732 S Chatsworth
Mesa, AZ 85208

I love this school. My son is thriving. I love the way they approach activities in a collaborative and creative way. I also love the Principal. She is amazing and the students treat her like she's a rock star, not in fear like it was back in my day in school. They offer so many great programs and the teachers I've dealt with have been so open in communicating with me.

This is a huge campus that allows students to fall through the cracks.

I have gone to smith junior high my 7th grade year, and I am currently enrolled in my 8th. This is the absolute worst school I have ever been to, and I don't say that lightly. Last year we were required to take planners to go to the bathroom, and if we didn't have it or write what the learning target was we'd be pink slipped (and we couldn't go to the bathroom if we didn't have it). Not to mention that there's a 10 minute rule where students cannot go to the restroom during the first or last 10 minutes of class, which isn't so bad. But i'm a student who's in the portables (Which are currently the SOI honors classrooms). We still have the 10 minute rule being all the way on the other side of campus off of the main grounds. We have to walk all the way to the front doors just to get in, and then we have to walk out the back gate which makes you miss at least 12, if not more minutes of class. Not to mention walking all that far could cause safety concern in event of an emergency such as a shooting, or dangerous person. My attendance hasn't been the best and they haven't even said anything to my parents. All they've done is send a measly letter that basically tells you that your student needs to come more (i've missed over 40 days in one semester). Not to mention they don't contact your parents if your failing, which I understand it is on me as a student. But they never contact parents in the first place. Teachers are nice, and lenient but do not know how to handle a classroom full of rowdy students. We've ha a recent safety concern with a small fire to one of the ac units and a potential shooter on campus who had a gun, that wasn't a student. They were on the same day and it caused us to have to stay 30 minutes after the final bell to dismiss us rang. There's tons of fights, which are inevitable to students of course, but they should be better prepared in the event of one. Last time all the security guard did was run to the fight and attempt to break it up, he wasn't super successful. And lastly the staff does not care about your child, they will not see it through if there is an issue with your child involving another student or teacher. Please do not send your student here. I believe it could make a comeback under a better staff and principal. But for right now, I wouldn't even give it a single star if that was possible.