Palm Valley Elementary School

Reviews

• Submitted by parent on December 13, 2023
  The staff here is very supportive and accommodating to my special needs student. They have given me many tools to help foster growth, and we've seen an improvement in my child's overall test scores. I can't believe that after a couple years of my student being well below grade level, he's finally approaching the level of his peers. The staff is very friendly and engaged, the facility is starting to show it's age, but it's well maintained. The neighborhood feels safe, and the school doesn't have any easy entry points, so bad guys would have a hard time accessing the school.I would absolutely recommend this school. A+++
• Submitted by parent on June 24, 2022
  The best school experience my kids ever had. Teachers are so caring and supportive the culture is amazing. I’m so sad we had to move far away, my kids were so excited to go to school daily. I love how they are taught core values and there’s always organized events to keep the families involved. Mrs. Benjamin is great also, she greets all students at the gate every morning as they arrive to school. Overall my kids felt safe, happy and eager to go to school every day. I’d highly recommend this school to any family specially if they have a soon to be kindergartener they truly make you feel comfortable about leaving your child at school for the first time.
• Submitted by parent on July 21, 2020
  Our experience has been great. The teachers definitely seem caring, the staff is always friendly and until the CoronaVirus pandemic hit, they were always encouraging family and community involvement with the school.
• Submitted by parent on August 25, 2019
  We love Palm Valley! Both kids are excited to go daily.
• Submitted by parent on January 19, 2018
  This well established school has a strong sense of family for its students. The focus on this results in students feeling safe & comfortable enough to be their curious, excited, quirky little selves. There is a good balance between work, and being a kid.
• Submitted by parent on May 19, 2017
  My daughter loves it at Palm Valley. She has really excelled here and I couldn't be happier with her, the progress she has made there and the school.
• Submitted by other on May 08, 2016
  This is the first year for my grandchildren in Palm Valley Elementary, their teachers are Mrs. Alm and Mrs. Liz 4th grade, Mrs.Hanna 2nd grade and Mrs Beonkie Kindergarden. I did not want this year to go by with out saying thank you so much for being such positive role models and for inspiring and encouraging our children. I sometimes pick them up, drop them off or have lunch with them. I have had the most wonderful experiences in this school. The teachers,office staff and volunteers at this school are amazing! They practically take you by the hand to get you to where you have to go, when I first went there I was so nervous not knowing the school and other experiences I have had at other school in the past. I couldn't leave the school without letting them know how emotional I was about how kind everyone was, and how happy my grand children have been since they started this school. Their teachers are brilliant, they should be honored for such an excellent job well done. Go Palm Valley Elementary!!!
• Submitted by parent on December 02, 2013
  Palm Valley is an exemplary school with amazing parents. It is truly an Arizona school that competes with east coast schools. There is a long wait list for variances and the principal is very welcoming.
• Submitted by parent on October 26, 2013
  As a member of the PTO for the last few years, as soon as I can, we are out of this school. The principal and her PTO cronies are passive-aggressive and want everyone to conform to them. Are we here to raise money or to support and educate children? I actually heard the principal say she can work with the variance contract because it was vague enough. Don't know the details but that doesn't sound good to me as an outsider. I also found out that they don't allow non-conformists to stay on the board. Just ask former and present board members. I believe in the public school system but something went wrong with this school. Someone needs to take the power away from the PTO and the principal. It's getting out of hand for this so-called "public/charter" school.
• Submitted by teacher on September 23, 2013
  Palm Valley is an exceptional school! I know because my daughter attends third grade here and has been at this school since preschool. The academic experience is consistently A+++, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Not only is the academic quality the norm, but equally important is the fact that teachers truly care. With students as their priority, always, teachers also display a vibe about their profession unlike any I have ever witnessed, and perhaps that is what keeps me very much pleased with my child's educational experience here.
• Submitted by parent on September 21, 2013
  PVE is an absolutely amazing school. I am very impressed with the education my children have received over the past two years. The teachers have always gone out of their way to ensure that their students come first and have amazing communication. The principal and the staff excel at making everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. I often volunteer in my children's classrooms as well as at school functions and while I do enjoy seeing what they are doing in the classroom and being able to help out, I feel that the PTO is unfriendly and very clique-ish. I understand that they have all worked together for a long time and have become friends however I thought the PTO was there to support the school- not for socialization during school hours and certainly not to exclude those that want to help. While I feel that the school is amazing and that the leadership by both the teachers and the administration is stellar, I frown upon the leadership of the PTO.
• Submitted by parent on September 19, 2013
  Being new to Palm Valley Elementary and Goodyear last year, and having moved from an area where my daughter would have attended a highly achieving A+ school, of course I was worried about the new school and if we made the right decisions. All of those "newbie" jitters that most people would have when facing a new community and school. Communication is great, which is good for those of us working folk. Dedication to the kids sure shows with the staff and teachers. The office staff has always been so kind (on those "rare" occasions we are late)..hey it happens! It's so nice to know that the school we chose to have our daughter attend has staff and faculty that really seem to love what they do, what a difference that makes for the kids and the learning environment. Ms. Warhus is a gem (Kinder), and Ms. Keen (First) has such passion to teach, my daughter has been so lucky. I try to volunteer when I can, and that is welcomed. It's a great school, and we are happy with PV. Bottom line, my daughter LOVES school, and that speaks volumes in itself. Hope this review is insightful to any parent(s) new to the area, and have similar worries I had.
• Submitted by parent on September 16, 2013
  I have been around this school for awhile now and my children have really enjoyed their experience there. They have had excellent teachers who truly care about them educationally, socially, and work hard to help them develop new interests. This school has some very hard working and dedicated staff and volunteers who make all of this possible. I have had other school experiences where this was not the case. Unfortunately I feel that there is a concern that needs to be addressed by someone, in that the PTO president deems it appropriate to get defensive and blast individuals for expressing their opinion. Keep in mind there are 54 posts viewable including 1 by the PTO president and 2 that express an opinion that was not liked by the president. As the leader in such an important role to the school it would be great to know that everyone's opinion would be accepted and evaluated. The post below indicates to me that this president overreacts and is more concerned with the perception of her, than actually taking these opinions seriously. I normally don't get involved in this stuff however felt compelled to say something so readers know that this overreaction is not how the school is.
• Submitted by parent on September 11, 2013
  We have a first grader this year at PVE and this is our 2nd year at this amazing school. My son's kinder and first grade teachers have been excellent and no words could do justice to what they have done for our son. I have worked as a teacher in several different schools in several different parts of the country, and I can confidently say that PVE is a vibrant, student-centered, academically-focused, stimulating and emotionally nurturing school. PVE focuses on educating and growing the WHOLE child in all areas, from character and fine arts to "the basics". Mrs. Pearson is exactly what one would dream up for their child's principal - positive, supportive, understanding, and committed to excellence! We truly consider the teachers (kinder, first grade, art, music, PE) administrator, and staff as wonderful blessings to our son and our family. Our family was brand new to the school and to the community last school year. We were welcomed with open arms and made to feel very much a part of this school community by the PTO. The PTO at PVE directly supports so many programs that enhance the day to day operations of the school. I am so proud and thankful my son is a Thunderbird!
• Submitted by parent on September 10, 2013
  I have 2 boys that are at Palm Valley. They both have had good teachers and the parent involvement is great. Also, many fun family nights are available to attend throughout the school year.
• Submitted by parent on September 09, 2013
  I am the president of the PTO that has been reviewed in the comments over the past few weeks. I find it unproductive that people are willing to complain anonymously on a website about a group of hard working VOLUNTEERS who has raised over $75,000 in the past two years and provided thousands of volunteer hours. The fact of the matter is, parent involvement is a key indicator to student success and I want to make sure I do all I can to help my children's school be successful. I also train the volunteers for our campus and end each presentation with an invitation to join our organization and get involved. Is it natural that those who show up and do most of the work become friends? You bet. Are there more and more tasks that the school staff has asked us to be involved in because of lack of time and budget cuts? Again, guilty as charged. Are we perfect? No. But making anonymous accusations isn't going to change anything. If you really want to see a change in the PTO leadership, then get involved. Every position on the board has been elected unopposed in the past 4 years. I would love to see greater participation- come to the meetings, join the committees, run for the board.
• Submitted by parent on September 03, 2013
  There are so many wonderful things to say about PVE. I have had children in this school for a number of years and I can not say enough wonderful things about the principal of the school. The front office staff is top notch and they know every child in the school by name, and many of the parents, too! The teachers in the school are, for the great majority, the best in the business (we have been here for 2nd through 5th and ALL of our teachers have been great). The PE coach is one of the greatest assets of this school. I will be honest in my review, and share that the PTO at the school has become a distraction and a purveyor of politics. I believe that the ladies that participate in the PTO have the best intentions, but they have been given way too much leeway over the past few years. The principal needs to take some of these activities back under control and needs to demand that the PTO become a part of a national organization for greater oversight and transparency in their actions. A huge majority of parents do not feel welcome to spend time volunteering because they are not in the right "circle" to be welcome and I have seen that firsthand, especially the past 2 years.
• Submitted by parent on August 27, 2013
  They could solve the traditional academy questions by posting the scores of the children admitted to the program. It would be sad if a PTO child (Or any child) was admitted when they had scores less than another candidate. I think the Faculty and Principal are great at the school. The PTO ranks somewhere just behind the food selections in the cafeteria, and playground equipment in my mind. Their influence upon my child's education is minor.
• Submitted by parent on August 08, 2013
  As a parent, we all want to send our kids to a great school ! When we moved here we were renting a house in a district we knew we wouldn't send our kids to. So when the time came for kindergarten, we did our research and decided that the Palm Valley Elementary district was our Top Choice! Because we were still out of district, we submitted an application for a variance and it got approved! We couldn't have been happier! Thankfully our variance was approved for a second year and by the time the end of that school year came....we found a house we loved within the PVE district!! Both our children now attend PVE. They continue to excel and LOVE school! Everyone who we've worked with at the school have been amazing - the principal, teachers, staff and the PTO all work together to make PVE a truly "great school". In addition, the PTO provides many opportunities for families to get to know each other through monthly free family fun nights, as well as hosting several events during the first week of school to really help new parents understand what PVE is all about! I would highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a school with a real "community feel."
• Submitted by parent on August 08, 2013
  I have been an active PTO member since 2009, have 3 children at PVE and we are very happy. I believe our principal genuinely cares for the well being of every single child. Teachers really care about the success of the kids. Our PTO is outstanding and has done many amazing things that benefit the children at PVE and all parents are given the opportunity to be involved in our school and part of the PTO. My kids all have IEP's and I've never had any issues in communicating my concerns to the teacher, principal or therapists. There may be more options in our area but PVE is the right choice for our family!

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