Kiva Elementary School

6911 East McDonald Drive

School District

Scottsdale Unified District
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

School Map for Scottsdale Unified 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 October 18, 2024

I know five star reviews can look inflated but I can honestly say I have zero complaints about Kiva and rave about it to anyone who asks, particularly those considering private school. Kiva’s support, education, and parental involvement is on par (if not better) than private education. When you find a public school this excellent - just go!
Submitted by parent on July 26, 2021

Kiva is an excellent school and the teachers are great. They truly care about the well being and success of the students.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2020

Horrible and learned a big lesson with my first child and did not go back with my other two children.
Submitted by parent on August 03, 2019

Outstanding and we have recommended Kiva to others. I would chose it again for my child.
Submitted by parent on July 10, 2019

Overall we have had a great experience at this school. I feel the teachers have had a very positive impact on my children's lives. I appreciate the teachers and staff very much.
Submitted by parent on May 22, 2019

So far it has been horrible,but I suppose it could be worse.
Submitted by parent on February 27, 2018

Overall, it’s been a great experience at Kiva. I am thrilled that my children enjoy going to school each day, unlike my experience with elementary school which I dreaded for all eight years. It is apparent to me that the teachers my children have take pride in their jobs and do their best to provide their students with a positive and meaningful learning experience. I haven’t experienced any rude, arrogant, demeaning, or unprofessional conduct from any of the faculty that other parents mention, other than with the school nurse, but in my experience nurses generally have such a demeanor no matter where they’re employed.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2018

Absolutely fabulous. Meeting each child where they are at, keeping learning fun, getting kids to want to achieve their best. Great teachers, great teachers, great teachers. Very supportive family community. All around great school.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2017

Be careful what you post on here as the teachers will find it and then bully you for posting it. The reason there are so many good reviews is that the people posting are certainly a part of the clique. Horrible experience at this school.
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2017

My experience with the leadership and administration of this school was deplorable. Even though this is the school for which I am zoned, I continue to take my children to a much better school within the SUSD. Rude, Arrogant, closed minded, obnoxious - They seemed to forget that they are a PUBLIC school, there to SERVE the greater good of the children.
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2017

My child goes o Kindergarten and all of Kiva Staff is wonderful.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2017

I have absolutely no idea how this school has a 10 out of 10 stars. This is highly misleading. This school is the opposite of what a school should be. Some teachers are very demeaning and the principal is very unprofessional. I guess he has no idea what's going on in his own school.After two weeks, I ended up pulling my son from it. I simply do not recommend this school, at all.
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2017

Experienced, caring teachers and staff support and encourage learning, keep learning fun while vigorous.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2017

I love this school and I didn’t think I would ever say that about a public school. The Be Kind program is amazing. Yes there will always of those kids that aren’t always “kind” but this school does all it can to make that kids show their KIVA BEST (Be Kind, Eager to Learn, Safety First and Take Responsibility) in school . I receive at least 1-2 email a week from my daughter teacher letting us know what is going on in the classroom. Our teacher always communicated any concern or areas of improvement that she saw with my daughter. She also gave us advice and online resources that we could work on together at home. There is a large social media community for this school. The principal is always posting photos of class project, school events and even just kicking the soccer ball with kids on the playground. This school also has excellent parent involvement from event to the art masterpiece program. I work full time but there are a lot of way that I can help or volunteer at the school.
Submitted by other on July 22, 2016

I love the Be Kind program that teaches core values for the students and is promoted and modeled by the teachers. My son has attended the last two years and has excelled in both, giving him a sense of pride and accomplishment. I am amazed at what is being taught.
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2016

One has to be careful where you post reviews about Kiva as they have a network of bullies that seek out the poor reviews and harass the parents into either taking them down or using the PTO to do a smear campaign against the poster. This school is run by $$ if you have it and donate it then you are in the "in" group where you get all the best teachers, your child won't be disciplined (even if they are a bully), and the school promotes so much negativity. This school needs an overhaul starting from the top down. There are far better schools out there and you don't have to worry about how much money you donate.
Submitted by other on February 15, 2016

I attended Kiva ES from kindergarten through fifth grade. I began to be bullied there in first grade, and it only got worse every successive year. By the fifth grade, I went home crying almost every day. The entire grade, it seemed, was against me, constantly teasing and taunting. With the exception of a very sweet teacher I had in third grade, none of the teachers or other faculty members seemed to care. Maybe they didn't want to discipline the rich brats...my fifth grade teacher even clearly favored my worst bullies, and was buddy-buddy with some of the meanest girls' moms. I switched schools for sixth grade because I couldn't handle going to Kiva anymore. Although I have since graduated Phi Beta Kappa from college, I am nevertheless depressed and very insecure, no doubt in large part due to the traumatic bullying I endured for years at Kiva. I would never wish this upon any child. Please don't send your kids here. Best of luck.
Submitted by parent on July 07, 2015

Our family's experience at Kiva has been outstanding. Every teacher my sons have had has been experienced and worked tirelessly to both engage them in learning and inspire them to do their personal best. All the while, the teachers keep the joy in learning. Our kids have thrived in a nurturing, academic environment where teachers meet each student where they are at, and find the best approaches to help each student excell. Students participate in computer lab, as well as utilize mobile laptop labs in classrooms. The kids participate annually in an art project that combines art education with a kindness project. There are engaging afterschool programs both athletic and academic - such as sportball, robotics and rubik's cube club. All of the teachers we've had have extensive experience as grade school teachers and are board certified (including several award-winning teachers). The library has a vast array of books for all levels of readers, with a knowledgeable staff that works tirelessly to find books to fit each child's interests and reading ability. The school has an accelerated reader program which encourages and rewards readership across all grade levels. The school promotes kindness and academics and has a strong sense of community and support. We have seen great results with our kids during the six years we have been at Kiva.
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2014

We have two girls that went to Kiva and while we loved the teachers, we cannot say we would do it again. After graduation from Kiva and experiencing one year of the low quality of Mohave we took our oldest to a Great Hearts academy and brought the youngest there as well. While Kiva is a good school we are astonished at quality of education at Great Hearts. Kiva, unlike Mohave, has good teachers but they are overloaded and underpaid. They just look like the walking wounded. Now both of our girls are learning a foreign language, music, athletics, ancient history... It is like a light was turned on. The whole mood of our home has been elevated. While Kiva is a good school and doing its best there are indeed better alternatives. Take them if you can...
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2014

My daughter is going into 2nd grade this year. She has been at no other school since kindergarten so its a challenge to say there is a "better" school without the experience. Thus, I went with 4 stars instead of 5. I know there are a few parents who are moving their children to the Great Hearts Academy this year. I have been happy with Kiva. I think the teachers are great! Hey, my daughter is reading and doing math. She is stimulated, inquistive and loves science. She is socializing and having lots of fun. She loves school! The kids all cried when they said goodbye (for the summer) to their 1st grade teacher. This reassures me that Kiva is the place for my girl!