Ventana Vista Elementary School

Reviews

• Submitted by parent on August 05, 2024
  The well-behaved children are being displaced by the violent kids at this school. The 2024 school year saw a mass exodus due to the blatant refusal of those in charge to adequately address the issues.There have been repeated incidents of violent conduct to the point where CPS and the sheriff's office had to get involved. Some of the kids required medical attention due to their injuries. Despite the repeated pleas from parents to take action, the perpetrators remain free to attack, bully and assault our kids at will.Enough!
• Submitted by parent on April 26, 2024
  Ventana Vista is a well-resourced school that looks nice on the surface. There are some highly dedicated teachers. But the school has serious issues with behaviour of students. Discipline matrixes aren't followed, and many students feel unsafe at the school. If the school actually worked to address these issues instead of ignoring them, the school could be so much better. As it is, our family was forced to leave the school mid semester.
• Submitted by parent on April 27, 2021
  This is a terribly run school with incompetent staff. My son was not supervised properly in his after school program and was assaulted and there were NO adults present to supervise or break it up. Mind you, my child is in KINDERGARTEN, so should never be left unsupervised. When I complained to the principle, her response was that the kids who assaulted my so were "still working on their social skills". Are you kidding me?!?! This school is raising the next generation of convicts, social delinquents, and thugs. The administrators are ignorant and incompetent and don't want to address the issues. Stay clear of this school if you value your child or their future.
• Submitted by parent on March 18, 2021
  Bullying is a huge problem that goes unaddressed at this school.
• Submitted by parent on May 08, 2015
  I moved into this district when my daughter started kindergarten to take advantage of the Spanish Immersion program. This was the first year the program was in place and it was a very rocky year, but understandable with a new program. We had great teachers for first and second grade and my daughter thrived, though there were problems at the school and on the bus with bullying. The next year things went downhill because there was great lack of effective communication from the teacher and the principal. The following year, my daughter experienced bullying from a school aide, which was witnessed and reported by other children, and the principal chose to take no action at all. I removed my daughter immediately and enrolled her in the Vail Schools. AMAZING school (Senita Valley). We had nothing to compare VV with before, now that I do, I see just how many problems exist at VV. Many good teachers at VV, but poor leadership.
• Submitted by parent on April 16, 2015
  Two of my children have attended this school. (one still there) My children have not had even one mediocre teacher--all teachers have been excellent. Principal is very effective and personable. Staff is friendly. I have observed some harsh treatment by special ed classroom assistants (not teachers) towards kids they work with--unprofessional and downright inhumane. However, the 5 stars is still deserved because there are at least two unbelievably outstanding Special Ed classroom assistants. New art teacher is lovely. PE teacher is fantastic. I hope we can match him next year when he leaves. Overall, Ventana Vista is a very positive place to be. I feel good leaving my child there every day. I see that my child is learning A LOT. His teacher is simply outstanding. I hope these things do not change at VV.
• Submitted by parent on August 02, 2014
  Ventana Vista is a great school. My child was in the grade 1/2 multiage last year and I am very happy with his progress. He will continue in 2nd grade this year with the same teacher. His teachers are nurturing and have high expectations. He is not in Spanish immersion but he goes to Spanish class 4 times a week. There are a lot of extracurricular activities offered. The best thing about the school is that they offer extended math in grades 2-5, so students who are skilled in math can basically be one grade ahead every year. Even though I was told my son wouldn't get to have extended math until 2nd grade, the teachers put him and other first graders who were great at math in a second grade math class, and this made me very happy. There is no reason to go to any other school.
• Submitted by parent on May 15, 2014
  My 2 sons have had a terrific year! Their teachers have been very supportive in motivating and pushing them to do their best academically. One of them is in the multiage class (1st and 2nd) which has been a very positive experience. The teachers help one another and separate the 1st and 2nd graders when needed. This is not a new concept, and has been a success at many schools as well as Ventana. As far as the 5th grade. The class sizes are not big. There are exactly 26 and 27 students in each class. Compare that to most schools that have 30 students. My son has learned so much this year and will miss his teachers next year when he's at Esperero Middle School!
• Submitted by parent on January 23, 2014
  I have two children in different grades in the Spanish immersion program at Ventana Vista, and I LOVE it. The school is wonderful -- teachers, principal, other kids, other parents, special classes, events and activities, etc. I can't say enough good things about the education my children are getting and the wonderful community that we are part of. No, not everything is perfect, but when there is a problem, people really seem to care about fixing it. Exactly what a great elementary school should be.
• Submitted by parent on January 20, 2014
  This is my second year at Ventana Vista and our family has been very happy with the school overall. The teachers are wonderful and supportive, the immersion program has been a positive experience and the principal, Mrs. Boling, has always been available and proactive when needed. My child loves his school, and I could not be happier with our choice to attend Ventana Vista.
• Submitted by parent on January 17, 2014
  The Spanish Immersion program is a great opportunity at this school! They offer an educational fit for all students. The teachers are fantastic as well as the principal! We have been very happy with this school overall.
• Submitted by parent on January 16, 2014
  I have 2 children attending Ventana Vista and we love it. The school itself is absolutely stunning - an architectural marvel sitting high in the Catalina Foothills. The serenity of the location adds a private feel to a bigger city school. The teachers are fabulous. My son is in fifth grade and the team is professional, creative, and extremely devoted to making sure every student is challenged to learn. Art, music, and physical education play a prominent role in the weekly curriculum, as students rotate these various "specials" from week to week. My daughter is in the third grade Spanish Immersion Program, where the foundations for a future of language learning and later fluency, are developed through regular lesson plans taught entirely in Spanish. The children are excited to go to school everyday, and always come home with daily stories about the things they learned and the great experiences they had. Ventana Vista is truly one of the best schools in Tucson.
• Submitted by parent on January 16, 2014
  Our son has specific academic needs that are being met and surpassed at Ventana Vista. His overall performance has improved 100% in just one school year. The dedication his educators have displayed is exemplary-our son has forged a real bond with his teachers and he now enjoys the entire learning experience. The principal and the teachers have worked together to assist us and our son with his learning and attention issues, to create learning environment conducive to his needs.
• Submitted by parent on September 01, 2013
  This is a good school going rapidly downhill due to a myopic Board. There are some excellent teachers, but one by one, they are leaving. The location or the school, the view of the mountains, the proximity to nature are truly wonderful aspects. Unfortunately there are major problems. The Principal, although well meaning, is powerless. There is no long-term planning and the possible impact on students is not considered when sudden changes are made. Classes in 5th grade are now 90 minutes long, with Social Studies for half the year and Science for the other half, so when students go to middle school, they will not have had lessons in one of those subjects for half the year! When pointed out by parents, it received little sympathy from the principal, and none from the Board. Almost a third of the 4th graders left last year- a well meaning Board would have looked at the causes and addressed them! The Board is vociferous in asking for help and donations, but remains silent to the parents concern for falling standards. A sinking rot has set in and can only be stopped by a change in leadership, not only at the school, but also at the Board.
• Submitted by parent on August 14, 2013
  "The Spanish Immersion Program is fantastic. . ." Why is there such high teacher turnover for Spanish Immersion if it's so "fantastic?" .... High teacher turnover?! Please do your research also. Logically, as the students grow older new staff must be hired each year. It would be wrong to categorize this as high teacher turnover. My child has been in this program since kindergarten and is doing very well. Although the immersion program has had a few bumps through the years, Kim Boling is a solid principal and addresses each concern appropriately. I am pleased that my child is receiving a quality, well rounded education at Ventana Vista ES. GO BOBCATS!
• Submitted by parent on June 23, 2013
  Kindergarden teacher is great !!! (Mrs. Perella)...2nd grade teacher not so great (Mrs. Tomiak)...They are planning to put first and second grade together next year (2013-2014) and i am not so sure this is appropiate.
• Submitted by parent on May 08, 2013
  I'm devastated that we had to move! the best school ever. The 3rd grade teacher my kid had was so nice and loving. She actually cared for her students. The feeling was just wonderful, the principal is very nice, caring, understanding and friendly. Even the lady's/monitors that work helping with the traffic were so nice. My son said that some of the lunch monitors were not that nice and some of the office people but other than that everyone was just so respectful. They have so many resources for the students to use and wonderful after school activities. The classrooms are clear of clutter and distractions and you get this feeling that the teachers are happy to be there. My son loved the Spanish and art classes. We miss this school and I wish all schools were like this one. This is en excellent school.
• Submitted by parent on March 07, 2013
  The Spanish Immersion program is fantastic at Ventana Vista. Look it up: the AIMS test scores at VV are among the highest in the district and if you look at just the VV Spanish Immersion students, their test scores ARE the highest. These are exceptional students because of exceptional teachers and a supportive district!
• Submitted by parent on October 15, 2012
  The last review (August 1 2012) is obviously written by someone who doesn't really have a child at this school.........very dishonest. 1. There is, in fact, a librarian and she is fantastic! Mrs. Wadsworth is loved by all the students and parents. 2. Ventana Vista is ranked FIRST in AIMS scores compared to all the other CFSD elementary schools. This is not a "probable" ranking; it is a published ranking within the state of Arizona. In fact, VV is ranked in the 20s among public elementary schools. The previous reviewers citations for Manzanita and Sunrise are ranked in the 70s. 3. Ventana Vista has the lowest amount of open-enrollment students which makes for a much more neighborhood-oriented environment and also keeps but one CFSD school free from the over-crowding caused by OE kids. 4. There is a school code of conduct and initiatives to promote no- bullying supported by and promoted by the principal, Kim Boling. 5. I would AGREE that the teachers are overall excellent. I have had children attending Ventana Vista for the past 7 years and it is a very positive and enriching learning environment.
• Submitted by parent on August 01, 2012
  We have been a part of Ventana Vista for many years. My review would be mixed, at best. Pros: Some outstanding teachers, great physical plant, FFO organization good at lots of extra activities; Cons: Principal, emotional bullying is allowed, there is no librarian (past was amazing - gone due to funding), part-time counselor, not enough physical education, mediocre IDS (gifted) program. Out of the 4 elementaries, this would probably rank 3rd. Go to Manzanita or Sunrise (plus their Middle School is superior). All in all, a perfectly good school for an average, normal child.

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