I've always been excited about this Montessori School. It's the reason we moved to Sedona. My kids…read morestarted here in 1st grade in 2006. There are small, multi-age classrooms, some seriously dedicated teachers who go above & beyond and so many off campus trips! On a yearly basis: 3rd graders go the Grand Canyon, 4-6th grades go to the Biosphere and several trips to local campgrounds and events, the 6th graders spend a week in Havasupai, the 7th & 8th graders go to Tombstone for a few days, The Montessori Model United Nations students go to NYC for a week & the 8th graders spend a week on Catalina Island. This is in addition to the various local trips that come up throughout any given year for all grades. The Montessori style of teaching allow for the kids to become independent learners. The environment is provided and they are allowed to explore it and in essence, come out of the experience with a lifelong love of learning. Anyone can memorize facts, spit them back & forget them and all my kids will have plenty of time to do that after this school! The creativity each of these classrooms fosters can be seen in their community garden, the after school Farmers Market, the off campus farm, the violin concerts by the 1st through 8th graders, their award winning presence in the St. Patrick's Parade every year, their artistic creations with holiday lights for the past several years at Red Rock Fantasy, their Bohemian Night of the Arts event, the Monthly Coffee House performances, the student created plays by the 4-6th graders, fund raising theater productions by the 7th & 8th graders, internet radio show, their Mystery History presentations where the 4-6th graders have to get their classmates to figure out what historical figure they're portraying in the "1st person style" of performance, and the uniqueness of the set up and decor of each classroom. The three individual classrooms have their own Principal Educator who is with the students on a daily basis, all day long. Currently (2013) the Lower Elementary P.E. (1st-3rd) is Bob http://www.sedonacharterschool.org/#!__faculty the Upper Elementary (4th-6th) is Bill http://www.sedonacharterschool.org/#!__faculty/upper-elementary and the Middle School (7th & 8th) is Kathleen http://www.sedonacharterschool.org/#!__faculty/middle-school Alice is the Business Administrator and Finance Director in the office. http://www.sedonacharterschool.org/#!__faculty/staff The classrooms individually have their own events as well as interdependently coordinate for "All School" festivities throughout the year. The school received an A rating by the State of Arizona this year and is the highest rated Elementary School in West Sedona according to greatschools.org They've gone up and down over the years directly corresponding with which teachers have come and gone. This year, I'm extremely happy with the current team in place in all the classrooms. http://www.greatschools.org/arizona/sedona/#9/schools/ Upon one of my kid's request, I home schooled last year after they spent 6 years here (which, by the way, Sedona has a GREAT Home-school Community!) This year, for 8th grade, they couldn't resist the pull of the trips that happen at this school. For as long as the teachers that are currently there stay on, I can highly recommend this school.

Our children have been going to Sedona Charter School for two years and we really like the…read moreMontessori-style education they teach here. It really allows the student to explore and learn at their own pace and in the mode they learn best.

I was born and raised in India, and lived in Singapore for a few years. Coming to Verde Valley…read moreSchool for 2 years (graduated in 2006) helped me understand, assimilate, and learn the American culture. Additionally, I had classmates that were from many countries like Korea, Germany, Japan, Turkey, and Vietnam among many others. I now have a successful career, the foundation of which was set many years ago at VVS. I didn't even know how to do my own laundry when I came to this school. It really does prepare you for the real world.

Attending this school for two years was a pivotal part of my life. In that period, I grew from a…read moreboy into a young man, developing a sense of world citizenship, environmental stewardship and hard-working leadership. I continue to hold these values very close to my heart, and they have been a springboard for success in my career. Verde Valley has my highest recommendation.

Nice property and parking was good but could use more shade. My husband tripped on the sidewalk…read morebut the boys in parking lot were so helpful.

Complete mess trying to obtain my transcripts or diploma from 95 school is no longer open and since…read moreit was a private school no one knows where to get transcripts wondering if anybody else had the same problem!!!!!

The absolute worst place. It was closed down by the state of Arizona for very good reasons…read more Appalling temporary dorms, freezing in the winter, broiling in the summer. Nothing to code so very hazardous situations, suicides by the kids, full of drugs, classes did not meet state or federal minimum standards, weekly overdoses. The best thing I ever did was fight to get my child out of that terrible place. I had a child that was not involved in drugs, when he came out 6 months later he knew more about using drugs than anyone. He got a real education there, but not a scholastic one. Now every day is a battle, trying to keep him away from all the bad stuff he was exposed to and learned in that awful place. It was a warehouse to dump kids parents either didn't want or couldn't control. Drug users, disciplinary problems, some simply unwanted, and the rest with mental problems too severe to fit into the regular public school system. Never saw anything like it. Hope there are no other places like OCRS left in the US, if there are I hope those too are discovered and shuttered before more of our young people are abandoned in places like this.

I'm not sure what the reviewer below is talking about. This is the only school where my daughter…read morehas felt safe. There is a notable lack of bullying, fighting and "mean girl" exclusion. Neurodiversity is respected. It's hard not to be struck by the politeness and downright friendliness of the kids, even the teens, who will stop to greet you on campus. Sometimes children will come into the school disregulated, but they soon fall into line with the overall pleasant and respectful culture of the place. It's actually inspiring to watch the teachers work their magic without much need for punitive discipline. And the principal uses a process of Conscious Discipline to resolve disputes and bring children back into the fold of the school community if there are bigger problems. This is a public Waldorf school, and I was surprised to find that such a small, rural school with no tuition fees had nearly the full Waldorf line up of special classes and activities. In fact, Desert Star has proven to be better in terms of traditional Waldorf curriculum, teacher quality and school culture than the top private Waldorf schools we have attended previously. Desert Star offers Music from first grade/Strings from fifth grade, Second Language starting in 1st grade, Knitting/crochet/sewing/spinning, Painting/Figure Drawing, Sculpting, Drama, Cooking, Gardening, Woodworking, Building, Speech and Debate, Movement, Archery and Medieval Games/Pentathlon as well as the wonderful Waldorf Festivals, Virtues Curriculum, and incredible Field Trips including an 8th Grade trip to Catalina Island for ecological education. This in addition to holistic, experiential academic instruction provided by highly educated and experienced teachers. Waldorf is not for everyone, but if holistic, arts-infused education is right for your family, I highly recommend Desert Star.

one of the teachers, who i will not name says they want to bring back hitting children ??? why…read morewould u EVEN say that especially when working with kids?????? please just don't go here go anywhere else that isn't here . also the supervision is horrible as in horrid . some kid can hit a person and get away with it but if you speak of anything about one of the teachers youtube you will get smited down from the heavens like u are getting punished by zeus himself