Pathfinder Academy

2906 North Boulder Canyon

School District

Edkey Inc. - Pathfinder Academy
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

charter

School Map for Edkey Inc. - Pathfinder Academy

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 May 28, 2024

I had high hopes when I registered my son. Waiting list was two years. We had to deal with detentions every other week, because he said something meant something else between friends, someone else heard it and get offended. Suspended. Had to take him to math tutor, because teacher did not like kids asking her questions. Despite of all efforts still low grade. I loved the admin and teachers but …. You got to let them grow, express themself. They are not bullies, not districting property. They are pre teens trying to find themselves. It not like we are building blocks for the wall. Everyone is unique and everyone of them will be somebody someday
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2018

I love Pathfinder. Is it for everyone? NO! Has it been GREAT for my kids? YES! I love the "say it to know it" books each grade has to do, the monthly poems and character education, Spalding math, spelling and handwriting, Saxon math and small classroom size.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2018

I had high hopes for this school but I feel like they really let our child down. I truly hope the new leadership can turn things around and they're able to develop more support for teachers and students.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2017

Frustrating and Dismayed. Our son was having difficulty handling his emotions and remaining focused in class. He would be either sent to the principals office or we were called in to come get him. We had found a program that would help him learn appropriate coping skills, however this program can only be utilized by the school. We, as parents, could not refer our son. It had to be through the school. Pathfinder flatly refused to work with the us or the program, instead chose to suspend our son. This is unacceptable. We have since pulled our son out of Pathfinder and enrolled him into another a school that is willing to assist us in getting the help our son needs to succeed. Pathfinder apparently is more into funding than the success of their students.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2017

The test scores are high because they discriminate against kids with learning challenges. They act very nice but don't let them fool you they are not. The student teacher ratio is 27 to 1! I've seen public schools with better ratios.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2015

What a wonderful experience Pathfinder Academy has been for my children. I have seen a significant positive difference in my daughters ability to learn, primarily due to the genuine love and concern the teachers and staff have. I enjoy the smaller school environment which provides that personal touch most public schools are incapable of achieving. My only complaint is that I wish I would have known about this school sooner.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2014

I have to say, although the people on here seem to all think Pathfinder is wonderful, that was not our experience. We found it far too small for our son to grow socially. He is a very intelligent young man and does very well academically, but he did not flourish socially because this charter school is so small. He and my daughter have both been to other charter schools in the past and we found that the teaching methods at this one were neither unique nor exceptional although the teachers and principal are very nice.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2013

Moving my children to Pathfinder was one of the best decisions. I love the emphasis on the country. I love the emphasis on memorization and reading. With book reports and 30 spelling words a week, my children still get good grades with minimal home work despite haVing every Friday off. It is quite impressive and to top it off Pathfinder scored third in the state for AIMs testing. You cannot beat that kind of results and it resonates with my kids and their friends, which is One of the best byproducts of the school, are the great friends. Thank goodness Arizona allows us to choose a charter school versus public.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2013

I don't think I can say enough wonderful things about this school. This is our first year at Pathfinder and my children love it. They love going to school every day, and they love that it is only four days a week. I love that I spend Fridays doing things with my children that I think would be beneficial to them. I love the small classroom sizes which makes for more one on one with the teacher. I will definitely be back next year!
Submitted by other on October 31, 2013

This school is wonderful and fun place to learn.I am a graduate from pathfinder academy,the principle hand picks the teachers and is a great leader,the teachers there are wonderful teachers and know ho to have fun.But best of all they have the 3rd highest aims scores in the state! So if your planning to go to a new school try pathfinder!
Submitted by parent on October 30, 2013

We chose this small non-traditional school after Mendoza didn't work out well for our son. He is very smart, but doesn't focus in school because it's not important to him. The Pathfinder staff holds him accountable (give up recess to work on homework not turned in), gives him incentives (shop at Mrs. Packham's school store with "bucks" earned for work completed, extra work at home, etc), moves his desk often (to where he'd least like to be and so the kids don't get so friendly that they don't work). Communication by text reminders for assignments due, flyers for the month ahead, quarterly parent meetings (or more often as requested). They play tag, flag football, and dodge-ball. There are contests where there are 1st-3d prizes (no award just for being there). Children are encouraged to work out their own conflicts, though they are few and far between. It seems that since there are no busses, no lunches provided, and no school on Fridays that all the parents that have kids there do it because the kids come first and it shows. I haven't heard of any bullying. There are some combined classrooms this year. It seems to provide an opportunity for mentoring, reinforcement, foreshadowing.
Submitted by parent on October 30, 2013

This school has been incredible for my kids! I have four and we started attending Pathfinder 10 years ago. Susan Stradling is a brilliant story teller as she shares and teaches the children the concepts and lessons of the day. She hand selects the teachers that will teach with the same degree of passion and responsibility that she teaches with. The teachers at Pathfinder on more than one occasion have worked with each of my children on an individual basis to ensure that they don't fall behind, whether it was in math, reading or spelling, they have always taken the time to ensure each child was taken care of. One of my children no longer attends Pathfinder because he is now in high school. But, because of the impact Susan had on him, fostering in him a strong love for history, the constitution and this countries founders, he now desires to become a constitutional lawyer, or author books telling the rich stories of our founders! I am forever grateful I found this little diamond in the rough, Pathfinder.
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2013

This is our 2nd year at Pathfinder. I have only wonderful things to say about this school. I love that it's a more personal setting and it's easy to get to know everyone who works with the kids throughout the day. It is about 15 minutes from where I live and well worth the drive (about 1 hr a day) to know that I am leaving my child(ren) in capable and trusted hands. My son has loved his first 2 years here and still looks forward to each day. I look forward to having a second child start at Pathfinder next year. My niece attended Pathfinder for a few years in her teen years and she (as well as her parents) also has nothing but respect and admiration for the staff and the school.
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2013

This is our daughters first year at Pathfinder Academy. She loves it, we love it. We are amazed at the things she comes home and tells us about what she is learning. Her teacher, principal, PE coach and staff are all excellent. We look forward to many more years at this school.
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2013

Pathfinder is the place to beat! I am so amazed at how they teach my children subjects that my two teenagers didnt learn till sophomore year! This school is so wonderful and I would not be surprised if this school is number one in the nation! Thank you pathfinder for giving my kids this great opportunity to be In your school!
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2013

I couldn't be more happy with our experience at Pathfinder Academy! My kids have loved each of their teachers, who have instilled within them a love of learning and academic achievement. It's an environment that we feel is safe and healthy for our kids, has high standards, and is the best educational experience they can have next to a private school. My kids love it!
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2011

This little unassuming school is amazing! Thanks to them all of my kids blew the AIM's tests out of the water with near perfect scores. You can't find a better school.Maybe the Mesa school district should take some lessons from them on how to have a good school.
Submitted by other on July 19, 2011

i was a student at this amazing school from third grade all the way through eighth grade, today i went to take college placements tests for classes i will be taking throughout high school, thanks to this school i scored a 100% in the English and will probably be placed in the honors 101 class a 84% in reading and will be in the highest class, should i have got the next bracket up it would have been an exemption from reading all together, and a 61% in math, not as good, but high enough to make them tell me to go back and take the next level test, which is pre-calculus level, and i say its all thanks to this wonderful school and the amazing teachers working there, i would highly recommend this school to anyone and everyone who wants to learn and cares about their academics