Desert Meadows Elementary School

6855 W MEADOWS LOOP E

School District

Laveen Elementary District
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for Laveen Elementary 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 January 17, 2018

We have two students at Desert Meadows. Great administration and teachers! Always eager to help the students grow and exceed, both academically and socially. Communication is easy. Overall a great school with a focus on STEM.
Submitted by other on May 04, 2016

This school is great. Staff are very professional and nice. It is always clean and everyone there is very helpful.
Submitted by other on November 17, 2015

Needless to say, this is the worst school I've ever sent my children to. The first week of school, I pulled into the drop off zone to drop my children off, my daughter was scared and wanted me to walk her, she was crying, so I got off and walked her about 20 feet to her room as the principal watched what was happening. As I was going back to my car, the principal approached me and in a very rude tone states" next time you need to park in the parking lot if you want to walk them". Then proceeds to wave and say bye to two other ladies parked in front of me doing the same. My other child was having difficulty with his homework, I was having problems trying to help him figure it out as I found out they have no books, that they copy their homework off an overhead projector, so I emailed the teacher. It took the teacher 3 days to respond, then I hear from my child that he was punished because another child took his pencil and wouldn't give it back during a test and as he was asking for it back the teacher approached, wouldn't listen to him, sent him to another room and gave him an F, I again emailed the teacher and this time was 4 days before a response, on the third day I was livid so I called the principal, apparently he was on lunch duty so I was asked to call back at 130, at 145 I called and was give another rude comment of the only thing she can do is put me to his voicemail and he had 48 hours to respond. By the way, its been close to two weeks and still no response. Another teacher gave my child an F even though he has turned in 100% homework and assignments, but made a C on a quiz and D on a test, but when I questioned the teacher she said he was close but she gave him an F because the very first day of school, she assigned homework (who does that anyway?) due the next morning, and he turned it in late, of course she says homework doesn't weigh very much on their grade, but apparently that one did. Needless to say this school from principal to teachers really could care less about you or your children and it comes out with every possible moment, I will be moving my children as soon as possible. I would give zero stars if I could.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2015

This school every year has gone down they basically don't care any more and there new conference system sucks forget making it easy for parents that work to have an appointment if you have a child that has adhd forget them helping them they will just give them ds and pass them even though have the time my child has no clue what's going on forget him learning or having an education and when you tell there teacher you can't make that conference they just say ohh you don't need one yes yes I do I need to know what's going on and what we are going to do to help my child succeed my other child has to much time on her hands she barley brings home anything one week she has spelling the next she doesn't I try to ask her questions and she has not a clue what's going on in school how does that happen when did it become social hour for the kids instead of learning she's in fourth grade and does nothing I can't wait to take my kids out of this school and find a school that cares about education and my children's future worst school ever don't even bother talking to the principal he does not a think to help or correct the situation no wonder all the good teachers left because this school gets a big zero 5 years my kids have been at this school and every year it had gone down and now my kids are behind because who care about helping the special kids we can't fail them so let's not take the time to teach them
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2015

After moving from California to Arizona I was very nervous about school for my kindergartener. But I am very happy to say I love this school for my daughter she has learned so much and we all love her kindergarten teacher Ms Mell she is so sweet, smart and very approachable not just for her students but us patents as well.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2013

I have been here just about a year with my kids. I found the teachers to be very forthcoming and the administration easy to work with. Some of the kids are rowdy but that is to be expected with the age group. The staff works very hard! I love this school
Submitted by parent on March 11, 2013

This school has been a terrible experience for my kids. My two struggling children are not getting the help they need, and my other child is bored. The bully issues are rampant, the oversight of the teachers over the students is non-existent, and the principal is neither responsive or forthcoming. They claim there is a bully form that can be used, but how exactly does a piece of paper fix an obviously ongoing problem. The in-class behavior the students are allowed to get away with is terrible, and the teachers, no matter what they spout off, are just teaching the kids to one test or another and nothing else. Who cares about helping the kids think and learn when we can push them through the assembly line to make our AIMS scores higher so we look better. Nevermind the ongoing problems.
Submitted by parent on August 14, 2012

I have a new student to Desert Meadows this year and can't believe how professional and polite the staff is. My son is in 7th grade and I am amazed by the dedication of his teachers to help him become acquainted with the school. He comes home each day with homework and is eager to do it! I am looking forward to a great year at Desert Meadows!
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2012

I had an excellent experience with my children the first week of school. There were lots of friendly people to assist me on the first day and my kids came home excited about their teachers. I even had a good experience working with the principal when I had a question about my youngest ones teacher.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2012

Sadly the Principal and VP have lost touch with the staff and the teachers at this point. Students now attack teachers but the staff doesn't want to deal with the parents so they do nothing. Sadly, this school was so promising, but now it's just a plain old school of sub par factors now. Glad we moved our kids out of here....
Submitted by parent on December 16, 2011

We are very glad that this is our daughter's last year at Desert Meadows. She has endured a lot of bullying while attending this school. The teachers have done little to stop it when we have complained and the principal does not return phone calls or emails but has someone else handle the problem, which is usually the assistant principal. It is amazing what you hear from other parents when you attend a sports event or any other program. There are a lot of parents who agree there is a bully problem, communication problem between teacher's and parents, and while the office staff is okay, the principal needs a stricter review of his performance. Bullying in any form should have a zero tolerance and teachers need to be sending students to the office, the office needs to be calling parents, and students need to be picked up and taken home if they are going to be continually disruptive and negative in classrooms. Some kids do want to learn even if they are not honors students.
Submitted by parent on December 14, 2011

My son has attented this school for 2 years and it has been a nightmare with all of the bulling, he is more advanced than the other kids and he has been harrasased by the other students since he was in 2nd grade and the teachers. The principal tries to put a stop to it but only for a short period of time and then it goes right back to the bulling. This school has made my son not want to go to school.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2011

This is my kids' second year at Desert Meadows, and it's been a good school for us. They are currently in 7th grade and 2nd grade. All the teachers they've had have been really good. Ms. Zachary in 2nd grade is great! My 7th grader is in the honors program and is doing really well. The office staff is just okay. Anytime I've tried to contact the principal via e-mail or phone, I get a response from someone else or, more often, no response at all. But other than that, I would recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2011

Bar far one horrible school for my Kinder!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!! I have never had such a bad experience in a public school as I had. School Started August 9 and my child just went downhill since the first day of School Who treats Kinder as if they are in boot camp!!!!!!! I know I volunteered for the first 2 weeks, and teachers if they do not like your kid you better make sure that the teachers are not roomates because they will tag team your child!!!!!!!!!! I would not send a sack of Scorpions to Desert Meadow. Tried to get help with the Vice prinicpal and the Principal and was treated so badly and Talked down to. I cried. Got my daughter out as soon as I could. Get yours out too!!!!!
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2011

Desert Meadows has been a mixed bag for our son who attends there. He has a had very inexperienced teacher who was difficult to work with, rigid in classroom approaches, difficult to work with as a parent, and lacking in student empathy. This person also was extremely difficult to communicate with through any means, email, phone calls or in person. However, Mr. Priess, the principal, offset a good deal of our negativity with his support and his efforts to resolve the challenges with that teacher. During the new school year that just started,our son's new teacher is experienced, dedicated and very focused on results and communication with families. Our son is succeeding above our expectations, and enjoys going to school. We are very pleased that such efforts went into taking a negative experience and transforming it into a positive outcome. For parents who are less than pleased, we would suggest speaking directly with the principal. Also, the new assistant principal, Ms. Epacs, has also gone above and beyond this year in making our son's experience a positive one. Desert Meadows certainly is moving in the right direction, though there is room to grow.
Submitted by parent on July 26, 2011

This school is HORRIBLE!! I moved to the area in the middle of the school year last year. My son was enrolled in 3rd grade at the time, I went to enroll him and they set me free on the campus while school was in session to go see his "new classroom" which ended up not being the correct one. My son would come home ever day crying because he was being bullied by peers and older children at the school. He said his teacher cussed a lot and yelled at the class. I had SEVERAL issues with the front office staff, they are very rude and seem more interested in gossiping in the office together instead of taking care of the parents/students in the office. I ended up taking my son out of that school and enrolling him somewhere else. When I tried to get his paperwork from the school the same front office staff would not fax the info to the new school and told me I was going to have to wait until she was ready to send it. It was a bad experience all around.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2010

Desert Meadows is a work in progess. BUT, Ms. Warren, my son's kindergarten teacher is the best. She cares about the kids and teaches them well above what a K-class should be. I know my son is getting a great education with her.
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2010

I am very disappointed in DM. My four year old kindergartner was placed in the wrong classroom all day and was reported absent by his original teacher. When I arrived at the school to pick up my child, NO had a clue where he was, because according to there records he never came to school. My child was found a hour after school was dismissed in what seemed to be a first grade classroom. DM offered no formal apologize for the terrible and terrifying error and has been very insensitive to the hole situation.
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2010

My son attended for his 5th grade year with Mr. Goldwasser. His progress was incredible and his teacher CARED... Awesome
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2010

My family has only been at this school since October but I am impressed. The focus is on student success. My son talks about goals and he likes his teacher. The campus is a nice place to visit. I am very pleased.