Pinnacle High School

3535 East Mayo Boulevard

School District

Paradise Valley Unified District
Grade

7-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:25
Type

public

School Map for Paradise Valley 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 February 28, 2024

Overall the school is a bit above average. I currently have 2 students attending it. Both have had experiences with their respective science teachers quitting or getting fired mid school year and not having a good back up plan. My Freshman's science teacher was originally just a substitute but was made the permanent school teacher since Nov 2023. Feedback from my child who typically enjoys science is that the teacher doesn't do a satisfactory job. The campus is large and seems well funded.
Submitted by student on January 07, 2024

In general, I think what a student gets out of school is that student puts into it. There are plenty of opportunities to move up to Honors and AP classes where the teachers and curriculum are fantastic, otherwise the education for regular classes are okay (no motivation, teachers fail to hold respect, etc.). This applies for nearly all schools, but what I think makes this school better than some of the others nearby is that when a student pushes themself, they get rewarded.This is my experience as a student who took a couple regular classes the first year then never took one again because there wasn’t enough discipline in the class. I could easily ask my counselor for higher level classes and even got the opportunity to take 2 semesters of Pre-Calc over the summer (despite how I should have only been allowed 1) because I wanted to get ahead in math. That example is what I mean by a student gets what they put into education—all we ever need to do is ask, or else who will know how to help us?However, I do believe this school struggles with discipline. In my first year, there were a few homophobic kids who would yell and my friends and I and post videos online of them trying to humiliate us. This only lasted a month before they eventually got bored and stopped bothering us. In that time, we went to the dean, our councilors, anyone who could discipline them, and all that happened was a ‘stern’ talking to and one student was suspended for 1 day. Honestly, it sucked. It seemed nothing could be done so we just held out until they eventually stopped. This lack of discipline is the only problem I have with the school, however it seems that the last 2 years they’ve made an effort to do better on that aspect as well as make an effort to help the mental health and well being of students.I have no comment to make on special education as I’ve no experience with it. Neither to I have a comment on safety—unfortunately no high school fills me with a feeling of safety when far too often schools are shot up.My review is really just my experience, others may feel better or worse about our school. Overall, I like my school, and I’m thankful for all the opportunities my teachers and counselors have given me.
Submitted by other on August 25, 2022

I got a lot out of my three years at pinnacle. There were a couple less than stellar teachers but the staff far exceeded expectations. Coaches and administrators were very kind and invested in my success. Lots of opportunity to pursue my special interests and strengths and encouragement to get better in other areas.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2022

We left to go to Cactus Shadows in the Cave Creek Unified School District. Pinnacle is too big and kids fall through the cracks.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2021

Do not enroll your child here. As academic performance in its students has plummeted, the art department solely relying on the paycheck of its teachers, this school focuses attention on its sports department as it is the only department that can bring in funding, to which they feed their funding back into. The lack of diversity is astounding. The attitude of the administration is nothing short of disappointing, some staff possessing characteristics that are downright disgusting. The only thing about this school that I could attempt to promote is a handful of wonderful teachers that CHOOSE to go above and beyond for their students WITHOUT help or aid from the school itself. Your child will simply not be ready for any kind of real-world experience. I advise you to find elsewhere to enroll your child.
Submitted by other on May 19, 2021

I graduated from Pinnacle High School and honestly have no complaints about my time there.
Submitted by student on December 05, 2019

Truly terrible. I genuinely wanted to drop out or change schools.
Submitted by student on September 24, 2018

I attend this school and so far it's been a terrible experience. Ms. Brelo, Dr. Lanese and the others in administration don't care about their students. The only thing they care about is making sure they don't get sued. There have been a few situations where they have said point blank that we need to shut up about problems at school. They are supposed to be unbiased about situations at the school yet they constantly choose sides when it comes to confrontations between students. The smoking/vaping problem seems never-ending. I have just been walking to class before and stepped on at least 3 empty juul pods within that passing period. They are unprofessional and unethical someone needs to replace them.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2017

As a parent of a student who graduated from Pinnacle I can honestly say my child was treated fairly in a positive learning environment. My child was accepted to all three in state school and recieved all the encouragement and recognition she needed to excel. She participated in sports as well as the AP classes as did her circle of friends. The negative reviews on here I feel are from parent who expect the high school to raise their kids.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2017

I don't agree with Pinnacle's relatively high scoring. I find the school to be below what should be expected even for an Arizona school.Classes are overcrowded, only some teachers are committed and the leadership leaves A LOT to be desired. The leadership is not there for the students.
Submitted by other on August 29, 2017

I rate my experience of this school as a visitor for a badminton competition between the girls teams. Firstly, their team is quite good and watching them warm up reminded me of someone stuck in military basic training, which I suppose has its merits for heavy duty competition, and that is fine. What I did find disturbing during the match, and constant, was their coach who continually walked from match to match shouting out praises for his girls, and doing so not to encourage, but obviously meant to intimidate the other team. This was basically quite rude, insensitive, and very unprofessional. I have watched many high school competitions and this is the only coach who goes overboard in this intentional manner. As a matter of fact, it irritated some parents and got them trying to out clap each other for their daughters or school team. My daughter said this became very distracting. Who started this? Pinnacle's coach. I am glad my daughter does not go to this school and especially does not have this person as a coach.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2016

My oldest daughter graduated from this school in 2006 and we had a horrific experience. My daughter was bullied by other girls, and TWICE was beaten up by the same girl in the school hallway. Both times she had to go to the school nurse for treatment following the fights. When we went to court to get a restraining order against the girl beating our daughter up, the school absolutely refused to release their school nurse records of her injuries following the fights because they were apparently worried about a lawsuit (only reason we can think of). We even got a court subpoena and they still hid most of the records. Horrible school that cares more about themselves than its students. My next son went to Horizon, which was little better, but WAY too big. Younger two kids went to Arcadia HS and that was a night and day experience to Pinnacle and Horizon. So much better, I almost can't even compare it to Pinnacle and Horizon.
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2014

Pinnacle high school has great academic reviews but the front office staff is probably least friendly bunch of people that I've come into contact with. If you're looking for a school that will make your family feel welcome, this is certainly not the school.
Submitted by student on September 25, 2014

I was a student at Pinnacle for 4 years, and I absolutely loved it. The teachers are super enthusiastic about helping, they legitimately want to give you the best grade and education. I didn't realize how much my teachers had helped me at Pinnacle until I had gone to college (at ASU) where I used a ton of the resources that I had from high school in my college classes. I also highly suggest taking AP classes, getting involved in clubs and also sports, to get the best experience.
Submitted by other on December 22, 2013

This school is absolutely terrible as a student for four years I can say ive only had one teacher that cared about my grade and helped me. I was an athlete and I played football my freshmen year but i was mainly a soccer player and the football program was good but soccer is hands down the worst program to exist. Coach could care less about the program and it's utterly horrific, development of the team doesn't seem to matter and favorites were chosen. I was an honors student and thought the honors classes were a joke. Pinnacle high school is phony and I wish I never took part in the school. Students consist of snobby rich kids that harrass other students. Drugs are of a huge problem at the school and of my time being at pinnacle I was made fun of for not doing drugs and peer pressured into doing it (although I never did it).
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2013

I am father of Paulo Henrique Fleury Biassio Mir who just graduated last May, I live in Brazil and would like to know what is the average cost of living of a senior in a HS as Pinnacle and if you will follow up Paulo career at the University (in this case ASU) Best regards, Paulo Mir
Submitted by student on June 07, 2013

I absolutely loved attending Pinnacle. I continue to keep in touch with my teachers from all 4 years because they are still willing to help me, even in college. I am going into my junior year and always look forward to coming back to catch up. I was part of the AP program and participated in athletics on campus, as well as several of the clubs. When I attended the school the administration team was on a first name basis with many of the students, including myself, and provided a tremendous amount of support to anyone who asked. It is easy to get lost in a school the size of Pinnacle, but there is a place for everyone if they take the time to find it.
Submitted by other on May 08, 2013

As a fellow student who's going to be graduating this year, I have had a poor time with them for three years so far. The students are absolutely immature, the teachers don't care about students or parents and value their image over failing kids. Their rules are hypocritical. They claim bullying isn't allowed, but do nothing about it. They ban the word retard, but they allow racial slurs. I am not even going to bother showing up for my graduation after enduring humiliation, lies, and apathy from this school. They don't even DESERVE the high rating in my eyes. I recommend that one should go to a better school.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2013

This school does not deserve a high rating. I had 2 kids that went there; one graduated and the other is graduating from a charter school that cared alot more about their students. Overworked teachers who don't care (except for a few) and don't communicate with parents; and an administration who cares more about their image than their students. Drugs are a HUGE problem there and the administration has a habit of kicking out kids that they even perceive have any type of issue so that they can keep up their rating. Sports teams are very political also. My daughter would have been short of credits to graduate if the administration in the charter school she transferred to would not have caught it in time.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2013

middle of the road kids fall in the gaps all over this country that is a fact. Until we change the education system in this country this will continue to happen. All students should be held to the same high standards and I dont believe classes should be segregated the way they are. As far as the comment that the 'failing' teacher is still at the school-that is another one of America's problems. They probably cant get rid of the bad teacher because of the teacher's union..I would youtube John Stossel's special Education in America or watch Waiting for Superman. The problems mentioned here are due to our current screwed up education system.