Community is incredible. Every person our family has interacted with has been professional and warm. I have complete confidence in the care my child is receiving. The facility is immaculate with plenty of outdoor space, large rooms for exploration with complete Montessori set up, a communal space for parent gatherings. It’s been more than just childcare for us, we are learning so much about the philosophy and we are really appreciating the community. The teachers seem excellent and are very communicative about our child’s progress and overall happiness. My child lights up when he sees his teacher and goes to school.

My overall experience with BSM has been pretty good. My child has been here since second grade and I have seen consistent improvement with discipline, supports, and great teachers and staff. I have had concerns in the past, but over the years I have found that staff is helpful and willing to work with our family to make sure my child has what he needs in terms of academic and social emotional support. This year my youngest child is also on campus and they both are really happy and excited to go to school each day!

This is year 2 for my family at Chaparral and I can’t say enough. I’m not sure how the rating was low, clearly the funds raised at Chaparral are funding many great programs at the school. My child LOVES going to school every day 2 years in a row. This year is a much better fit with the teacher, she is passionate about the students, available to help me with the “new math” and if I ever have a question or concern I am always HEARD. I love this school and I support character and academics at home therefore having a school that does the same aligns with my values. Not everyone has those values so this may not be the school for you. As some one that works in Life Sciences, you can be completely book smart and lack character and or awareness, Chaparral continues to enstill these values in our children. If you have values and are an active/involved in raising great human beings this is the school for you.

There is presumably a staff member who parks his white porshe in the small parking lot by the main office and I think he’s quite disrespectful towards other vehicles exiting the school’s grounds. He “speeds” through the speed bumps, rolls through stop signs and on multiple occasions I’ve observed this vehicle cut me off when approaching rte 113. Furthermore, one time when he drove behind my car he used his horn for about 5 seconds to alert me (and subsequently scared me and caused me anxiety) because I didn’t move fast enough for him when the light changed. I would so appreciate if someone from the administration would address this with him. This isn’t a professional conduct in my opinion. This happened multiple times.

Please be aware that all of the five star reviews on here are a product of the members of the PTO spamming in order to get the rating up. They are trying to suppress the truth about this school, which is that they do not give one iota about you or your child. They do what they want and have no accountability or oversight, and do not have the best interest concerning the safety of your child in mind. Please be aware of this and don't believe the hype.

In addition to the remarkable staff and curriculum, one of the most remarkable aspects of our children's school is the sense of community it fosters. The fact that many of the teachers live within the community themselves adds a personal touch that is truly invaluable. It's not just a school; it feels like an extension of our home. What truly sets this school apart is the genuine care and dedication the teachers demonstrate towards our children. They consistently go above and beyond to ensure not only their academic success but also their emotional well-being. Our children feel not just educated, but truly seen and heard. Moreover, the school's commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment is evident in every aspect of its operation. From the engaging extracurricular activities to the thoughtful approach to discipline, every decision is made with the best interests of the students in mind. Overall, we couldn't be happier with our children's experience at this school. It's not just a place of learning; it's a place where our children are nurtured, supported, and encouraged to thrive both academically and personally. Drew Robinson

I went there as a sub and did not feel welcomed at all. The administration office, one of the staff is very rude, she banned me out from the school because I put my head down in the classroom, she made me feel invaluable and uncomfortable infront of the students.

Really great middle school, Principal Brown, Vice Principal and teachers do a great job

Last year was excellent. This year my daughters teacher was ok, but with the help of Admin we were able to address some of my concerns. Other than that school overall is great!

Laurelhurst has an overall supportive school community which has been a positive. Some of the teachers seem burned out and the bar for students seems to 'not be a problem' rather than supporting their development - not the most enriching academic environment. The commitment to diversity and inclusion is strong which is great though comes off a little dogmatic rather than thoughtful. Also somewhat capricious rule-making at an administrative level which can be frustrating in middle school as they are trying to develop independence. Overall have had some good experiences and teachers but not great overall. Would love to see the school improve though current culture does not seem welcoming of feedback or parent engagement outside of fundraising.

I have read the negative comments regarding Mt. Baker middle school and feel like writing my first hand experience about this school. My elder daughter went to this school and now she just finished her pre- med from UW and is preparing for her MCAT. Thanks to all the wonderful teachers at Mt. Baker, staff, and the leadership of Principal Brown who is such an amazing principal! Now my younger one is in 8th grade and going to the same school! I am a very proud Mt. Baker parent! All the teachers are very learned and respectful! If you really want your kids to learn how to deal in real diversified world then Mt. Baker is the best! I could have sent my girls to private or other schools in the neighborhood but I wanted them to lead their life in diversity so that the transition from school to real world is easy and comfortable for them. That is what has happened and both my girls know how to deal with diversified group of people around them. I love the way this school handles diversity and how respectful is the staff towards their students. We are so proud and blessed Mt. Baker Parents.

We were excited about beginning my son’s kindergarten year at such a highly regarded school. I should mention this was the year they added hundreds of spots for their newly built kindergarten campus. The state was going through a teacher shortage and there were a large amount of positions to fill. The campus is beautiful with access to many things that public schools may not be able to get. They do plenty of STEM projects. Unfortunately the corporate undertone superseded the academic perks we enjoyed. We are very involved parents. My son gets 30 minutes of monitored screen time a day. He is required to contribute to our household with chores and has an accountability chart at home. These situations are not a result of “gentle” parenting. At first I credited our bad experience to just having a bad teacher. When he would come home with a red color (they use a color clip chart for behavior) we were given minimal information and had to rely on my 5 year olds vague recollection of the day. At the beginning of the year i was assured that this was just a five year old adjusting to a school setting. The teacher would regularly take away recess (this is not allowed in LPSS but a charter academy does not have to abide by this). When I asked them to not take away recess (he was having trouble sitting still) they made him walk the fence line instead. We continued with our faith in ARCA repeating the mantra that first grade would be better with a different teacher. The first red flag was his teacher not letting us have lunch with him on his birthday as punishment. In order to get more information on his behavior we requested a meeting with andmin. and his teacher. We were surprised that the teacher never offered this option. The last straw was when my six year old son was suspended after he reached out to get his teachers attention to get his school badge, and she reported it as “inappropriate touching.” I was disturbed by the schools inability to protect a kindergartner from this type of accusation from an adult. We no longer felt comfortable with my son being in this teachers care and asked that they allow him to finish the year in a different classroom. The administrators denied that request and offered nothing but blank stares as we signed our exit paperwork. I eventually pulled my son out of ARCA with only 4 weeks left in the year when I realized not only was the teacher did not have his best interest at heart, but that the administration didn’t either.

The school has completely inept leadership; a new principal who is utterly and completely ineffective. Bullying occurs early on, and is not managed in any way. Children frequently end up in the nurse's office because of injury from another student. Meanwhile, the student causing injuries returns to class time and again, only to further bully children. School culture and teacher efficacy start from the top. At Terrell, the top is a mess of ignorance, inexperience, and inability to care for and connect with students. Do whatever you can to make sure your student never comes to this school. Ever.

Archway North Phoenix was a great choice for our children. As a public charter school, we made the decision to place our kids there and have not regretted it. The curriculum embraces a classical education while keeping up with the current times. The mixture of literature, fine arts, foreign language and the reading, writing and arithmetic help make the child ready for high school and beyond. We had had one child go from K - 5 and is now on the Prep side of the campus. Another child is still on the Archway campus. I have to respectfully disagree with the 1 star rating previously left. The teachers are highly trained in the curriculum. All of the lead teachers have at least a bachelor's degree. The apprentice teachers either have a degree or are in the process of getting one. The school has a lead teacher / apprentice teacher model, so there are two adults in the room at all times. The apprentice teachers go through the same training that the lead teachers do. The standardized testing scores show that this education model is very successful. The school does not use computers in the classroom, except for State testing and for some limited classes. There is homework Monday - Thursday and yes, it is all paper. I appreciate this, as the kids get enough screen time when they are not in school. I am also a substitute teacher in various school districts in the Phoenix area and a lot of the time I feel like the "You Tube Policeman" when I am in other classes. Every class has two mandatory class choir performances, one in the winter and another in the spring. It is great to hear all the kids sing. They really enjoy it. No, there are no class birthday parties or other "pop culture" things at the school. The focus is on education and developing the student into a well rounded person. Remember, going to a public charter school is a choice. If you don't like it, you can move your child to the district school in your area. Arizona also has open enrollment, so if your district is not to your liking, apply to go to a school in a different district. There is a reason that the Great Hearts system has more than 6,000 students on a waiting list for its various campuses in metro Phoenix. The model works. Great Hearts is able to do it with less funding than the district public schools. It receives the State funding llike other public schools, but no property tax funding, There is no cost to go to Great Hearts. It is a wonderful school!

My son has been attending this school for 2 years and loves it. All the teachers have seemed really great and the communication from the school has not lacked. Like with most Public Schools, there has been a huge trend of a teacher's job getting harder in dealing with disruptive children but during my volunteer opportunities, I've seen this handled very well and loved that the teachers are provided with intercoms in each classroom so they can get everyone's attention without actually having to raise their voice. The campus is beautiful and well-maintained.