Mountainside Middle School

11256 North 128th Street

School District

Scottsdale Unified District
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
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 August 07, 2024

Best school on earth. If you live in Scottsdale, AZ, you better go to Mountainside Middle School.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2023

While this school has potential, it is under performing at an alarming and continuous rate considering the socio-economic demographic of the students who attend. From what I have gathered from my child, the “problem“ children/discipline issues inside the classrooms prevent those who want to learn from learning. As another reviewer has mentioned, students are not properly disciplined for bad behavior. This was confirmed by a former teacher/school board member who stated that schools don’t want to discipline the children too severely for 1) fear of angry parents, and 2) fear students will miss too many days of school due to suspensions. I was told that there is not enough staff to cover any in school suspension. So other students’ behavior problems become my child’s problem. The poor outcomes the school produces is evident in its subpar state standardized test scores, not just one year, but every year. Students who receive A’s in general courses actually have C level knowledge. And the proficiency scores go down from there. Your child must be enrolled in honors English and Math to even hope that they will attain at least B level knowledge.But good luck getting your kid in honors courses. If they aren’t already performing at that higher level, they will remain forced to stay at the lower level in a vicious cycle of not learning and, resultantly, not being able to move up to a higher level because they’re not learning. Think you can promise to give your child extra tutoring and support until they get there? No dice. Your child will be forced to stay with the problem students. The school knows what’s best for your child, not you, even if outcomes prove otherwise.I haven’t heard anything from the “amazing“ principal about plans for increasing academic achievement at the school. Lots of hip hip hooray‘s & spirit, but no plan for improvement in what they are supposed to be doing… educating our children. It seems the plan is to ignore the fact that students are barely (or not) proficient in math, reading, or science and put on a big smile as if there’s “nothing to see here,” hoping no one will notice. Do better, MMS.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2023

Well, I would rate Mountainside Middle School 10/10 and give all *5 Stars*. We recently moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and searched for good schools in our school district. Most of the kids were send to charter schools, but I preferred my child to go Mountainside Middle School - Cougar Nation. MMS is not just like any other public school- Mountainside Middle School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) World School. This educational framework encourages students to become globally aware problem solvers who are creative, critical and reflective thinkers. I could see that in MYP, my kid is able to make practical connections between curriculum and the real world, and helps in developing skills which is like a real time experience for aspiring minds. I preferred this school because of the academic excellence, though we were not living inside school boundary. The Campus is very inviting, friendly and provide the best possible educational climate for the students. Principal Mr. ADAM LUKE is such a good heart, CHILL & COOL Principal I had ever seen. He will be around the campus guiding students and being awesome to all. Coming to Academics, kids can take courses in the eight content areas, required by IB for Years 1-3 at Mountainside: Arts (performing and fine), Design (STEM, Computers, Media et al.), Individuals and Societies, Language Acquisition (French, Mandarin, Spanish), Language and Literature, Mathematics, Physical and Health Education, Sciences. Faculties are so experienced and very approachable, so that kids have good interaction with their teachers and they share a good relationship in class. I would say Mr. Pincus, Mr. Tieman, Mr. Weser, Mr. Burton, Mrs. Garcia, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Ferragut are my kid's favorite' teachers (named a very few, still a lot of faculty). They are doing their best for each kid with individual attention and transparent guidance. Daily assignments, STEM Projects and Presentations makes kids explore and encourage to score good grades in each quarter. Overall, GPA will be good for kids who follow and turn in assignments on time. Teachers help every kids in their academics and prepare kids if they lack in some areas.In my experience, this is the best school for my kid. Peers are friendly, less bullying and environment free from discrimination and harassment. Anybody who prefer their kids to have innovative and reflective thinkers can opt this school.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2023

This school is terrible. The staff are awful people. The school is too scared to punish anybody for anything and there have been 12 cases this year of false accusations that turned into suspensions. They actively bring expelled students back after they get expelled even if what they did was terrible. This school functions only for money and cant hold itself together. DO NOT GO HERE!
Submitted by other on March 27, 2022

This school is the reason I’ve been in therapy for years. Wasn’t aware of it at the time, but learned in college I am a neurodivergent learner. I received no compassion from instructors, in fact I actually caught a group of my former instructors gossiping about me and saying terrible things. Was bullied my entire time in school, counselors blamed me and I was often in trouble for refusing to go into my PE locker room, which I didn’t wanna do because my peers kept bullying me. I was threatened with suspension if I didn’t do so. I’m now doing very well in my education, but this school left me with a PTSD diagnosis, thousands of dollars in therapy bills, and I learned very little overall.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2021

Adam Luke is a phenomenal administrator and an asset to SUSD. Robin Stieglitz, counselor, truly cares about the students. MMS has great teachers and a professional front office staff. Great school!
Submitted by other on January 24, 2021

Overall, this is really not a good school. I guess it's your average public middle school. You will find a few amazing teachers here, but the majority of the teachers are no good. Not a good environment, either. Most kids here are such a bad influence. Non-stop bullying. I dreaded going to school every day. So glad I got the opportunity to leave.
Submitted by parent on November 24, 2019

I’ve only had bad experience with Counsler. Moving to this school has been horrible was a HUGE mistake
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2019

We love Mountainside, the teachers love their jobs!
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2019

Absolutely poor. So very sorry that we allowed our child to be here. It was a waste of their education and time, and impacted their heart adversely. The best thing we did was leave.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2018

Overall we have been very happy. I do wish the kids had an extra minute between classes, they end up not using their lockers due to lack of time between classes, but our son is thriving, all A's and 1 B at the moment and has been motivated in school which was not the case prior. Middle school has been a great transition for us! 2 more at Anasazi that we plan to have attend Mountainside as well.
Submitted by parent on January 16, 2018

BEWARE of this school. The kids (particularly the boys) are extremely mean and bullying happens constantly.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2017

Mountainside Middle School has been a great school for our daughter. It's a perfect balance of education, athletics, and socialization. They TEACH at school instead of assigning homework that is merely busy-work meant to cover up laziness or inadequacy. They are also caring and compassionate. They teach towards helping children become better people and not simply to pass some standardized test (although the school always does well in standardized testing scores).
Submitted by other on February 19, 2016

I've read some of the reviews from a year or two ago and really am surprised by them. This school has been wonderful academically and socially for all of our kids that have gone there. No, they aren't like Basis (nor do we want them to be) and don't have 4-5 hours of homework per night, but they average at least an hour or two. The teachers are great and proactively help. Great school!
Submitted by student on February 10, 2016

I am a student at mountainside. I came from a different school, basis, which is a charter school. The school is way to easy. My fifth grade sister that goes to anasazi elementary school brings home much more homework than me. Not challenging at all. The great thing at this school is the curriculums, they have many sports and arts. I am in the choir and I am a bit disappointed. I am a singer, and have had lead roles in many theaters. This school only appreciates people with quiet voices, because i have never been picked and i have a loud strong voice. They only pick quiet voices. This school needs a theatre program, i have asked many others and they agree
Submitted by parent on April 12, 2014

When student's get to 8th grade they are left to their own devices to learn. Principal is a power monger and the Psychologist should have her license revoked. She does not follow legal guidelines of IDEA. LRC teacher's are deplorable and do not care about the students.
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2013

Make up tests, make up homework and very little homework. No big papers, scarce computer work. We have had two students attend Mountainside and you would never know they were in school. No accountability and super easy. Our two are B students and they coast right through. I literally make my son write in no homework for each class each day if there isn't anything assigned. You can view no homework for every class except math.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2013

We left MMS this year due to the horrible experience with the administration. Yes, middle school is a tough transition for any child and MMS does not make it any easier. The school population is overwhelming and the teachers are at their max. It's a shame because there are some very talented and caring educators at this school, however our counselor (and other 'head' staff) were not professional and extremely rude. Our child was afraid to go back to school due to the harassment from certain staff! Not to mention that out of 4 people that we carpooled with this past year, not ONE is returning to MMS. All chose other Scottsdale schools for their children this coming year!
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2013

The MMS faculty and administration are wonderful. My child's teachers are competent in their subjects, responsive to my questions/concerns, and caring. The guidance counselor did a great job helping my child adjust to our mid-year move to AZ by introducing him to students with similar traits/personalities and he's thrived both socially and academically. I would not hesitate sending my child to this school. Middle school is a challenging time, so it's not surprising some students have difficulties at MMS and similar public schools.
Submitted by other on February 03, 2013

I went there and this an awful school. I believe that they say that they create an "equal" campus. They do not! I left that school because the academics were awful, the teachers were average, and the environment was sickening. I recommend private schooling.