Desert Edge High School

15778 West Yuma Road

School District

Agua Fria Union High
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

public

School Map for Agua Fria Union High School 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 student on April 18, 2024

The staff are very rude and made me very uncomfortable
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2021

My son is a new freshman this summer and is learning so much from Desert Edge’s Summer Academy program! Because of the rich and engaging instruction, its almost like COVID didn’t happen last year and he’s back on track!
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2021

My daughter goes to Desert Edge as a junior and loves it their. People aren't afraid to speak their minds and are supportive of each other even if they disagree with their viewpoints. It is one big family between admin, teachers, students and coaches. She is a good athlete and has been mentored alot by all the teachers their and especially her Coach; Kraynick who she also had as an English teacher. Everyone gets alone dispite diverse backgrounds, everyone supports everyone. All the teachers are super supportive, and not clock watchers Iike I've seen at other schools. They geninuely care about every student whether superstar athlete, academic, regular or what have you. Their power hour was the best. All teachers opened their doors to everyone to talk, to vent, to hang out, to relax, etc. No school is perfect and it does have its faults, but all the staff, admin, security, and students truely care about each other. Everyone goes out of their way to help everyone, regardless of backgrounds or race. We hear alot about this in the news lately, but DE in my opinion is the best place to be for all students. Again thank you to Coach Kraynick, Lowe, Cole, Bezio, for making her feel welcomed, supported and valued.
Submitted by teacher on March 02, 2021

I was a teacher at this school. I was new to a large school and had come from a smaller school. Some of the administration was so helpful. My first year was so much different than my second year. I had an admin that was unsupportive. He was not a leader or a coach and should not been allowed near a new teacher. I went from a highly effective review to an ineffective one. It was one of the worst years of my life. I moved schools and the autonomy has been so much different. Even in a horrible year with Covid-19 raging I feel so much more valued at my new school. I am writing this review to warn new teachers. Make sure to document everything. HR will not protect you from unfair treatment and lazy administrators. Most of the administration does their work but not all of them do. If you choose to work here, make sure that you cover yourself by joining the union. I can't tell you how many days I left in tears. I was not fired and I jumped through every hoop that they put in place for me but it almost made me quit teaching. Be wary.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2016

I have had three kids go through Desert Edge with the third being a senior this year. My kids have all taken advantage of all DE has to offer including AP and honors classes, athletics and the arts. They have been very active and in turn prepared themselves to be successful. We have experienced great teachers and not so great teachers, great administrators and not so great administrators. We have dealt with issues along the way as would be expected at any large comprehensive high school. At times we have been thrilled and other times greatly disappointed. All in all, DE has provided a safe, consistent environment for our kids to grow and develop to become productive citizens!
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2015

I disagree with a lot of the reviews. First, I generally don't look at student reviews because kids can be so condemning and bias in their views. So I look at the parents reviews with more weight. With that said, with any school you get out of it, what you put into it. There is a web portal (ParentVue) that gives you up to date information in all aspects of your student's life at the school. I would always begin there. I get responses from the teachers and staff (via email) the same day or within 24-72 hours. I made an impromptu visit to the school to check on my 11th grader who transferred from a charter school in Peoria, Arizona in the 3rd quarter of last year. I was met by the head of security (it was just after school had ended for the day and our student was supposed to be in after school tutoring) who took me to her classroom and she was there. The staff member gave me valuable insight and during the conversation one of the assistant principals came back into the building. After being introduced, he stated he needed to talk to me. He was professional and told me he had just moved my student two different teachers because she needed to be in a more structured environment. I appreciate that kind of concern. That kind of candor from both staff members is valuable. I have had easy access to the teachers and I see the complete lessons assignment by assignment. What else can you ask for? Some parents I feel demand too much from these administrators and educators. Some of the onus falls upon parents to follow-up, communicate and do their part in their child's education. We can't continue to blame our educators and take a hands off approach when it comes to our kids. It is OUR responsibility to do more sitting down with our children and going old school (like doing homework with them daily, being hypervigilant about the kids that our children are around and dropping in unannounced for school visits with educators). We are the ones to lead and facilitate with our schools. So again, it is more of what both you and your student put into your school that determines the output that you receive the majority of the time. Desert Edge is a very good school that has a for the most part great educators and staff that engage and challenge our children. Look at the national rankings and reviews.
Submitted by student on August 05, 2015

Desert edge high school is a average school it's has good quality and horrible quality like the teachers are understandable and bad cause the hallways to every class ate always crowded
Submitted by student on February 04, 2015

This school is horrible. The administration is rude and just pretend to listen,and they completely discard what your complaint or suggestion, they also play favorites. They also don't give us the resources we need to be successful, such as textbooks that are up to date or textbooks at all, then the teachers get blamed for horrible test scores without proper resources and misconduct of the students, even though the students here are horrible in character and in knowledge. I am a junior here, and I wish the school would stop spending, so much money on sports and more in the class rooms. The principal is the worst because she authorizes unnecessary spending, like painting hallways that perfectly good the way they are.
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2011

After reading the other reviews, I just had to add my two cents to the mix. My daughter was a Sophomore this past academic year and I tend to agree with the students comments of the school. We have been active at the school since our daughter started and we have found both the educators and the administrative staff to be very receptive and supportive. The academics are well balanced and many AP and honors classes are offered to get a head start on college. I am proud we have a student in Desert Edge and look forward to two more years like the last two. By the way, our daughter is very active in the Advanced Placement (AP) classes, so if they were lacking in that area, we would know it.
Submitted by student on May 14, 2011

Okay so I am a Sophomore at Desert Edge High School right now. My brother graduated in the second graduating class of 2007. So I have pretty much been around this school for awhile. I want to clarify a few things one of the parents posted on March 30, 2011. Desert Edge is not a "large an active drug culture". This post was submitted by a parent. They wouldn't necessarily know. I have been here for 2 years so I would know. My brother went there for 4 years so he would know too. If Desert Edge is so bad like that parent claims it to be then why I kid you not is there at least 1 student every one or two months transferring from Verrado? Desert Edge has great caring teachers. There is a drug problem at our school, but it is very little. Teenagers are constantly exploring new things & trying new stuff. Don't give the school a bad name 'cause students try this all around the world. Desert Edge has an AMAZING athletic program. Especially in Football, Cheer, Men's Basketball, Softball, Baseball, and Track. All these sports in the 2010-2011 season have made it to the state playoffs. As a student of Desert Edge i would highly reccomend this school if your moving to the West Valley.
Submitted by parent on March 30, 2011

This is an unimpressive school. The academics, with the exception of a few excellent teachers, are mediocre at best. The students are loud and behave innapropriately. There is a large and active drug culture within the school. The administration is top-heavy and runs the school ineffectively. The "academy" program being instituted next year is based off of incorrect assumptions of job availability and locks students into one of three fields of study. The program is a waste of money and doomed to fail. The school also has an oversized focus on athletics and not enough focus on academics. Parents, Get on to the waiting list for a variance to Verado as quickly as you can. Don't send your kids hear.
Submitted by student on March 30, 2011

DE is not the best school out there but it is definitely a good school. The AP World History And APUSH(AP US History) is amazing. The school does have have problems with admin and it is focused heavily on sports but their are also programs for college and other careers like dental assistance, cosmetology, and auto mechanics. The comment below me mentioning Verrado has got it wrong. Desert Edge is not "a large and active drug culture." Yes there is student who do drugs, like in any school, but I've heard of Verrado's infamous courtyard used for hook ups during the school day. All schools have their rumors. Although it may not be amazing it is a good school and definitely worth checking out. The one thing this school has that no other in the district has is an AMAZING Student Government.
Submitted by student on February 17, 2011

The school seems to push so much after school activity but also sends home the same amount of homework as any other school. It's unfair how they want us involved but also expect our work to get done.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2010

We have had three children go through this school, There are many good teachers, but unfortunately many poor ones. The poor ones know less than my children and seem to be there only to coach. The way administration handles problems is atrocious. The buck seems to get passed. They make a huge deal out of small infractions, but push the major ones under the rug. Thank goodness my children are done after this year. Another thing, the counselors will try and push the AP classes telling you that it will help your child's grade point average. We found out that colleges could care less about weighted GPAs and only look at unweighted ones. They admitted that the district tells them to push those classes, why?