This school is ranked #1 in the state for testing right now!…read more After moving to Mesa and looking at the public school reviews, I was bound and determined to find a better school for my kids to attend, even if it meant I had to drive! Luckily, I found East Valley Academy not too far from my new home. That was four years ago and I have to say that I couldn't imagine my kids attending another school. This school offers what we all want for our children that public schools don't offer. It's small, yes, and that is a huge bonus. Kid to teacher ratio is outstanding! The two classes for all grades is another advantage over other schools. These kids learn together and help each other! They also devote more time to learning the basics. They do plays and take field trips often and they have holiday parties that you can even bake for! My son was reading after only two months in kindergarten and now is reading at a 6th grade level in 3rd grade. My daughter ranked top 3% in the nation for her math skills on the state test in 3rd grade and she just recently tested into Algebra 1 for 7th grade that she will obtain high school credit for! If you are looking for a great education that does not teach the Common Core, then look no further! Check out their stats and I'll see you there next year!

I can't say enough good things about East Valley Academy. I'll start with a little background…read moreinformation to show the difference in quality. My daughter went to K and 1st grade at a public school in the Paradise Valley school district. We had problem after problem, such as bullying, and her 1st grade teacher lying to me and brushing off inconsistencies I noticed in my daughter's learning. She got A's, but I could tell she wasn't really learning much. My daughter is very smart but defiant. I was spending an extraordinary amount of time supplementing her education. I talked to other parents who had to do the same but seemed resigned to their fate. She didn't have a love of learning. However, during her last two years with East Valley Academy (EVA) everything has turned around. She learned more in the first two months than she did in the previous two years at her public school. EVA focuses on phonics based reading and Saxon math, not Common Core. They took her down to the building blocks of phonics she'd never learned and built her reading up from there. She went from a Kindergarten reading level to a 3rd grade reading level in her first year there (2nd grade). Her math became much more proficient as well, and she was doing well in every subject. Ms. Stoeppelmann also identified her ADD before I could. Both teachers were very responsive and thorough when giving feedback about her attention span, moods, organization, etc., while trying to find the right medication. This showed me how well they know each of their students. Most importantly for me, though, is that she now has a love of learning. I truly can't see her having this level of success at any other school. She has even scored high on more difficult tests than most high school students take. EVA has even positively affected our home life. I've always been an involved parent, but am no longer spending hours after school patching all the holes in learning that her last school was leaving, which led to many disagreements and friction between my daughter and myself. This school is small. Very small. Don't let that deter you. It operates similarly to a little red schoolhouse. It's not fancy, but the size allows for individual attention for each student in a way that the teachers can really get to know their learning styles and be able to work with them. Ms. Stoeppelmann and Mr. Ryan are excellent teachers, with years of experience, who have such finesse with conveying the information that the kids thoroughly learn it. That is crucial to me. The perks of this school are many. There is a sense of community among parents and kids, which also eliminates bullying. If something does arise it's easily resolved with the parents and teachers. This sense of community also opens the door for celebration of the different cultures of the students. The lunch break is longer so the kids have some real free time to recharge and focus better while in class. EVA also takes many field trips as well with plenty of parent chaperones. This school isn't the easy way out. My daughter works hard to get her good grades, and I've worked with her and the school to keep her success going. But for every bit of effort I put in, the teachers put in at least twice as much. Unlike the public school the dialogue between families and teachers is open. To me these are what make the difference between every other school and this one. EVA is there solely to teach kids and help them reach their potential. They care about these kids.

Great playground, great teachers, great gym great people, great neighborhood. great swings, great…read moremusic room, great students, great crossing guards, great testing system. Great parents and teacher meet up. My only complain I wish they were open seven days a week and kids could go all year around. That would be perfect.

Classical Christian Education where the schooling is focused on learning while helping grow in…read morefaith. We absolutely love everything about Redeemer. The class size, the community, office staff and most importantly the teachers. The majority of the elementary teachers have been there for almost 20yrs, that says a lot. The experience and love that they have for their students really shows. My kids love going to school.

I love teaching kindergarten at Redeemer Christian School because…read morethe small class size gives me the flexibility to focus attention where it is needed most with each student. I am able to adapt lessons as needed to reach each student where they are at. I work to prepare each student for their first grade experience as they continue in the classical approach to education. I also love that RCS uses a faith-based approach in almost all lessons, not just Bible. Faith is weaved into social studies, science, phonics, recitation, and more. It is truly a blessing to watch Kindergarteners make the connections from their Bible lessons into real life applications and grow in their faith.

I literally LOVE this school. I met some of my best friends there. As well as, the principal and…read moreteachers are there to make sure we're actually listening and doing what we are supposed to do! I also love the fact they have a great special education program, where my mother works.

Good school overall, but very boring! The inside of the courtyard looks like a prison yard. You…read morewould never know kids attended. Other elementary schools in mesa are fun, colorful and kid involvement with in the school projects (pond, custom painted rocks/walls, teacher achievements, etc) also there's no holiday runs like other schools. No Parties/competition to throw pie in the principals face for fundraiser winners. None of my kids have been on a field trip either and the school year almost over. Nice teachers, boring school. I know school is about learning but it's also about memories and having fun!

This school has drastically changed this current school year. With the new leadership, I have…read morenoticed a whole lot of stability that is being built with this school. My kids are happier this year than they have been the previous years. So please consider having ur children come to this school.

Here's a list of issues from my daughter's kindergarten school year (2014-2015). 1. They fed her…read moreeggs, when it says in her registration paperwork that she's allergic to eggs. She had a severe reaction. 2. She's had multiple teachers in the past year. I lost count. Kindergarteners are the most sensitive to these types of changes. 3. Her first choir concert, the teacher had the kids start singing their one and only song for the performance and 4-5 kids weren't on the stage yet. 4. Spring picture info wasn't sent home. I found out about them from my daughter the night before. If she hadn't told me and i order them the next morning, they would've never taken an individual picture. 5. Event/Spirit Week info was always relayed by my daughter because Vista doesn't use their site's event calendar or their FB page to notify anyone of anything. 6. One day their "snack" for the afternoon was a cup of grape tomatoes. They should have a better options. Don't send your kid here if you care at all about their education or well-being.

4 of my 5 kids go to Self Development Academy (1 is currently in Preschool and 3 in higher grade…read morelevels). We've had positive experiences since our kids started here in the 2's and 3's on the preschool side. My 6 other nieces and nephews also attend this school and we've all had a great experience with SDP and SDA. This school has high rankings in academics but also has a wonderful team who all have your children's best interest at heart. Dr. Majeed, Miss Vernetta, all the teachers Miss Mickey, Miss Amber, Miss Haschke, Miss Oliver, Miss Jenn C., even all the front desk staff (Lonnie, Deena, Brittni), and especially the principal Jenn Salvatori have all been wonderful and helpful with our kids! There was recently an issue with another child was being very rude/disrespectful a couple of times and I reported it right away since my child was upset and crying. I'm happy to report that the resolution was swift. I was also kept updated about how it was being addressed both with the students and internally among their staff/teachers. SDA stresses the importance of the 4 R's Respect, Responsibility, Readiness, and Resiliency as well as academics with opportunities to advance. SDA was also very accommodating when we had to go to online school during COVID and truly care about your child's well being. My kids feel safe here, trust their teachers and administration, and have honestly thrived at this school since being here. I feel blessed to have this school so close to home and to trust my kids with a school that provides such solid support.

I have chosen to not post a review about SDA to stay positive and let that horrible time in my…read morefamily's life go, but seeing this article in our local paper is too much. This school is focused so solely on high achievement that they will do everything possible to push out children who do not perform. My daughter went here with minimal issue, other than adjusting to the old school dictation-style teaching and an isolated situation where a stessed teacher used questionable methods to discipline the entire class for being disruptive. My son has ADHD and was put into detentions and in-school suspension over the allowable number of times per year by state law while he was in grades K-4. He was excluded from activities and field trips, put last in his kindergarten graduation despite it being alphabetical (his name should've been read 3rd - he was th only child not listed in order) and I was constantly told how I should consider medication (again - at 5 years old). They were oblivious to handling a 504 plan. My son was so deflated by his first 5 years of school that he dreaded every day. I have spoken with numerous parents who went through similar situations at this school. The goal is obviously to overwhelm the student and their parents into removal so they don't have to deal with the situation. My son is thriving now in the great public schools in NE Mesa, but still looks back on his time at SDA with trauma. On the positive side, telling his painful experience at SDA did help with legislation to prevent schools from issuing unnecessary suspension to elementary age children. This school may be wonderful for some children, but they do not "give unconditional love" for children with ADHD. If your child is trying to find their way through this complicated journey, this is NOT the school for you.

I would not recommend the school. I had a teacher who wrote a false character of defamation letter…read moreabout myself when I was going through child custody battle . Never met the teacher , school district did nothing about it.

Great school and staff!! Highly recommended. My daughter…read morewent to the school from kindergarten to 6th grade. She had an amazing experience and had wonderful teachers.