Palo Verde Middle School

7502 North 39th Avenue

School District

Washington Elementary
Grade

PK, 7-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for Washington Elementary 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 February 04, 2025

I believe Palo Verde is an excellent school. My daughter really enjoyed the atmosphere and the teachers. The curriculum is appropriate for the grade level, sometimes advanced. I definitely recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2025

I have been very impressed with the school over all and the staff are dedicated to make sure students can be who they want to be and that set the kids up to succeed.
Submitted by other on January 14, 2025

I have personally witnessed how much effort and care the Administration and Faculty put into this school. Any student would be lucky to have such a positive, creative, experienced, results driven environment in which to learn.
Submitted by other on May 26, 2021

My son attended the special needs preschool at Palo Verde Middle School. He had a severe speech delay. It's now been two years and he is ready for Kindergarten. I can't express how pleased I am. His teachers were absolutely amazing. Rebecca Smith is the best. Sara Spiekerman was also fantastic! I am so grateful to have found this preschool. He came so far with their help . I'd recommend this school to any parents needing extra help. I will never forget what these ladies did for my son. Thank you.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2018

Palo Verde has been the worst choice for a school for my daughter to attend to. There is a constant bullying problem via from staff to students. The teachers and office employees don't strive for better communication with parents on problems regarding their children or bother in finding solutions that benefit either party. As a parent my personal experience at Palo Verde has been horrendous. On multiple accounts the staff has been inconsiderate based on my ethnicity asking my daughter whether if I can speak English even after all the documents I'd had filled in the beginning. The counselor, Mrs.Anderson was extremely unprofessional in handling situations. My suggestion would be to improve on staffing to create a much more efficient environment and personally understanding the parents before judging them. I could go on and on about the inefficiencies but the major problem I encountered was that the staff refused to allow my child to take her AZ Merit testing when she was in trouble. I understand a punishment is mandatory yet depriving her of a test she can't make up for the first account is highly unnecessary. This even had pushed my daughter to not want to go to school. If you love your child I recommend not enlisting your child to Palo Verde until the staff improves professionally.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2016

Great teachers. My kids came home excited about going back. I know they are ready for high school.
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2015

The staff is fantastic at this school. I am always greeted with a smile. The teachers are phenomenal and really care about the students. They want to work with parents and the community. I highly recommend Palo Verde!
Submitted by other on November 02, 2014

This school is a great place. They might have a little bumps, but every school has that. I think that you get a great education, and it has changed from years ago, when all it had was violence. There is one girl, who is in special needs and I have the opportunity to hang out with her and another friend. I'm glad that they allow us to have the opportunity to dress down if we are good enough, and I think it's because we deserve it. I think we don't have to dress to show our style, it's how we show it with our personality. I think that all of our different personalities make it unique, and clothes, they're what we wear, not what expresses us. We are also given the opportunity, if we have a high enough grade, to either gett a bronze, silver, or gold card, which allows us to have access to the front of the lunch line, and free access to home games, which also is what is deserved. Honestly, this school has helped us, it made my brother's grade go higher, it has helped me strive to reach for higher grades, and try my best.
Submitted by parent on August 06, 2014

This is a great school no matter what rumors you hear. Like they say you should never believe everything that's said, it may not all be true.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2014

My daughter attended Palo Verde Middle School for the past two years and graduated today. She is a special needs student and we would like other parents to know what a great experience she had at this school. She was always treated with the utmost respect and was readily accepted by the other students. She was challenged by her school assignments and academically surpassed many expectations. This time in a childs life can be hard due to peer acceptance and we found that Palo Verde made the experience one of the best our daughter has had in school. The staff made us feel welcome from day one and her conferences involved everyone that made up her team. We always felt that they had an open door policy and would address any questions we had. As parents we were nervous about the change to middle school and because of our experience at Palo Verde ,we look forward to high school !
Submitted by other on March 12, 2014

Palo Verde is definitely not the best school but it's decent. Some of the teachers are funny but it's a bit too strict and I really think that people would like the school better if you could wear you're own clothes. It's way better not having to buy a bunch of t-shirts so you won't run out of uniform shirts to wear. And I think wearing your own clothes is kind of way to express you and your personality so people can kind of see you and your style. It's a waste of money to buy those uniform shirts. And I would say that the school is not that good with being nice to each other. As a student, I can see how students treat other students and it's really not that great. Parents, as much as they say, don't know how students treat each other because they don't go to school there so they don't really know. All in all I would say Palo Verde isn't the best. I would totally go to a different school if I could right now.
Submitted by other on January 16, 2014

being a eighth grader at this school really sucks, coming from a middle school that had lockers, and a lot of responsibilty for yourself, palo verde is like a elementary school. the teachers are always telling us that we are almost high schoolers, but we still have to line up outside of classrooms, we still have to walk in lines to lunch, we still have to mimic the teachers clap rhythm. we have a sheet that keeps track of your behavior & if you get a certain amount of good behaviors, the. you get a dress down. the only good thing about this school is that all the students have each other backs, on my first day at this school ( I started late) I was so confused, so I asked the teacher she looks at me like I wasn't speaking English. for my first week a student helped me get the hang of things, without being told. keep your child away from palo verde . the campus is too large to be a middle school and there are way too many kids.
Submitted by other on August 06, 2012

This school has some of the most talented and intelligent students! The teachers help them to find their way in a very difficult time in their lives. The teachers do a great job in communicating with parents when need arises. The classes are designed to help students at the lowest levels and also meets the needs of those who excel in school. The afterschool activities are numerous and there is something for everyone. I highly recommend this learning community to any family!
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2012

Boy, I completely agree with the parent that wrote the review on February 6th. My child has been discipllined for infractions, yet I see more volatileand violent infractions being dealt with on a lot more lenient scale. Does my child have to be completely out of control to receive the same treatment as other students? Assignments are not accepted if the teacher is upset with my child even though it was completed. I would pay hefty price just to take my child to a private school and protect him/her from the negative situation. It is too bad this system makes us give at least one star, becasue this school deserves no stars.
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2012

.I went to this school and it has changed so very much since I attended. When I enrolled my son the staff was extremely condescending, rude, and disrespectful towards me. My son is scared to go to school most days, because he is not hispanic he is bullied. They do not give us the same paper work they give other students so my son gets failing grades and the teachers doing this refuse to stop doing it. This school is a disgrace to American teaching standards and needs government intervention!
Submitted by other on April 19, 2011

This school is the worst school I have ever dealt with. I do not feel like the administration supports the parents. The priorities are not in the interest of the students. I have had nothing but conflicts on this campus, there is no level of accountability at the staff level, and the staff shifts the blame to everyone but themselves.
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2011

I regret having my children in this school. The prioroties are backwards and the system is a one size fits all for students, which leaves no room for building a proper connection between staff and students. The envoronment is negative, and the students feed off of this. This gives me a different perspective on public schools.
Submitted by other on August 24, 2010

Just reminiscing about all of my years in grade school...as well as researching current reviews on all of them. Well I decided to pick PV as the sole school to write a review on. Ten years removed, my honest remembrance of PV is a school with true diversity, quality kids, and a faculty who believed in your children. Trust me, they don't do it for the money. Middle school was my most rewarding grade school experience. I met people who would become lifelong friends, as well as a teacher who inspired and connected with her students. Ms. Janelle Chisholm is on a different level as far as commitment, effectiveness, and grace. Keep plugging away Janelle, you are making a difference!
Submitted by other on April 16, 2010

The special programs for children with learning difficulties could set the standard in the area. These teachers and administrators really care.
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2010

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