Verrado Middle School

20880 West Main Street

School District

Litchfield Elementary District
Grade

5-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:20
Type

public

School Map for Litchfield Elementary District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on July 30, 2022

The best school I have ever put my child in. Very safe this is the first time my child has ever been looking forward to school to start again we think the teachers where very nice and we are looking forward to another great year!
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2017

We have been at VMS now for a few months and I am ok with their academic standards because my child comes from a rigorous academic background and I expected her to excel here coming from her previous experiences. My family's biggest issues is the social and entitlement persona that the school's staff, students and parents have. We heard rumors about this before we changed schools, but we like to make our decisions based on our own experience, not others, but also with an open eye and ear. I have volunteered at the school and noticed this first hand for myself, among other school functions and activities. We are investigating the other Verrado school to potentially move my children to or even Odyssey Prep. We've even spoken to the principal at VMS about the attitude of the teachers, coaches, lack of communication the "volunteers" of their special programs and parents sense of entitlement and how although the coaches are volunteers, they should put more effort into building up the kids than to be their friends and leaving them to feel entitled which will only be harder for them in their teenage years and young adults in world. Hoping for the best, but definitely not banking on it. Future parents, choose your schools wisely and get involved in your child's school if you really care about their academic AND social progress. These schools are molding our kids/students and the teachers and volunteers make a huge difference in this.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2015

Verrado has a race issue --- the staff and students need a course in diversity. My husband and I spent hours each month at the school addressing racial comments made by students in front of multiple staff members and comments made by teachers. If your child is Latino, African American or Mexican or Middle Eastern this is not the school for them , it feels like an episode of walking dead , when you think is all good then , is the opposite , although is a nice place for retired people
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2014

So impressed with this school! My daughter was in another district and a lower rated school, getting her into Verrado Middle was the best decision we've ever made, I'm sorry I didn't do it sooner. She struggled for three years at her previous school, at Verrado MIddle she is excelling. She was able to make friends quickly and loves that there are no uniforms at this school. I love the weekly correspondence from teachers & have even received text messages reminding of work that is due. We don't live in Verrado but not once have we felt excluded.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2014

Beautiful School, but, i agree that There is a significant segregation between students, most kids think their parents are millionaires (they have too much debt probably ) parents need to teach them Values, Morals and Ethics at home is not teachers or school fault , Fascism is cured by reading, and racism is cured by traveling - Miguel de Unamuno
Submitted by parent on June 30, 2014

VMS is a great school, my Autistic son goes to this school and they bend over backwards to help him. He hated school, he was in the Dysart School District and they did everything they could to get rid of him. He is now on the honor roll and flourishing.
Submitted by other on January 03, 2014

I attended Verrado Middle from 2011-2013. After moving from Buckeye for a better school, we found Verrado and we liked it here. Teachers were nice; one of my reading teachers would be extremely helpful and generous. Counselors would do the right thing. There's almost nothing bad about this school. This is rated a Highly Performing school, but I would say this should be rated Excelling. Now I currently attend Verrado High and I miss Verrado Middle a lot. If I could flashback to my time in VMS I would. Thanks a lot Verrado Middle!
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2013

Our Goodyear neighborhood is zoned for VMS. I think that sometimes they forget that some of the students live in Goodyear and not down the street. It is a bit of a hassle at times! I also do not like that my kids make friends with students who will mostly attend VHS and they will attend MHS. I don't think it is fair that just because Verrado did not sell enough homes that my children have to be separated from their elementary buds, then they make new friends, then are separated once again from a majority of their friends in HS. HS is hard enough. There are times when I have wasted many gallons of gas in a week just picking my kids up or dropping them off in Verrado for before/after school events,performances,visiting friends, etc. We like Verrado, but it is not worth the commute. We have to limit our children's involvement due to the fact that we can not always run back and forth to Verrado. It is not fair to students in our neighborhood. I will be requesting a variance once our younger kids go to middle school unfortunately, they will not guarantee that you will be granted a variance every year, so my kids might have to readjust either way. SAD! LESD needs to change this!!!!!!!
Submitted by other on May 27, 2013

verrado middle school is a very great school. it has very nice teachers, good kids, and a very good work environment.
Submitted by parent on April 08, 2013

This school is the worse of the worse!! If you fit the image, you'll be ok. They hear what they want, say as they want it, have no genuine concerns about students on campus. They are in total denial about reality and if it does not concern them, them do not become concerned. A few of the teachers are HUGE hypocrites, they cuss at the students and there display of role modeling is lacking. Again, NO one cares!! They have no communication skills, and when talking to students, they pretty much speak as to what they want to hear verses what the student is saying. As for the education aspect of it, I recommend you go to another school, district, this school is only an image!
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2013

WARNING!! Not impressed!! Student Advisor, Teachers, Principal, and Asst. Super... WHAT A JOKE! You get nowhere! They have dropped the ball with my child repeatedly and they are worthless at being leaders of our children. It took 6 weeks to finally get a meeting...I had been trying to communicate repeatedly with the teachers that my child was failing and struggling with school because of his learning disability( he has no behavior issues)...teachers didn't care...just kept sending him to clean the cafeteria for detention. They gave him constant negative/ defeating feedback all day... My older child is the average child that 'blends' in so there is no problem with the teachers because they don't have to do anything besides collecting a paycheck... There is no neutral ground or authority you can go to... They're all buddies... No common sense in any of them that we have dealt with... I have never left any sort of feedback before but felt others should be warned.
Submitted by parent on October 21, 2011

We recently moved to this community. This school is one of the best that my children have ever attended. The principal truly cares about each and every student and the staff have really high expectations. My son and daughter both felt welcome the minute we got here and say how nice the teachers and kids are. It is wonderful to know that they are now learning in such a warm and inviting place. It seems to me if parents or kids are unhappy, they should look to a charter school in the area or get involved themselves. I have found this school to be caring and great for MY children.
Submitted by parent on July 22, 2011

There is a schism between the performance and atmosphere of this school. Although you cant argue with the performance, you may ask attending children about how they feel about continuing to attend this school. There is a significant segregation between students that are accepted, and those that feel bullied. There are also predominantly newer/younger teachers that do not fit the conventional mold in appearance,actions, or attitudes. This is a great facility in a very good district, but has issues to overcome.
Submitted by parent on July 17, 2011

After the bad experience with the administration and front office staff during my daughter;s eighth grade year, I am choosing not to send my son to Verrado Middle School next year. I have gone through the open enrollment process with another district. The adminsitration here forgets that a school is a customer service entity and parents and students are their customers. I can say that there are some good teachers, but the turnover rate here should open the eyes of the district administration. Why are so many teachers leaving, and why are so many parents choosing to send their children elsewhere?
Submitted by other on June 08, 2011

I just promoted from this school and at the beginning I used to love it! But once I got to the 7th grade things began to change. During the year I started with five teachers, and at the end, I still had five, but only two of them were the same that I started with. The school lacks consistency, which effects every single student. Also, the principal, and 8th grade student advisor, don't care what happens to students, but just to make sure that their paycheck goes in. Budget was cut in all the wrong places and effected the students more than the teachers. Although a rough 7th grade year, once I got to the 8th grade things were amazing in the classroom, but the administration got even worse. Overall, an okay school.
Submitted by other on May 23, 2011

Don't let the pictures fool you. This school spends more money on electronics and they still give the students terrible lunches. I heard one girl barely eats at her school because they don't give her the basic and good nutrition she needs. Also, they have to pay 2.50 for each horrible lunch. This school is very cheap. I wouldn't recommend it.
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2011

My child love this school. She looks forward to going to school. The teachers are great. There are a lot of extracurricular activities and also a decent amount of homework too. She only has one more year to go, but the previous two have been great.
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2011

Been dealing with this school for the past 7 yrs and truth is, despite the leadership changes, it still has some of the same problems now that it had the day it opened!! Not very welcoming and one or two office personnel need training in "customer service." Not at all thrilled with the principal - she could use training in problem solving and conflict resolution. Some excellent teachers, thank goodness! Archaic practice of placing students on stage in cafeteria for lunch detention still in place. Lots of room for improvement but don't hold your breath. If past action is any indication.... the status quo will be maintained.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2010

Our son attends 6 grade here and he is happy at Verrado Middle School. That says a lot about a good school. We have got to known responsible and well appointed teachers over this school year. We are looking forward to the 7 grade set up now and are very positive about having our son attending here.
Submitted by parent on April 15, 2010

Everyone complains about the Admin., but know one does anything about it? This school is lacking guidance and it starts from the top. The superintendent has made a joke out of this district and it goes down hill from there. We use to be 'THE' district to come to now we are running from it! We obviously need new governing board members to see what's really going on in this 'JOKE' of a district. Nothing is getting done here...nothing!