Agua Caliente School

11420 East Limberlost Road

School District

Tanque Verde Unified District
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Tanque Verde 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 other on October 05, 2023

good school very good school it is the best school
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2017

Fantastic. Such a great school. Staff is excellent
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2016

Mrs. Garcia's kindergarten class was excellent and I am impressed with Mr. Beach, so far. We are very happy with Agua Caliente and look forward to watching our boys learn and grow there. The school has a very friendly atmosphere and the level of focus on both academics and physical education are perfect for us. The office staff, along with Principal Rosalik, all seem to have the best interests of the students in mind at all times when running the school. We could not be happier. I don't have any issue with the amount of fundraising the school and the PTG does, because I know that this is due to insufficient funding of public schools by the state legislature. I also do not like the heavy focus on standardized testing, but the need for this focus is also driven by outside forces, not the school district or ACES itself.
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2016

I moved into the district because I thought my children would receive a better education but I don't feel this school is any better or worse than the average public school. While I am happy the school offers art and music, I don't support motor lab as it is a repeat of what is naturally offered in gym class. In my opinion, it is a waste of instruction/learning time and tax money. My two years experience in the district is that my child's book-bag has become a gateway to the school's almost weekly fundraiser activities. This year, I get more solicitation from PTG for money and parent participation than I receive my child's graded papers and progress in school.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2015

I am very disappointed by this school. The teachers, while warm, kind, and engaged, are test-focused to the point of providing very young students with standardized test exemplars to memorize at home. Furthermore, the curriculum is haphazard and does not appear to follow a developmentally appropriate sequence, pace, or trajectory. There is a lack of universal design such that students with special needs often cannot meaningfully participate in the general education curriculum. (They do receive assistance and instruction, but integration of activities into the broader curriculum seems to be lacking.) Even the youngest students are assigned a heavy homework load, despite a lack of evidentiary support for the practice, and there is a constant push for extra-curricular activities, leaving precious little time for family life. Solicitations for money are unending, and the school charges for full-day kindergarten, unlike almost every other public school in Tucson. It seems that every school activity has a fund-raising or commercial component. Even the school's book program is sponsored by Pizza Hut. (I recognize that funds are tight, but young children should not be exposed to constant branding and consumerism.) The school also excludes students from non-traditional and/or single-parent families in its extra-curricular activities. Activities include a father-daughter dance and a mother-son "Minute to Win It." I do not understand why it is necessary to create extra-curricular activities that do not permit all children (male, female, or trans) of all parents (mothers, fathers, grandparents, foster parents, guardians) to participate. Every day that my son attends this school, I become more frustrated by the quality of instruction and the values conveyed.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2012

Great teachers that make your childrentheir family. This small campus houses less than 500 students K-6 and also has an onsite private preschool. The Kindergarten classes focus heavily on reading and writing skills. The strong First grade team encourages readers and emerging readers with multiple activities that engage children. Second grade rocks the school with a power house team that starts the year running and never stops! Students are expected to enter the year with strong reading, writing and math skills. Third grade students study a multitude of subjects ranging from worms, the human body, and ancient Greece. Our Fourth graders spend the year learning AZ history in a variety of ways as well as intense science lab work and loads of reading and reports. The Fifth grade students present many power point presentations on such things as endangered species and space. Sixth grade is the home of the World Festival in which every student studies a seperate country, writes a comprhensive paper about the country and then presents a visual display (in costume) of the things they learned about their country as well as feasting on ethnic foods they have prepared themselves.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2011

This school is amazing. In a climate of budget cuts form the federal as well as state level, this school district has managed to retain every staff member and classes such as Art, Music, Spanish and P.E. As to the parent complaing about cupcakes brought in by children with birthday's...sounds like you need to home school! How dare you try to control not ony your own child's food intake but that of every child on that campus! I've had kids in other schools and I'll tell you that the food the school serves here is so much better than other schools. Oh, and by the way...those state statutes do not cover food provided to students from a private home. They are mandated rules the schools must follow....not the parents! If you don't want your child to participate...tell them not to eat! |(poor little kid!)
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2011

My son has been going here since Kinder. He is in 1st grade now and I have had nothing but a very positive experience with the teachers and staff. My son had a rough start and so I have had to have plenty of interaction with teachers, staff, and the principal and they all have been wonderful and very supportive. Together we have been able to provide a wonderful place for my son to learn and grow. I would highly recommend this school. I love that they push the students to excel and not just barely meet the state standard. This school provides a wonderful and exciting environment for children and opportunities that other schools simply don't offer any more due to budget cuts like P.E. and field trips, and healthy school lunch options. All of which are extremely important in helping to fight childhood obesity. I truly feel this school and district have my childs best interests at heart and are not just interested in finding new ways to cut thier budget by cutting my childs education like other schools are in this town.
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2011

This is the worst school ever! My son went to 5th grade at Agua Caliente. The teachers, principle and even the office staff were horrible. My son had been a straight A student since kindergarten,until his 5th grade year here! He struggled with his grades, but mostly with the teachers. I had many issues with the teachers, front staff and principle. Whenever I tried to contact the teachers or the principle about a problem, which was all the time, they would take days to get back to me,sometimes never. I became friends with other parents and I never met one that did not have the same problems. Many parents have even removed their children and found other schools. We were excited for our son to go to this school because of the high ratings on great schools, but could not have been more disappointed throughout the entire year! I could not have been happier when my husband got transferred and we got the joy of moving away from this school!
Submitted by other on April 05, 2011

My grandaughter is a student at Agua Caliente. As a retired teacher and administrator (from two other districts), I am thoroughly impressed with this school! Every contact I've had has been outstanding. My grandaughter loves the place and major credit for that goes to the quality and enthusiasm of the entire staff as well as the range of programs & activities you have managed to preserve in the face of the state's slashing budget cuts.
Submitted by teacher on November 10, 2010

I teach Spanish at Agua Caliente School and I just love it. The students are exceptional. I provide cultural experiences for the preschool students that are on site too. It is so much fun to see the children's faces light up when they make sugar skulls or decorate pinatas for the Pima County Fair. My son, who is in the Tanque Verde Parent Participation Preschool Program, on the ACES campus, will definitely attend this school. I am proud to be a teacher and a parent here! The staff is dedicated and hardworking. Everyone is a real team. We are very appreciative of the parent support. It's phenomenal.