West Bench

I have two kids in the school and every teacher we have had and every classroom situation that we have been in has been incredibly inviting, encouraging and positive! We’ve seen two principles and both of them did and are doing a great job to involve themselves within the dynamics of what goes on at an elementary school.

Very poor communication....I had an issue with a teacher and principal literally backed her up . The teacher would scream at the kids and she also told the kids that back in the day kids would get hit with rulers if they didnt behave. I talked to the teacher nothing I went to the principal nothing they just said because since my son is a soft boy he was misunderstanding stuff that got me so mad. I should on went there yelling to see how kids feel when they get yelled liked that. And then poor communication from nurse they never call me from the nurse so everything I find out from my child or I have to call this is ridiculous.I wanna change him from schools but I heard others schools in Idaho are about the same or worst. I come from another state and this is the first time I have issues with schools and with Valley View the last two years have sucked so much.

The Teachers have been very helpful but the principal is rather rude and disrespectful from my interactions with them. The school has a great community center for the kids which is a wonderful thing to have. They have lots of family night type of events. My kids love the school. I am a little concerned with the overall performance of the school but have found my children to be doing rather well. One thing that drives all of us parents crazy is the parking / drop off / pick up. Its a nightmare!

There are a few things I wish I’d known before enrolling my kids at St. Mark’s. While there are definitely bright spots, including some wonderful teachers and staff, the school is currently navigating some serious challenges.The current slogan, “Together We Rise,” actually highlights the uphill battle they’re facing with teacher and student retention. In my experience, these issues aren't being addressed effectively, and there is a noticeable gap between the school's polished messaging and the reality on the ground.If you’re considering St. Mark’s, I’d suggest digging deeper than the "nice-sounding" answers. If a specific issue is important to you, ask for hard metrics and specific examples. For instance:Retention Numbers: Ask exactly how many students/ families and teachers have left in the last five years and compare those figures to other schools. (Look at the raw numbers rather than the "official" reasons provided for the departures). Over time, the majority of my children's teachers have been brand new to the school and not retained.Hiring and Training: Ask how vacancies (and urgent vacancies) are filled and what kind of support/ training is given to new hires or temporary hires who may not have a formal background in education.Leadership Oversight: Look into the administrative structure. It’s helpful to know who is just an "advisor" (like the superintendent and the school board) versus who actually provides day-to-day oversight for the principal. Behavioral Management: Ask to see a redacted example of a real behavior plan. This will show you how they handle disruptions that affect the whole classroom's learning environment. Use AI to compare that plan with current best practices.School Success Markers: What metrics do they collect and share to demonstrate success? How transparent are they about finances? Is fundraising robust or declining? What are the parent/ family involvement metrics and are they steady or declining?Parental Feedback: Ask to see a recent parent/ family satisfaction survey including the questions that were asked and the results.I truly believe St. Mark’s has potential and I hope it becomes the thriving community it’s meant to be. However, I’ve seen too many great families leave after a long, difficult struggle. My goal isn't to discourage you, but to make sure you have the full picture before making a choice for your children. These are the questions I wish I would have asked before enrolling my children here.