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.

My son attended the school about six years ago. He started in preschool for two years. We had great…read moreexperiences and then he moved into kindergarten. He was continuously being punished by his teacher for being "fidgety". She would not allow him to play at recess time. She told me he was fidgeting with his pencil and tapping on the desk and distracting other kids and for that she had A five year old miss out on several recesses. He then began crying every day, saying that he hated school and didn't want to go. This is not how a five year old should feel about school. He was very excited to begin school before he was in her class. Every other day she had some complaint about my son. I felt like she was picking on him and punishing him by taking away play time. I really have no reason why she was doing to my child. I'm sure he's not the first five year old to be fidgety and to punish him by not allowing him to get some physical movement and activity seems counterproductive. We never had we had this issue in his preschool at this exact same school for the two years prior, when they were accepting my payments. My son is a very happy kid, very sweet demeanor. Would never disrespect anyone on purpose. Can we have a teacher that knows how to deal with a fidgety five-year-old? First, I asked to meet with the teacher, And the administration said that's not an option. So I wrote her a letter using professional language to advocate for my child about my concerns and I attached research articles about methods of teaching children with ADD. She was extremely offended. I've then asked to meet with administration, and they offered no interest in solutions for ways of helping us plan a more positive learning environment. They were completely on the defense about the kindergarten teacher. I hated to even leave my son in that school for one semester. As soon as I found a suitable replacement, we removed him from the school immediately. He had a very positive experience at his new kindergarten. The educational team told me our son was doing well and he was a kindergartner, and still learning how to adjust to school environment. He is now a healthy and happy kid. Maybe other peoples experiences are different. It broke my heart that my son had a negative experience at such a young age. He has never had an experience like this since then. I do not think SDA cares about children outside of the academic environment. Children are a little human beings and a teacher's actions can scar them emotionally for life. Best decision I ever made was to remove him.

We've had a great experience at BASIS Mesa. The academics are strong and challenging, and the…read moreteachers are kind and genuinely care about the kids. The front office staff is always helpful and responsive, which makes a big difference. There's a strong sense of community here, the booster club is amazing, and there are fun activities and events that bring families together. My child comes home excited about what they're learning, which says a lot. Overall, a great school with a good balance of rigor and support.

I was very disappointed today! My 3 kids started at basis mesa first year, I made the lunch,…read morestopped by the front office, ask them to have my kids pick it up for lunch. They did not tell my kids to pick it up. One of my son's friend brought him the lunch that saw my son's name otherwise, my son wouldn't even know about it! How did I know? I picked my kids up at 5 pm, ask what they had for lunch, thinking that all 3 of my kids enjoy and thrilled about the lunch I personally made and drop off for them, but they didn't even know about it! My other son and daughter didn't even know it existed! They were hungry all day! 7 to 5 pm with no food! I never encountered such bad experiences with front office staff until I came to this school, basis mesa! Many times I stopped by their office, staff was not friendly at all! Especially the one with thick lips! I was furious when found out my kids didn't know I dropped off lunch for them today!

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.

Started my daughter here in kindergarten for the 18-19 school year. Infact we moved to Mesa to…read moreattend a school in this district. Saw a report that this school is #8 in the state and nationally recognized. She's been here for 2 months now and she is doing incredible. She's learning to read now. I have a friend who has a kid that's a year older and still can't. Our daughter loves going to school here and has made lots of friends. The school also keeps us up to date on everything. Lots of emails and texts (if you sign up for them). So far I can't recommend this place more. Takes the sting out of moving from a nice property solely so she can attend better schools. It's all about the kid, and off to a great start here.

So glad I enrolled my daughter in Finley Farms, great school, superior staff & teachers especially…read morethe principal Mr Maas. Knows & remembers every child by name! and great parents helping make this school awesome!

My daughter has been attending this school since first grade and is now in third grade. Her…read moreteachers have been wonderful and supportive and the principal is awesome. I would highly recommend the school. The only drawback is the front office staff. They are, unfortunately not the most friendly group, but don't let them influence you when choosing this school.

A Community That Truly Cares…read more Cambridge Academy has been one of the greatest parts of my daughter's childhood. This is not just a school, it is a caring community that knows its students, invests in them, and gives them real opportunities to lead. Our daughter has grown here in ways that go far beyond academics. She has participated in weekly improv and art clubs, performed in the talent show every year, walked the recycled materials catwalk, and even led the morning pledge. Cambridge builds confidence through hands-on experiences and caring guidance. The staff is exceptional. The leadership team creates an environment where kids feel safe, supported, celebrated, and genuinely cared for. Teachers know their students personally and champion their growth. Cambridge also brings families together through winter performances, literary and international nights, and community events like Trunk or Treat and parent child activities. These traditions make every family feel included. Our five years at Cambridge have been overwhelmingly positive. Our daughter loves her teachers and knows them all. Her confidence, curiosity, and leadership are a direct reflection of the environment Cambridge has created. Cambridge Academy is more than a school to us, it is family.

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!

Classical Christian Education where the schooling is focused on learning while helping grow in…read morefaith. We absolutely love everything about Redeemer. The class size, the community, office staff and most importantly the teachers. The majority of the elementary teachers have been there for almost 20yrs, that says a lot. The experience and love that they have for their students really shows. My kids love going to school.

I love teaching kindergarten at Redeemer Christian School because…read morethe small class size gives me the flexibility to focus attention where it is needed most with each student. I am able to adapt lessons as needed to reach each student where they are at. I work to prepare each student for their first grade experience as they continue in the classical approach to education. I also love that RCS uses a faith-based approach in almost all lessons, not just Bible. Faith is weaved into social studies, science, phonics, recitation, and more. It is truly a blessing to watch Kindergarteners make the connections from their Bible lessons into real life applications and grow in their faith.

ok, never thought that I would have to talk about this school.. but I attended its 6th grade class…read moreand it's absolutely horrible. I couldn't even last a month in that hell hole.. the classes are invested with roaches.. DEAD roaches and bugs, and they can't even afford an exterminator, nor good lunches.. I asked the principal if she could consider moving me classes since there is roaches.. DEAD roaches.. and don't get me started also with the random fights that's been going on, there was a catfight with two boys, and lemme tell you the teachers didn't even do much about it. But like I was saying.. I was asking to be moved to another class, and they couldn't even move me?!? This school is absolutely disappointing.. unfortunately, I loved its 5th grade era but 6th grade? The teachers are rude. to let you know.. I barely got taught a thing.. the teacher I got for 6th grade basically just called people from this stupid basket with clips with peoples name on it.. withdrawing so they could read, or answer a question. It got so bad I left the school, She would tell us the answers and not tell us how she got them, nor did work at all?! And we would review work and she would tell us the answers instead of us working on it, and she says she's the principals favorite?! I know ur lying.. ur the insects favorites you always got some bugs luring around in that classroom. to also include its dirty.. especially in the bathrooms.. last time I went to the bathrooms just to find SPLATTERED DOOKIE ON THE TOILET.. ALL SPREADED ON THE TOILET SEATS LIKE NUTELLA. AND NOT THAT IT WAS IN ONE SECTION.. IT WAS IN TWO. THE ONE RIGHT NEXT TO THE DOOKIE SPLATTERED TOILET STALL!?! AND THE TEACHER I GOT LOCKS UR PHONE INTO A BOX TIL THE END OF SCHOOL.. CAUSE SHE EXPECTS US TO DO "INAPPROPRIATE" THINGS IN THE BATHROOM LIKE THE OLD 6TH GRADERS DID.. SAYING THEY WOULD TAKE OFF THEIR CLOTHES IN THE BATHROOM AND TAKE PICTURES?? WDF?!?!?! AND NOT ONLY THAT.. YOU GET FOUR. ONE. TWO. THREE. FOUR. FOUR. FOURRRR NASTY USED RECYCLED POPSICLE STICKS WITH UR NAME ON IT SO YOU CAN USE IT TO THE BATHROOM.. IF YOU USED THE BATHROOM YOU CAN ONLY USE IT FOUR TIMES IN A MONTH. YES THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST U IN A MONTH.. AND SHE WILL AWARD YOU WITH SOME EXPIRED ROACH INFESTED CANDY. JUST RUINING CHILDRENS BLADDERS FOR ONE TWO THREE FOUR PIECES OF CANDY.

Okay. I am in 9th grade now and looking back at elementary school here, I went k6th grade and it…read morewas good all the way until 5th grade. That's when things went horrible. I do not suggest keeping your kid at this school for 4-6th grade. Maybe send them kindergartener through 3rd

Our family absolutely loves Legacy. The accelerated program is awesome and we have loved all of the…read moreteachers my daughter has had! We will continue to go to Legacy throughout her schooling :)

Based on My experience the last 2 years. I do not believe Ms. Simms demonstrates professionalism,…read morecommunication skills, or leadership qualities I expect from someone in that position. My experience I found that the principals interaction with students and the parents to be unnecessarily confrontational and lacking professionalism. The amount of teacher and staff turnover last year made it difficult for students to have consistency and build relationships with the adults who were supporting them. The 6th grade alone had 3 teachers leave the first semester and the assistant principal left by January. I would really consider other Charter schools around the East mesa until Ms Simms is replaced. See less

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.