My son started at Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori (AFM) when he just turned three years old, and…read morenow--at the age of four--we're relocating out of state. In those two years, he has truly blossomed. The school has provided an incredibly loving, nurturing, peaceful, and enriching environment that supports not only academics but also social and emotional growth. His teacher, Ms. Lynn, has been extraordinary--gentle, attentive, and genuinely invested in his development. Ms. Meaghan, the director, leads with both heart and high standards, ensuring every child receives exceptional care and education. My child has also benefited from Spanish lessons with the wonderful Sra. Dolores, gaining confidence in both English and Spanish. Moreover, AFM offers this level of quality education at a significantly more affordable tuition compared to other Montessori schools in the area. They have not only taught my son--they have loved him. This is something I will never forget or be able to repay. I wholeheartedly recommend AFM to any family seeking a school that truly nurtures both the heart and mind of children while fully supporting their parents.

Our child has been attending since 2020 and will be graduating in the spring. Students thrive at…read moretheir own pace with great teachers in a welcoming environment. Long time staff, prompt communication (esp during 2020), effective curriculum, and total transparency are only a few things that contribute to the trust we have! The staff's care, professionalism, and commitment is even reflected in how the students treat each other. AFM is wonderful community to be a part of. We are so thankful for the impact it has had on our child's early development!

As a parent of a current student, I wanted to share our honest experience because school choice is…read moresuch a deeply personal decision. Before enrolling at this school, our son attended a public charter school where he experienced severe bullying and struggled daily in overcrowded classrooms. He would come home emotionally defeated and anxious. Making the decision to switch to this private school was truly life-changing for our child. The difference has been night and day. Our son is now happy, confident, and feels safe at school again. His mental health, emotional well-being, and overall outlook have improved in ways we honestly hoped for but weren't sure were possible. I also want to note that we drive 30 minutes each way because of the positive environment and support our son receives here. In our experience, the school has been welcoming, attentive, and focused on the students' well-being. The administration and staff have been supportive, communicative, and genuinely invested in creating a safe and nurturing learning environment. For our family, choosing this school has been one of the best decisions we have made for our child's safety, confidence, and overall happiness.

We currently have kids at Summit in both the elementary and middle school, and I can honestly say…read moreit's been one of the best decisions we've made for our family. When we were school hunting, one of our biggest non-negotiables were class size and teacher engagement and Summit delivers on both. The classrooms are thoughtfully set up for different learning styles, and the teachers truly know how to meet kids where they are. If a student isn't fully understanding an assignment the teachers work hard to offer solutions. There's individual support, check-ins, and a lot of patience. At the same time, if a child is ready for more of a challenge, the teachers are quick to extend their learning. For example, my child is currently receiving accelerated math assignments to keep her moving forward. One of the things that impressed me most is how many staff members actually know my kids (and me!) personally. Not just their core teachers, but many adults on campus know them by name, stop to talk to them, and seem invested in who they are. The culture at Summit feels collaborative instead of competitive. Kindness is modeled (PEAK to Achieve), different cultures are celebrated, and you can really tell the kids are genuinely happy to be there. It's the kind of environment where kids can grow socially and academically without feeling like they have to "fit in." Both of my children were anxious about starting at a new school, and they were welcomed with open arms. Academically, I appreciate Summit's philosophy...it's not just what they teach, it's how they teach. Critical thinking is encouraged, homework is intentional (not pages of busywork), and there are plenty of enrichment opportunities for kids to explore beyond the standard curriculum. Honestly, all you have to do is take a tour with Kyle to see the joy and magic that's happening on campus on any given day. Social-emotional learning is also a real priority. Like any school, kids will have conflicts sometimes, but what I've seen at Summit is that teachers step in and help facilitate productive, positive resolutions. They're teaching skills that will be useful far beyond elementary and middle school. We recently had a situation like this, and my daughter's teacher worked with the children directly and then followed up with an email to explain what happened and how it was addressed. That level of communication and care means a lot. And the extracurriculars? There are so many options. From no-cut sports to an award winning robotics club, kids have plenty of opportunities to try new things after school and maybe even find their passion. My daughters are both involved in sports and have had the best time. It's not only about winning championships (though Summit does that well too) but it's also about learning teamwork, leadership, and how to show up for others. I also wanted to extend a special thank you to the Head of School, Mr. Wald. My kids absolutely adore him. He's kind, engaging, and makes school fun and welcoming in a way that really matters. If you peek into his office, you'll likely see kids hanging out with him! He's also brought exciting programs to the school, and a few favorites have been Walks With Wald and the Teacher Internship Program. His level of dedication to the school is admirable. One last big thing to note: we commute 30 minutes each way to Summit. While I do sometimes wish we lived closer, I'd drive an hour each way if I had to. My kids don't ever want to miss school and that says everything.

We highly value education. My wife has a PhD and I am an attorney. We spent a significant amount of…read moretime deciding on the school to send our children, now 8 (second grade) and 10 years old (fifth grade). Horizon Honors is the perfect fit. What attracted us two key features: (1) Horizon's student-to-teach ratio, and (2) the fact that students are assessed and taught at their level. An advanced Kindergartener can be in first or second grade math or reading, etc. Similarly, students needing more help are engaged and taught at the right level of challenge. Kindergarten classrooms are 25-30 students with a teacher and adult assistant teacher yielding teacher-to-student ratios of 13-15. In grades 1-6, students are in mixed-aged classrooms (again, taking into account the challenge needed for each student), with a class size of 55-60 led by 3 adults-two teachers and an adult assistant teacher, yielding a ratio of 18-20. These numbers are great. Beyond the classroom, we appreciate the lunch options. Food is catered from places like Pei Wei, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Boston Market and Streets of NY Pizza, making it much better than cafeteria-level food. While the price can be more than a cafeteria, the providers donate a share of proceeds back to the school, which is a win-win. We have also found that involvement opportunities are larger and more diverse than other schools - numerous sports, clubs, and activities are available to K-6 students. Our kids have been involved in after school clubs including Melody Makers, Code Bots, Rising Stars, Save the Earth, Showbiz, Lego Club, Art Club, and our fifth grader was selected to one of the middle school sports teams that allows 5th graders to tryout.

Don't bother with this school if your child doesn't fit into their box and needs extra help. I…read morepulled my kindergartener out after months of struggle. I was actually told " we don't like to do anything until 3rd grade." WTH. They also wrote a behavior plan after a meeting held without me that said, " No speech help will be given at this time, hopefully a change in behavior will help with articulation and anunciation." Moral of the story, if you might bring down the test scores don't bother with this school. By the way my daughter now has speech therapy, a dyslexia diagnosis and is doing great at a Mesa public school.

I'm sad this is my last year at Colina :( I'm going to miss this school…read more From, Abri Asaro

The teachers here are very welcoming and eager to teach. I give them five stars for that…read more Communication between teachers and parents are also phenomenal. However, enrollment and getting all transportation information was a huge issue. The 50 year old receptionist with multi colored hair is always rude as ever when we try to ask for information. A retraining in courtesy and customer service is probably what she needs. Otherwise, excellent staff.

This Elementary School is a Kyrene School District - School Mascot: Sharks, Grades: PreK-5. It's…read moreliterally half a mile from me and my son goes to this elementary school for about 5 month now. He loves it here due to the fact that everyone are nice, friendly and he felt very welcomed when I moved him here and we have no complaint. I am very fortunate when I moved to this area because of all the schools on the surrounding. Important School Contacts ( all KSD phone numbers begin with (480) 541-xxxx ) Principal Cheryl Greene 2800 Assistant Principal Ann Leftwich 2800 School Secretary Kristin Heppler 2800 Office/Attendance Clerk Tami Anderson 2800 Psychologist Kate Tannuzzo 2822 Health Assistant Carola Meyer 2820 Cafeteria Manager Karla Vasquez 2826 Lead Custodian Greg Burdick 2825 Kids Club Coordinator Marissa Dzubak 2830 (***Last Modified on July 24, 2019)

We love Learn n Play it is so hard to just chose one staff member that we love but our son…read moredefinitely loves Ms Nicole thank you Nicole for being the amazing person you are and caring for our baby boy the way you do

My son has been attending Learn N play since he was just under a year old and is now almost 4!…read moreThroughout his time there he has had wonderful teachers who have genuinely cared for him and have contributed to his growth. Ms. Jenn and Ms. Heather are his current teachers and they are AMAZING! They have taught him so much including but not limited to fine motor skills, gross motor skills, self-advocacy and supported with his toileting. They ensure to validate his feelings and make him feel comfortable/safe. Not only are there wonderful teachers but everyone who works in the front office (Abbi, Priscilla and Jacki) are always welcoming and quick to respond whenever needed. I highly recommend Learn N Play!

My two sons are currently in 5th grade at Kyrene de las Lomas Elementary School and have…read moreexperienced ongoing bullying for the past two years. A few months ago, one of my sons was physically assaulted when another student choked him. The incident was dismissed by the school as a minor issue, despite the seriousness of the act. More recently, my two sons and one of their friends were verbally threatened by three other students. I immediately reported this to the principal, office staff, and district administration. Although the threatened fight never occurred, the response from the school has been inconsistent and inadequate. The principal initially stated that students would rotate days for playing soccer during recess but later reduced my sons' access to only two days per week, without explanation. After I raised concerns about the choking incident and the threats, I believe the principal began retaliating against my children. During a school bingo event, my son and his friend each had valid bingos that were confirmed by surrounding students, yet the principal publicly denied them multiple times. The school promotes itself as a "no violence" campus, but ongoing issues are not being properly acknowledged or addressed. I contacted the Board of Education and requested that the vice principal handle all future matters involving my children due to concerns of targeting and retaliation.

This is the best school , I recommend this school. All the…read moreteachers and the staff are Amazing and are all ways being nice

So impressed with the friendly staff and leadership emphasis! The school is bright and cheerful and…read morethe kids really do seem to be engaged and happy. My daughter has been thrilled to attend here and sees her own potential as a leader. It is hard to believe this is a public school.

My girls are in 3rd and 4th grade and I have loved Cerritos since they began in Kindergarten. I…read moreespecially love the Leadership program and the opportunity my girls have to get involved in activities. Their teachers have had high expectations, great classroom management and I have seen tremendous academic growth with both girls. The PTO is very active and a very hardworking supportive group of volunteers. They are welcoming, organized, and put on some great family events.