14166 W Boca Raton Rd
Surprise, AZ 85379

I loved this school up until my child reached 3rd grade. This year everything seemed to go downhill. My child has struggled a lot, and instead of support, it feels like the teacher’s response has mostly been to scold or criticize. I’ve felt judged by the staff more than supported.The only time the teacher reaches out is when my child is being “disruptive,” and I’m repeatedly told that my child is “checked out.” I’ve explained multiple times that this is part of my child’s personality and that the phrase “checked out” feels dismissive and offensive. What child doesn’t get distracted or talk in class sometimes?I’ve also mentioned that I suspect my child may have ADHD, but my concerns were brushed off immediately. I even shared personal family issues that could be affecting my child, hoping it would help the school understand what they’re going through. Instead of that information being used to support my child appropriately, it felt like it backfired on me. That alone made me feel even more judged, hurt, and angry.My child has told me they feel “dumb” because they’re struggling with their 2’s multiplication facts, and they constantly feel rushed. That breaks my heart. What’s even more frustrating is that I’m never contacted about the good days—only the difficult ones.I’m a single mom doing the best I can, and I’ve never had issues like this with any of my older children. This year has left both me and my child feeling unsupported, judged, and discouraged.Because of this experience, my child will NOT be continuing at Countryside for 4th grade.

As a parent, I recently took a closer look into this school’s after-school programs after noticing changes in my children’s behavior.What I experienced raised concerns about supervision, structure, and communication. Information was not communicated to me directly or clearly, and it took multiple steps before I was properly informed. That level of communication is not what I expect when it comes to my children.I believe there is room for improvement in how the program is managed, particularly in maintaining clear communication with parents and ensuring appropriate oversight of students.At this time, I would encourage other parents to stay actively involved and ask questions about after-school activities to ensure their expectations are being met.

I have two children who attend this school. I am a teacher (20 years) and I am grateful for the current administration. They have gone above and beyond to support my daughter academically and emotionally. They set a standard for excellence in character that you don’t always see at a public school. Their variety of sports and electives have kept my son and daughter involved and engaged as learners. The teachers have been supportive and responsive whenever my children have needed any support. I would highly recommend Ashton Ranch Middle School.