Rover Elementary School

1300 East Watson Drive

School District

Tempe
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

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 July 17, 2024

My family has been part of the Rover community for a number of years. What was important to us in choosing a school was 1) a community feel, 2) strong leadership, 3) socioeconomic and cultural diversity, 4) arts opportunities, and 5) a whole child approach (like low homework and social emotional learning). Rover excels in all of these areas. 1) Community Feel: My kids have built strong relationships with teachers and staff and other kids and their families. We have gotten to know other families, teachers, and staff through the school garden program, PTA, school events, and informal gatherings. 2) Strong Leadership: The school has had responsive, energetic, empathetic, resourceful/adaptable and forward thinking principals. 3) Socioeconomic and Cultural Diversity: My kids have formed friendship with those of diverse backgrounds, though we’ve learned it’s easier to deepen/maintain those with people of more similar backgrounds. 4) Arts Opportunities: The school has a robust music program for all years, but especially 4th/5th grade, with required specialization in band/orchestra/choir and the opportunity to be in an annual musical. Ms. Crawford (the music teacher) is highly skilled, innovative, and dedicated to students’ growth. The school also has a number of arts extra curriculars. 5) Whole Child Approach: What is unique about the school is the integration of the garden into learning, including social/emotional. Ms. Kelly (the garden educator) is skilled in helping every kid find their happy place in the garden. Homework is minimal (mostly reading, and some math practice (20 min) in upper grades). My kids have made great leaps in learning in this context.There is only one issue we’ve had with the school in what has been a largely positive experience. One of our kids was diagnosed with a chronic health condition that affected school performance. We kept the teachers informed about it and asked for advice on how best to support their learning in and outside of conferences. We did not pursue formal accommodations, like an IEP. The teachers were not very responsive, and my child’s learning suffered. A lesson is that formal accommodation may be required in order to get the individual attention that your child may need to thrive at this school if they have issues.Overall, I highly recommend this school if you share the values that my family has about education, just look more deeply into how they deal with health issues if that pertains to you.
Submitted by parent on July 13, 2024

Worst mistake our family ever made! Bullying is horrible and little is done to stop it.
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2023

As a Kindergarten parent, I am completely blown away by all of the opportunities presented to the children. They do their school work in the garden multiple days per week. They work in small groups according to their level of understanding. Whether your child is gifted or needs a lot of additional help, the attention is spent with helping your child succeed. A local farmer comes in and does activities with all of the grade levels (microgreen planting, baby chick hatching, etc.) PTA is great at organizing fun activities throughout the school year. I could not be happier with this school. I am looking forward to having all three of children attending and loving their elementary years.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2022

Estoy muy encantada con esta escuela, han tenido muchas atenciones con mis hijos, Todos han sido muy buenos, nos han tratado muy bien todo el personal de la escuela nos han hecho sentir muy bien.Somos Nicaragüenses
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2022

My daughter has flourished since attending Rover. The staff care about her academic achievements and she’s met kind and caring friends. The school garden is one of the best we’ve seen and is often used by the students as staff as a learning tool. We are very appreciative of Rover Elementary School.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2019

We had a Kindergartner start at Rover mid year and it’s been a GREAT experience. We spent much time researching a Kindergarten for my son and choose a rigorous charter school 15 minutes away from our home. We transitioned for a few reasons and have been VERY happy with Rover as our neighborhood school. The homework has been fun and appropriate. The style and curriculum has been a great fit for our family. Smaller school with all the benefits of a TEMPE school- huge nice campus, fun events through the years for families and a welcoming atmosphere for parents and kids.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2019

Blown away by how my kids have grown and excelled here
Submitted by other on March 21, 2018

Kind, caring, motivated and intelligent teachers and administrators who give all-out effort to help the children excel.I so enjoy picking up our granddaughter after school and watching so many teachers and their students smiling, laughing and even hugging good bye !98*-8*+-*8/*+-/ smile and laugh and hug their teachers good bye.
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2018

We have been thrilled with our son’s experience during the last two years. The kindergarten team instilled a love of school in him, and the teaching excellence has continued this year. He has also met other wonderful children and has had an opportunity to make great friends within the Rover community. We will certainly also be sending our younger son to Rover when he is ready.
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2018

We feel so fortunate to have found this school. Our kindergartener has learned so much this year. Thank you to Mrs. Zimmerman, Mrs. Giroux, Mrs. Gilbert, and an especially big thank you to Ms. Lutz for all your hard work!!
Submitted by other on March 13, 2018

As the grandfather of a kindergarten student, and as a retired educator with 37 years of experience, I have nothing but high praise for Rover Elementary. The school is staffed with caring, dedicated professionals who nurture a safe, positive and academically appropriate school culture. My wife and I are pleased with our granddaughter’s intellectual and social development, and we recommend Rover to parents who are making the difficult decision of where to enroll their children.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2018

I am extremely happy with the experience with Rover. Selecting the "right" school for our children was no small undertaking. We spent so much time researching schools and different school options. One thing that I always heard is that Rover is amazing. With all of the many school choices we had when coming to educate our children, we have no doubt that we made the right decision with choosing Rover. Rover, is not just a school, it truly is a school FAMILY.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2018

We are thrilled we chose To send our daughter to Rover! We looked at the other kindergartens in Tempe, but we chose Rover because of the wonderful teachers. My daughter has Ms. Lutz this year, and we could not be happier. She is kind and caring, but she also holds students to a high standard. The students are involved with the Walk to Math and Walk to Read programs which enable students to be challenged at their own pace. Rover does not create cookie cutter students; my daughter loves her arts and music classes, and she has been chosen for 2 Pace (gifted) classes. She could read 3 words when she started kinder, and 8 months later, she is going to be learning her 2nd grade words! We love the diversity at Rover. My girl has made wonderful friends from different backgrounds. We can’t say enough about how thrilled we are with Rover and the kindergarten program!
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2018

I really love rover my daughter is in kindergarten and she has learned so much. I love the teacher they are all involved and even the ones that are not my daughters teacher know her name and all the activities that they allow parents to participate.
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2018

My son has been attending Rover for two years now. The academics are fun and no pressure, but the kids are learning a lot! We moved out of the school boundaries over the summer, but he's still attending because it's better than his neighborhood school or the charter choices nearby. The Rover staff really focuses on the child and the principal is very involved. He even directs traffic and acts as crossing guard when needed. Great community feel to the school & great experience!
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2018

This has been a great school for our now 5th grader who struggled to work well with others when he entered the school in 1st grade, but who has since gone on to succeed tremendously; participating in plays, yearbook, clubs and the PACE program. Thanks to the support of the school and it's teachers he has been accepted into ASPIRE, the Tempe Districts gifted middle school program...and he loves learning and going to school. Our now kindergarten child has had a great first year at Rover. The year isn't over and he reads now! I can't say enough good things about the kindergarten team at Rover!
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2018

Rover expects a lot from students and the results are well-educated children who learn compassion for others. There is a strong push towards music and the arts at this school with Band, Orchestra and Choir options for students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. No other elementary school in Tempe offers in-depth music education at 3rd grade! Fantastic!
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2017

The teachers are excellent here. I do feel as a working mom that teachers are not a open ave inclusive in the classroom as they are with the start home moms. Otherwise we are very pleased with the Scholl experience as education out daughter is receiving.
Submitted by parent on August 09, 2017

I will never send my kids to Rover.
Submitted by parent on April 07, 2017

When I was in search of a great school to start my young child in, I was faced with many decisions that were both very scary and overwhelming. I was told to check Rover out. Once I did, it was clear Rover was the best for my 5 year old. I can't express enough how friendly the entire teaching staff was to me and everyone around me starting the journey with their little ones. I truly believe Rover is most likely one of the best Elementary Schools in Arizona, if not, in the entire nation. The skills and priorities followed by staff does nothing but provide an environment to teach young men and women to be respectful to all, creative in any situation, always do their personal best, and learn all responsibilities that life has in store for our future generations. Every teacher seems to follow very strict and efficient activities on specific timelines that keep kids engaged in all learning environments. The focus of Rover Elementary is clearly set solely on the children there learning and their needs to be no less than completely successful in their futures. Proud parent and so grateful I researched every school I could and chose the best, that is clear! Beautiful campus, kind and welcoming teachers, and a joy with all opportunities parents have to be part of this journey with their children. Well done Rover!!!! 5 stars only because there is not an option for any higher. A+ will never describe this school to the superior extent it is.