Desert Shadows Elementary School

5902 East Sweetwater Avenue

School District

Paradise Valley Unified District
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
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 October 18, 2022

i work here because . . . . . .... . . . . . .. . . . . i work here
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2021

This is our neighborhood school. After attending Great Hearts Scottdale for two years we moved. Great Hearts was not a good fit for my daughter. I have been very happy with DSE. The Principal, teachers and staff are great! My daughter has an IEP and everyone has been helping her. We get a lot more support here the Great Hearts. One reason we left Great Hearts was to get her tested. Even with the pandemic and school moving to online they have work hard to get her tested. This school has many of the same values that attacked us to Great Hearts. I feel the Principal has made DSE competitive with the Charter schools. The stem program and Suzuki music is also great programs the school offers! I would definitely recommend DSE.
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2020

Great! They take care of my child and are reassuring when it comes to the safety and well being of my baby.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2017

I have 2 students at DSES. We chose to come to this school as open enrollment. Desert Shadows has so much to offer our students when it comes to Strings as well as the ever growing STEAM initiative. I couldn't be happier with the choice to send my students here. It has been such a welcoming environment from the staff to the families. The teachers are wonderful with the students and Mr. Caudle is a great leader who puts the students first!
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2017

As a parent I couldn't be more pleased with the teachers, staff and community at DSES. At Desert Shadowes you will find true leadership, teachers who care very much about our kids, quality education and hands on learning!
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2017

I have four children at this school in 6th grade through kindergarten. I couldn't be happier with the leadership at this school and the teachers. Our children have only excelled during their time here!
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2017

I purchased my home in the Desert Shadows neighborhood 14 years ago under the assumption that Paradise Valley Schools are good, and Horizon High School was an acceptable choice for my future family. As a parent, I am an ardent supporter of sending children to their "home" school. Imagine my surprise (and luck) when I arrived at Desert Shadows for the first time in 2011 and found a community of families and teachers that really want the best for my children. Desert Shadows continues to strive for the community feeling while "STEAMing" ahead to the future. Teachers have always been available to hear my concerns and the staff has been nothing less than friendly and helpful. I am thankful for the life experiences my children have had at Desert Shadows Elementary because they have set the tone for a love of learning that I hope will carry them through the teenage years.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2017

I have to disagree with the individual that submitted multiple reviews Nov. 28th, 2016. I feel the principal is exactly what DSES needed. Sometimes a change is needed...a new principal came with new programs, fresh clean slate. I know as a parent, I feel I can express problems or concerns with teachers, staff and principal and not feel like I am being judged or pushed aside. My opinions are valued. Do I believe there are some teachers better than others?! Yes, EVERY school has that. Personalities differ, strengths differ. We specifically enrolled out of district, drove 10 minutes each way just to be part of the DSES community 6 years ago. Since then, we moved into district as we have had a successful, positive experience. Susuki program, STEAM program, PBIS ( establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm).....to offer our children something that isn't mainstreamed into other schools.
Submitted by other on November 28, 2016

My child started Kindergarten with Desert Shadows and then we were nothing shy of impressed with the school and the teachers. Several years later I can say this school has taken a drastic swing for the worse. The main reason we chose this school out of the 20+ in the area was then they had a well balanced curriculum that allowed the children to have arts, PE, music and scholastic education - which has gone by the wayside with so many schools. About 3 years ago there was a major shift in how the school operates and this has left us looking at options of home schooling. The teachers just do not seem to care (at least at the higher levels of the grade school) and it shows. The massive amounts of "homework" is absurd and when you mention this to any of the staff you are treated with disgruntled apathy like you are causing them grievance. If it wasn't for being mid year I would have pulled our child out already. Its sad that the school system in AZ is failing all the children. I guess it was only a matter of time till this school was corrupted too.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2016

New leadership and a vision for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) make me regain confidence in this school.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2015

We moved to the area and we're so concerned about our girls changing schools for the first time. Not only did we find the teachers helpful, intelligent, and enthusiastic about our children's success, but the entire staff were delightful, and the PTA is very involved. WE showed up at recess to see how our 7 year old was doing, and found her running on the playgrounddhandin hand with two other girls. This school is amazing!
Submitted by parent on September 11, 2014

I am currently on my 2nd child at this school. DSES has continued to maintain a great atmosphere. The principal has been there for 13 years and has always had an open door policy; and has always been fair when it comes to teacher/parent issues. His longevity is amazing and is very important to the children & families in this community so reading some of these recent comments really have me floored! I think the main issue right now are the test scores. They dropped in 2013 after years of A's and B's. The principal held a forum after school to address the parents. In the meeting he had mentioned his decision to focus on Common Core standards last year to prepare the children for the roll out of the new test. I believe this change in curriculum statewide is going to contribute to growing pains EVERYWHERE and I am glad he was proactive in his approach to the new standardized test. There is an article on AZCentral that warns a sudden drop in scores across the state this year due to the new standardized test. I am interested to see how DSES does on the 2015 test because that is what is going to matter going forward. Hope the few parents don't mess up a great thing for the rest of us!
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2013

I am very torn on how to rate this school. That teaching and support staff were always wonderful to my children. My oldest was there from k-6. They teachers my children had would go above and beyond. The issues came from the poor excuse of an office. My children had IEPs and 504s. Their current school could not get the IEPs from the school after 3 requests. I finally had to get very upset with the office to get them. This is not right. It took almost two months to get them. The 504 was never given, but luckily one caring staff member had given me multiples for myself. The principal not only allows bullying, but seems to encourage it. I witnessed him embarrassing a staff member in front of a lot of other parents. There were many incidents that he should have taken care of but nothing was done. There are lot of bright spots. One teacher put on an amazing America show when my child was in 5th. This teacher also always went above and beyond for my child. The man who runs the drama group is awesome. The special ed teacher is so caring. The majority of the teachers are excellent. I would highly recommend this school if there is a change in the office staff.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2013

As a parent of two DSES students, I wanted to say how pleased I have been with Desert Shadows. Many hard decisions have been made at the school regarding class sizes and teachers over the years. The school and the district have made these decisions to keep class sizes small at all grade levels so the students can receive the instruction they need. Classes in the K-3 grades are now 28 students or less this year. I am disappointed misinformation has been posted about class sizes and the way the decision was made to adjust class sizes. The decision to move 2nd grade into 2 classrooms instead of three is allowing the school to take the 5th grade classrooms from 37 students to the middle 20s and keep the 2nd grade classes also in the mid 20s. The school welcomes parents and encourages them to be involved. . As a family, we feel DSES provides a great education for our kids and feel they strive to meet the needs of every student.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2013

DSES is a school lacking on many efforts, I have been a previous parent of a current 5th grader and now return to the school as a parent of a second grader. My previous experience was so mediocre. My son, had many issues with his 504 accommodations, he had over 20 accommodations and they would not consider an IEP. He was a bright kid, bored out of his mind, and he bullied. I transferred to another PV school and was pleasantly heard, and my son was given the help and encouragement he needed. He was given an IEP, resources needed, speech, occupational, and placed in gifted classes. All things that were that I had brought up with the staff over and over again. Now I return hesitantly, with my second grader, and she is having "Mean Girl" issues. She is worried about what she is wearing to school at 7, not to mention I was informed Friday that a big change of grades was being made slipped in with a voting form for a PTA event. NO PHONE CALL WAS MADE BY PRINCIPAL. My daughter's 2nd grade class of 19 is now becoming 30.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

It would be nice to participate in PTA; however they hold their meetings in the afternoon which is impossible to attend if you work. The staff seems to know the students and I feel comfortable leaving my son there and that he enjoys going to school and learning.
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2013

I have been less then impressed with most things at DSES over the last three years. The front office staff is rude and typically not very helpful. The principal is very hands off and not approachable for either students or parents. He seems to have his teachers backs to the detriment of the student population. One of the few saving graces has been having great teachers for the first two years. It really made it worth staying with everything else that was undesirable, but after this year we will be going out of district. Test scores keep dropping, parent involvement is lacking and getting help for smart kids is surprisingly difficult.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2013

My children love this school, and look forward to getting here everyday! I love this school: they meet the needs of all students, and go above and beyond for the families. Transitioning into a new school is never easy, but we are now 2 years in and my family could not be happier with our decision to attend Desert Shadows Elementary. from the classroom teacher to Special Areas, my children are treated with respect and kindness while they continue to excel and learn. The administration is excellent as well, and make me happy to be a part of the community
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2013

We pulled our child out of this school after her 5th grade year had her teacher absent most of the time. Continuity of teaching is important, but they ensure the teachers are taken care of and the kids get second best.
Submitted by parent on August 07, 2012

Great school and great families. Children are very happy there. Only criticism...possibly needs more parent involvement.