Sousa Elementary School

616 North Mountain Road

School District

Mesa Unified
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for Mesa Unified 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 parent on December 17, 2024

Safety is not taken seriously. If you don’t mind your child harassed and physically attacked by others then you’ll have no problem here. Punishments include even students who did not participate within the activity. Adding to further animosity amongst the students impacting their relationships with their peers. Reaching out for assistance you’re assured they are doing things but with a new matrix i am left wondering why one student is on campus with as many altercations as they have had. Might help if the principal wasn’t pulled off campus for training weekly.
Submitted by parent on April 13, 2024

No communication or discipline coming from a mom whose kid has needed it and also needed the school to discipline other kids as well. Physical and verbal harassment at its finest. My kid did not feel safe here, and I have tried communicating with staff all year long including the district with nothing done.
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2023

If I could have given this school 0 stars I would have. I cannot believe the lack of support that my daughter received at this school. She was bullied by multiple people and the school refused to do anything about it. She was basically told she needed to just ignore the bullies and endure their behavior toward her. No matter what she did, it wasn't enough to stop those kids from continuing to instigate. She would come home crying at least once a week and had lies about her being spread to the other students and the staff. I tried on multiple occasions to talk with her teachers and counselors and nothing seemed to improve. They refused to discipline the other kids in any way and wanted to ignore the entire situation. My daughter and one of her friends even received hate notes from one of the students and the school still refused to take any action. They simply made the girls involved write happy grams to each other and wanted to force them all to be friends even after all of the negativity. My daughter begged me to let her change schools because she was not able to get away from all of the problems that were created by others. I ended up switching her schools mid year this year because she started to dread school (which she used to love) and was always stressed and anxious about how social interactions with others would go. Moving her out of that school was byfar the best choice I could have made for her. I have attempted to talk to the principal who has still yet to return my call. I have attempted to communicate with the assistant superintendent as well but have not received any response. I am highly disappointed by the fact that the no tolerance bullying rules don't seem to actually mean anything or have any repercussions. Additionally, the staff does not communicate what is going on in class educationally or if there are problems between the children. I had to find out anything about what happened in school directly from my daughter or by going down and forcing a meeting with her teachers to try to get to the bottom of things, which never seemed to have and effect on how things were handled. It's sad that my daughter chose to start over from scratch rather than endure even 1 more day at Sousa. If you have the chance to send your child to ANY other school I would definitely advise it. My daughter is much happier and way less stressed being way from the environment that Sousa created by their unwillingness to help.
Submitted by parent on August 05, 2022

If I could give zero stars, I would. These people did not feed my daughter. First day of school, and the school failed. I am absolutely livid.
Submitted by parent on August 05, 2022

This WAS a pretty decent school in the past. The 2022-2023 school year is off to a very poor start. Make no mistake about it only about half the staff actually care for your child, the rest are clearly here just for the paycheck. Be prepared for your children to be bullied by both students and staff, have clothing, shoes, jackets, and accessories ruined or stolen if your children attend this school. Bullying is completely acceptable at this school depending on who is doing the bullying. Apparently, they think everyone has deep pockets and can replace clothing, accessories, jackets etc on a weekly basis. Be prepared for your female and male children to be treated differently and held to different standards, as well. Advocate, advocate, advocate.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2021

I have had it with Sousa. I have given them many chances to help fix issues with how they schedule their online sessions with students and it was to no avail. I’m not the only one with complaints I have met with other parents and we share the same concerns. Here are the issues we continue to have:1. The 1st grade teachers are impatient with the students and the parents. 2. They do not hold live classes for every subject instead they hold reading and writing with little time for students to ask questions and understand. There are no accommodations for students with different learning needs. 3. The principal is the most unprofessional and weak leader I have ever met. She justifies the teachers lack of performance and lack of caring for the students. 4. The teachers do not spend time with the students to work to insure their understanding of the assignments. Isn’t this what teachers should do?The teachers need to quit they give teachers a bad name, so does the principal. This issue will be escalated.
Submitted by parent on December 24, 2020

I have had my children at Sousa for the past couple of years and I could not be more disappointed at the lack of professionalism from the teachers. I would expect teachers to hold live classes for every subject and not just assign work and leave it up to young students to teach themselves. Teachers are inconsistent with their scheduling, I have received messages at 6am wanting to schedule testing for that same day. The teachers are short tempered and have spoken to me with irritated attitudes when I reach out for help or clarification. If you are seeking a welcoming school with dedicated teachers seek another school.
Submitted by parent on December 22, 2020

The teachers are confrontational and not polite at all. They have been inconsistent with their in person vs remote schedule, with very little notice.
Submitted by parent on July 29, 2015

My daughter has been going here since kindergarten, she will be going into 4th grade this year. I've been so impressed with the teachers and the way they all do their best to make a bunch out of limited funding. I could send my kid to las sendas or Zaharias and chose Sousa! No regrets.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2014

The school likes to make excuses for children that are bullying. My daughter has an IEP and teachers don't like to follow. There is no communication from the teachers unless I communicate first. They don't seem to care when your child is failing. I would not recommend this school to anyone. They also do not have preschool.
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2014

I am sad to report the experience at Sousa has been a horrible one for myself and my child. It is run like a penitentiary and and it has a very toxic environment. As a place of learning with young children having a warm and inviting climate would be appropriate but this is not the case at Sousa elementary. I warn parents that staff yell at the children and are extremely confrontational to parents. Be sure not to voice your concerns because retaliatory actions will take place. I would not recommend this school to anyone. Submitted by a parent (I agree with this parent) this is what I saw.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2014

My daughter has been at Sousa since Kindergarden. She is now in 2nd grade. I have had nothing but positive experiences there. The teachers are fantastic and the principal is wonderful. The teacher keeps me so informed and my daughter is excelling.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2014

John Philip Sousa Elementary School has provided excellent education for both of my daughters and soon for my son. Everyone keeps me informed when their may be a slight problem we can work on at home to better any curriculum concerns my daughters' may have. I attended Sousa when I was a child and I enjoyed every moment of it, this is why I chose John Philip Sousa for my children!