I came to pick up my daughter for a Drs appointment and was told I was not allowed to pick her up…read moreafter 2:45. It was 2:47! Not only that, is it even legal to hold a child over a parents wishes? I should be able to pick up my child at any time without being treated like crap. Also the front desk receptionist was extremely rude and argumentative. Are they going to reimburse me for the cancellation fee I am now incurring at her drs office? I'm appalled!

Like always there is a pros and cons to the school. There are great teachers who actually care…read moreabout their students and work with them if they have a need to help better understand the curriculum. Teachers like Ms.Anderson, Ms. Katz, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Tarter, Mr. T, and Ms. Esper, they are the best teachers that I have seen by far since 2019. The biggest issue in the school is the cliche got money type of attitude. This is what tends to be detrimental to the kids or the experience at the school. However they do have some programs that actually show that they do care about the community and their students. The biggest complaint I've had at the school by far has been the parking lot. I have seen multiple accidents in the parking lot because parents are not paying attention when pulling out of parking spaces or trying to get out of the parking lot in general. The school has had it observed several times and it's the best flow that they have had in the district but they're still issues that need to be addressed. It does help that they have officers who are here throughout the day during that time to actually direct the traffic as well as the school resource officers.

So, I don't wanna sound like some random upset teenager who just doesn't like middle school in…read moregeneral, but Cocopah is really not the best for some people. And I would STRONGLY advise this comment should be read if you are interested in enrolling your child. I have witnessed many students being bullied to the point of suicidal thoughts and the teachers do absolutely nothing. The community in general are actually not the nicest people anyway. Also, there is not currently a nurse?? My younger brother is in seventh grade and nearly everyone isn't doing that well academically. Also, I've noticed some of the staff seemed to not care that much due to how much students they have. When I was here, only one staff member actually checked up on me and my friend (nope not the counselor) I remember I was doing very bad in math and not the best grade in ELA, both of the teachers were late to the student conference (and left early) that I had scheduled a week before, rude much. Also, they have a very interesting mindset, especially counselors, they would constantly guilt trip and gaslight me and my parents into constantly putting me in honors (which was definitely not a good idea) just add one more thing. This school is HUGE along with Chaperel, which it feeds into. So I don't entirely blame the teachers for being overwhelmed. But yet again, this is the job they signed up for, and they must have proper work etiquette. There is also a problem in eighth grade with pressuring into vaping and teen s*x which is not managed as much as it should. A lot of the kids there are a very bad influence. (and I'm not trying to be a saint, it's genuinely bad.) they should also be a bit stricter on the dress code, I mean, you can wear practically anything, and a lot of people bullied because they don't have a certain (expensive) clothing item. I know this is long, but it's very important and I could add a lot more. My family certainly got fed up with it and we switched in the eighth grade. I would overall not recommend this school sorry if this offended anyone. (one more thing, READ THIS apparently this school doesn't do much of a background check on its teachers since they literally hired someone who was addicted to child p*rn and g*re (shout out to Michael Gill I hope you rot in jail )

Horrible school. Horrible teachers. Horrible principal. Spineless principal who covers for ignorant…read moreteachers who pick on children they've decided they don't like. Teachers who attempt to intimidate the children and parents in meetings then get shown proof of their lies and manipulation and "Mr. Shrimp" principal goes "shocked" faced and pretends it's all new to him. Teachers who literally hate kids and treat them like crap are teaching here. Lazy and never update grades in their "awesome" app and when asked why they aren't up to date, blame the kids. Constant emails that go unanswered. Teachers giving excessive homework with unrealistic due dates (some with so much work that has to be "done only in class") and give no time in class to do it so kids have to give up their lunch and after school to complete it. Kids in tears because it's too much and teachers expectations are absurd THEN don't put the grades in the grade book because they "can complete it on their own schedule" causing kids to stress out and are upset their grades look like failing grades. SUSD has dropped the ball here and I will tell everyone every chance I can what a sh*tty school this is.

We love this school so much! Class sizes are small, opportunity to be on campus and in the…read moreclassroom is always available to parents, there are so many activities/festivals to get the kiddos excited about learning, the campus is beautiful, the science center is amazing. Truly, so many wonderful things about this place! The school is always locked, the opportunity to donate to various causes is always there, and it is very patriotic! My only negative, many people here park in the No Parking, fire lanes. No one at the school does anything about it. No duty aides outside moving cares, notes, or anything to stop the behavior. I asked once and was told "it's always been like that, people don't listen". As a fire wife, this frustrates me to end! I want to know my daughter is safe in her class and has FULL access to emergency personnel if needed. Other than that, we really love being apart of this school!

I am a former student of Benchmark and I would recommend it to anyone. My teachers were amazing…read morethey cared a lot about me and made sure that I understood any assignment. Most of my teachers loved making learning in the classroom very fun and interesting. The "specials" teachers were amazing and helped me figure out the kind of stuff I love to do. I realize that the school has had a few changes in teachers and principals but I still consider it to be a GREAT school. I made many good memories and have very good friends that I grew up at the school. I always look forward to going back and visiting my teachers. So again I would recommend this school to anyone!

Fantastic staff! So helpful! Thank you Lauren Brown for all the help and support. You are truly…read moreamazing.

Most awesome K-4 school on the planet.read more

I am a Grandmother, not a parent, so I hope it is alright that I am writing this review. My…read moreGranddaughter goes to Gateway and I just have to say something about it. When you are a grandparent you dont see them every single day like the parents do, so you notice the changes more. You go a few weeks and then you see them and you think my goodness, who is this young lady. She was named STUDENT OF THE WEEK not long ago. I dont think I have ever seen her so proud of herself. She is also taking college classes and she is still in middle school!! I still can not get over that one. When I was her age nobody was telling me I could do college work. Somebody at that school looked at her and said she could do it, and then they gave her the chance and she did it. But I will tell you the truth, the school work is not the part that gets me. Last week she had her first sleepover. Two other girls from school. Her very first one. We went to lunch this week and that is ALL she talked about. What they ate, what they watched, who said what, what they are going to do next time. I just sat there and listened to her. I am not sure I can explain to another grandparent what that is like to sit across the table from a child you love so much and listen to her go on and on about her friends. Not friends someday. Real friends, that came over to the house. That is the part that brought tears to my eyes. I am not ashamed to say it. Gateway did not just figure out how to teach her. They put her somewhere she could be herself, around other kids that understand her, and the confidence came, and then the friendships came. You can not put that on a lesson plan. You can only build the right kind of place and let it happen and that's what these folks have done. To Ms. Robin and all of the teachers and everybody in that building. Thank you. You are educating these children but you are also giving these families something we worry for years we may never get to see. My Granddaughter is proud of herself. She has friends. She talked my ear off at lunch about a sleep over. I am so proud of her I could just burst. If you are looking at Gateway for your child or grandchild, go and see it for yourself. I am only the Grandmother and even I can tell it is a special place. God Bless them all.

This review is long overdue, but I wanted to share our experience with Gateway Academy for other…read moreparents who may be searching for the right school for a child with high-functioning autism, or what Gateway refers to as twice-exceptional students. My son started at Gateway in 7th grade after attending public school since kindergarten. We were actually very fortunate to have had a pretty good experience in public school, especially with the other kids. He had attended the same school since kindergarten and had grown up with many of his classmates, most of whom were still with him in 6th grade. But as he got older, I could see the writing on the wall. Class sizes were getting larger, the kids were growing up, and there had been a few run-ins with bullies. I also didn't love the idea of moving him to a middle school for only two years and then making another major transition to high school. Kids on the spectrum often thrive on routine and familiarity, and my son is certainly no exception. When we found Gateway, it truly felt like a Godsend. The small class sizes were exactly what he needed, and one of the biggest advantages for us was that Gateway goes all the way through 12th grade. He could attend middle school and high school in the same familiar, supportive environment. Many of the teachers have special education backgrounds, but what makes Gateway so special goes far beyond academics. There is a genuinely loving, welcoming culture there. At Gateway, these kids aren't singled out for being different. They're surrounded by other students who understand them. They can be themselves. They have friends. They belong. The teachers are wonderful, as is the office staff. Ms. Robin, Gateway's founder and principal, truly cares about her students, and that caring is reflected throughout the school. Gateway gives students an environment where they can learn at their own pace while also developing friendships, confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging. As a parent, I cannot imagine my son having had the same high school experience in a large traditional high school surrounded primarily by neurotypical students. Those teenage years can be difficult enough, and Gateway gave him a safe place where he was accepted for exactly who he is. My son graduated from Gateway in 2025 and now attends community college. I asked him recently if he misses Gateway. He said yes. So I asked him what, specifically, he misses about it. His answer was simply, "Everything." That answer was both a little sad and incredibly heartwarming for me. More than anything I could write in this review, it confirmed what I had known all along: my son had a wonderful middle and high school experience. He made memories, built friendships, felt accepted, and genuinely enjoyed going to school. As a parent of a child on the spectrum, I don't think you can ask for much more than that. Gateway was also a tremendous resource for our entire family. Through the school, we learned about services and resources available to our son that we otherwise may never have known about. They even connected us with an excellent professional who helped us navigate guardianship and establish a special needs trust as he approached adulthood. Gateway didn't just educate our son--they helped us navigate the journey of raising and preparing a twice-exceptional child for adulthood. For any parent looking for a school for a child on the spectrum, I would recommend Gateway Academy without hesitation. Ms. Robin, Mr. Bloom, Mr. Curt, Mr. Anthony, Mr. Richard, and so many others have made Gateway the special place that it is. We will always be grateful that our son had the opportunity to grow up there. Thank you, Gateway, for giving our son a place where he wasn't simply accommodated, but truly belonged.

I'm very saddened that Desert Canyon isn't better. There are the little things like the school…read moregrounds area always messy with dirt from monsoons still on the walkways weeks after the monsoon, weeds everywhere, etc. It makes the school feel old and dirty, which I expected much better for a city like Scottsdale. Then there are the big things like the very rude lady that works the front office, they work off a reactive model for education instead of proactive waiting around for your child to start failing before they step in to helping bullying my kids from day 1 in the classroom, bus and on the playground, giving kindergarteners homework almost every night. The kids are mean and lye. My kindergartener has started lying and saying mean things on a daily basis. When I brought it up to him today, he said "my friends at school lie and say mean things so I do too to fit in". I am thoroughly disgusted by the culture at this school.

We moved to Scottsdale from the Midwest and I was worried about the public schools in AZ. Desert…read moreCanyon has been impressed me in so many ways. From the wonderful teachers and support staff to the curriculum and high expectations. The grounds are lovely and everyone was/is very welcoming. I am so thankful we chose Desert Canyon Elementary School.

Beautiful school, very inviting, great curriculum and very committed director and teachers to their…read morecommunity.

We have nothing but positive things to say about SOTD preschool. My daughter is in her first year…read morethere and each and every staff member has been so incredibly welcoming and friendly. We knew from the first time we toured the facility this was the place we wanted our kids to go. My husband and I were both very nervous to start the process of preschool but SOTD has made it so easy. We trust and know that she is in good hands which is such a relief. Her teachers are wonderful, the director is amazing and so friendly, and Ms. Monica who you will see at the front desk is always smiling and open to assist with any and all questions. We are so happy we chose SOTD and will most definitely be enrolling my son when he is old enough.

Our child has attended Early Childhood and Lower School at the International School of Arizona…read more(ISA). We HIGHLY recommend ISA for families wishing to give their child/children the unique advantage of an international, multilingual education in Arizona. It's great! The Spanish and French tracks are just as if your child is learning in France or Spain (in all subjects). The foreign teachers are very professional, respectful and organized. The US teachers and curriculum are equally impressive with advanced math, science and grammar (STEM) - all taught in English. It's the best of both. Your child will become "academically fluent" in English, and either Spanish or French. With multilingual fluency, children also become confident and emotionally thoughtful of others. Our experience has been terrific. Students enjoy the school day. It is safe, friendly, and respectful with engaged students, teachers, administrators, and parents from all other the world. What a gift. We wish this school went into high school, but we know our child will be prepared for any school we choose - in Arizona or abroad! Thanks ISA.

We were thinking about sending our kids to this school. Unfortunately disappointed by the feedback…read moreand the lack of back up behind the claim that it is IB accredited.