2502 W Chilton St
Chandler, AZ 85224

We were at Pomeroy for 4 years and the last two we saw a major decline in teacher credentials and ability to emotionally support kids. Our kids were bored and complained about how loud and out of control their classrooms were. The teacher assistant even said she was afraid of some of the students. Kids were making inappropriate videos at lunch with their phones and we were very concerned. I would not recommend.

This school has always been weird with scheduling, they constantly switch your classes around without warning or giving any reason. For some weird reason, this keeps happening to my nephew. They’ll randomly be pulled out of class and told their schedule has been changed, sometimes swapping out one or two classes for that day. In my junior year, I met with my counselor, Zachary Sumnicht, to plan my senior schedule. I asked if I could switch one of my classes because I needed half a credit to finish the class I want. He said it was fine and that he’d take care of it. But after winter break, I noticed my schedule hadn’t changed. I emailed him, and he replied saying I couldn’t switch a full-year class for another one. That didn’t make sense to me, especially since I saw may other students getting their schedules changed, even if it’s a full-year class. My sibling called him to ask why he changed his mind and why allowed other students to switch. His response was that my family had no right to know about my schedule, that it was “school policy” and not my family’s business. I was still a minor at that time, and him saying that is really weird. He also claimed I never told him about switching classes, even though I had emails and remembered the meeting where he agreed to the switch the class. After my sibling confronted him, he said he’d speak with me. But instead of scheduling a meeting, he barged into my second hour class and loudly asked, “Where is she?” Like if he’s Batman. He pulled me near my teachers desk and he humiliate and embarrassed in front of everybody. He said that my family had no right to be involved in my schedule. I felt embarrassed, humiliated, and incredibly frustrated. The next day, my family was outraged at my counselor and wanted to talk to the principal. But instead of the principal, we talked to the assistant principal, Justin Firehawk. He took the counselor side, saying that he met him for a year that he would never do that. After that useless meeting we just left because there was nothing else to do.

I had my girls at a different Mesa Public School and my youngest daughter was struggling extremely hard. It made no sense because she's SUPER smart. When I realized that the school had no structure, no leadership and the kids had pretty much taken over. I was told by the principal that this is how all third grade classrooms are and a few choice words that I'll not embarrass her by posting. When I visited Franklin at Alma and started the enrollment process, I was impressed to sit in the classrooms and see that there was respect, kindness, LEARNING, and appropriate expectations set that the students understood and obeyed. Once my kids started school EVERYTHING turned around. My youngest (who I held back to second grade due to the lack of education she was getting and her maturity level and the fact that Franklin has advanced learning) THRIVED. She went from so so grades and low marks in behavior to ALMOST straight As and a teacher that raved about her behavior and how she's become more sweet and interactive since they started. (I cried when I heard this at the parent teacher conference) My oldest had culture shock. She was a straight A student at her previous school but didn't really have to devote herself and wasn't challenged. At Franklin (starting the middle of 5th grade) we both learned that the prior school was not preparing her for Jr. or High School. We worked with her teacher and got extra information/study guides, she did tutoring, and generally worked hard to get caught up. I realized my daughter had been sliding through school because she would do the basics at the old school when most weren't doing that. So I'm sincerely grateful to Franklin for holding the kids to a higher standard. In the first semester with Franklin my kids learned to REALLY study, learned that with hard work and perseverance that can do anything, learned that following structure in the classroom makes it easier for them to learn and in turn the rest of the class, they made amazing friends on the first day because Franklin is a transfer school, and finally enjoy learning in their classroom with their friends. I'm really grateful we found this school and my 2 year old will be attending Franklin at Alma when it's time for her to go to kindergarten!