, I found East Valley Academy not too far from my new home. That was four years ago and I have to say that I couldn't imagine my kids attending another school. This school offers what we all want for our children that public schools don't offer. It's small, yes, and that is a huge bonus. Kid to teacher ratio is outstanding! The two classes for all grades is another advantage over other schools. These kids learn together and help each other! They also devote more time to learning the basics. They do plays and take field trips often and they have holiday parties that you can even bake for! My son was reading after only two months in kindergarten and now is reading at a 6th grade level in 3rd grade. My daughter ranked top 3% in the nation for her math skills on the state test in 3rd grade and she just recently tested into Algebra 1 for 7th grade that she will obtain high school credit for! If you are looking for a great education that does not teach the Common Core, then look no further! Check out their stats and I'll see you there next year!

I can't say enough good things about East Valley Academy. I'll start with a little background…read moreinformation to show the difference in quality. My daughter went to K and 1st grade at a public school in the Paradise Valley school district. We had problem after problem, such as bullying, and her 1st grade teacher lying to me and brushing off inconsistencies I noticed in my daughter's learning. She got A's, but I could tell she wasn't really learning much. My daughter is very smart but defiant. I was spending an extraordinary amount of time supplementing her education. I talked to other parents who had to do the same but seemed resigned to their fate. She didn't have a love of learning. However, during her last two years with East Valley Academy (EVA) everything has turned around. She learned more in the first two months than she did in the previous two years at her public school. EVA focuses on phonics based reading and Saxon math, not Common Core. They took her down to the building blocks of phonics she'd never learned and built her reading up from there. She went from a Kindergarten reading level to a 3rd grade reading level in her first year there (2nd grade). Her math became much more proficient as well, and she was doing well in every subject. Ms. Stoeppelmann also identified her ADD before I could. Both teachers were very responsive and thorough when giving feedback about her attention span, moods, organization, etc., while trying to find the right medication. This showed me how well they know each of their students. Most importantly for me, though, is that she now has a love of learning. I truly can't see her having this level of success at any other school. She has even scored high on more difficult tests than most high school students take. EVA has even positively affected our home life. I've always been an involved parent, but am no longer spending hours after school patching all the holes in learning that her last school was leaving, which led to many disagreements and friction between my daughter and myself. This school is small. Very small. Don't let that deter you. It operates similarly to a little red schoolhouse. It's not fancy, but the size allows for individual attention for each student in a way that the teachers can really get to know their learning styles and be able to work with them. Ms. Stoeppelmann and Mr. Ryan are excellent teachers, with years of experience, who have such finesse with conveying the information that the kids thoroughly learn it. That is crucial to me. The perks of this school are many. There is a sense of community among parents and kids, which also eliminates bullying. If something does arise it's easily resolved with the parents and teachers. This sense of community also opens the door for celebration of the different cultures of the students. The lunch break is longer so the kids have some real free time to recharge and focus better while in class. EVA also takes many field trips as well with plenty of parent chaperones. This school isn't the easy way out. My daughter works hard to get her good grades, and I've worked with her and the school to keep her success going. But for every bit of effort I put in, the teachers put in at least twice as much. Unlike the public school the dialogue between families and teachers is open. To me these are what make the difference between every other school and this one. EVA is there solely to teach kids and help them reach their potential. They care about these kids.

4 of my 5 kids go to Self Development Academy (1 is currently in Preschool and 3 in higher grade…read morelevels). We've had positive experiences since our kids started here in the 2's and 3's on the preschool side. My 6 other nieces and nephews also attend this school and we've all had a great experience with SDP and SDA. This school has high rankings in academics but also has a wonderful team who all have your children's best interest at heart. Dr. Majeed, Miss Vernetta, all the teachers Miss Mickey, Miss Amber, Miss Haschke, Miss Oliver, Miss Jenn C., even all the front desk staff (Lonnie, Deena, Brittni), and especially the principal Jenn Salvatori have all been wonderful and helpful with our kids! There was recently an issue with another child was being very rude/disrespectful a couple of times and I reported it right away since my child was upset and crying. I'm happy to report that the resolution was swift. I was also kept updated about how it was being addressed both with the students and internally among their staff/teachers. SDA stresses the importance of the 4 R's Respect, Responsibility, Readiness, and Resiliency as well as academics with opportunities to advance. SDA was also very accommodating when we had to go to online school during COVID and truly care about your child's well being. My kids feel safe here, trust their teachers and administration, and have honestly thrived at this school since being here. I feel blessed to have this school so close to home and to trust my kids with a school that provides such solid support.

I have chosen to not post a review about SDA to stay positive and let that horrible time in my…read morefamily's life go, but seeing this article in our local paper is too much. This school is focused so solely on high achievement that they will do everything possible to push out children who do not perform. My daughter went here with minimal issue, other than adjusting to the old school dictation-style teaching and an isolated situation where a stessed teacher used questionable methods to discipline the entire class for being disruptive. My son has ADHD and was put into detentions and in-school suspension over the allowable number of times per year by state law while he was in grades K-4. He was excluded from activities and field trips, put last in his kindergarten graduation despite it being alphabetical (his name should've been read 3rd - he was th only child not listed in order) and I was constantly told how I should consider medication (again - at 5 years old). They were oblivious to handling a 504 plan. My son was so deflated by his first 5 years of school that he dreaded every day. I have spoken with numerous parents who went through similar situations at this school. The goal is obviously to overwhelm the student and their parents into removal so they don't have to deal with the situation. My son is thriving now in the great public schools in NE Mesa, but still looks back on his time at SDA with trauma. On the positive side, telling his painful experience at SDA did help with legislation to prevent schools from issuing unnecessary suspension to elementary age children. This school may be wonderful for some children, but they do not "give unconditional love" for children with ADHD. If your child is trying to find their way through this complicated journey, this is NOT the school for you.

This school seems like a great option at first they seem welcoming and friendly but ultimately if…read moreyou raise any concern they will say one thing to your face but completely do nothing and cover their tracks. Their kindergarten teachers were allowing students to give the teachers shoulder massages which is not an acceptable or an appropriate practice. The principal will quickly throw her staff "under the bus" but then will immediately back-pedal and cover for them almost immediately after. The term "lazy" was used to describe our child's teacher. After these concerns our child's teacher didn't have the professionalism or accountability to talk to us either in any way to ease our concerns because there is no genuine concern. We moved on from this school and it's the best decision we've made being that our daughter had to catch up on a few things at her new school which is something we worried about due to the lack of structure at Cambridge and their "You Tube video" curriculum. Our child has grown exponentially in just a few weeks at her new school. The negative reviews are spot on at Cambridge, if you can find them. There has been reviews stating that they get removed to keep up their "good image." Warning to parents ‐ they will manipulate and there is no genuine concern for your child at Cambridge. Stay away from this school!

My son has been at Cambridge since KG and is about to enter 6th grade as a confident, happy, eager…read moreto learn student.

My son and I were really excited to go to this school considering it is across the street from our…read morehome. He was being teased for playing with a little girl and after so many days, he defended himself saying to his friend "girls are dogs and dogs drink out of toilet bowls" When I picked my son up from school he was crying, devastated, saying that he got written up. He told me what happened and what was said. We talked why he did it and why it wasn't ok. The teacher messaged me on class dojo explaining what happened and that my son was very honest with her immediately, she talked to him and she could tell he was genuinely sorry. That he chose to make a difference by writing an assignment on anti bullying, I explained that he was sorry and the he said he wouldn't do it again..and that was the end of the discussion. I though it was over and dealt with until I picked my son up the next day and he was devastated crying AGAIN.....Nobody there with him to explain why he's so upset. He told me that he had to stay in a room and eat his lunch while writing an assignment on what Sousa's Expectations are from him, for using unkind words AND then had to sit on a bench for recess while everyone else got to play! That was his punishment for the rest of the week! Mind you, nobody ever informed me of him getting this kind of treatment!! I thought it was dealt with the day before! When I called the school to understand the situation both the principal secretary and principal were incredibly rude to me, pretty much called me a liar at one point. The principal said things like "you must feel like you guys are higher and above everyone else to think he shouldn't get this kind of punishment" (even tho my son was the only one punished in this "incident") and "if he was using kind words, he wouldn't be in this situation" instead of trying to make the situation better and being on the same page. It was their way or find another school! This school since then has deleted my reviews and won't even reply back to my emails. I've never dealt with something like this before and wouldn't wish it on anyone. The lack of respect is unreal. It was the first time he was ever in trouble! The punishment was too harsh for something so small. I was understanding the first day but it is not ok to treat any child this way and/or any parent for that matter. I have gotten plenty of advice from plenty of mothers and also see other ratings that state almost the same things to know my feelings are also justified and that this is not ok and they are perfectly fine with showing they DO NOT CARE! We no longer go to this school! Shame on Sousa Elementary School!!

We are fans of Sousa Elementary School. It is run very well, is clean, and has great staff and…read moreteachers. The principal even knows my daughter by name, and not because she is a trouble maker. The curriculum is standard but the school has great academic recognition for programs like math masters and word wise club for the students. My only lil complaint is that they seem to have a 'no policy' policy towards lice. Ick. A special shout-out goes to the librarian (Siack?) for her ability to hunt down books that my daughter requests. Thanks!

I had high hopes when I registered my son. Waiting list was two years. We had to deal with…read moredetentions every other week, because he said something meant something else between friends, someone else heard it and get offended. Suspended. Had to take him to math tutor, because teacher did not like kids asking her questions. Despite of all efforts still low grade. I loved the admin and teachers but .... You got to let them grow, express themself. They are not bullies, not districting property. They are pre teens trying to find themselves. It not like we are building blocks for the wall. Everyone is unique and everyone of them will be somebody someday

My son has an IEP and he has been so well cared for at this school! I find that everyone there is…read morevery kind, helpful and dedicated! He absolutely loves his teacher and everything about his school. We love the traditional teaching and values. So thankful to have a choice of schools here in AZ!