Evit - Hendrix Junior High School

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.

I had my children attend here for about 3 years , when we moved schools(went through a break up with my ex) i had a teacher at Crismon who i never met, write a false character of defamation letter about me . The principal did nothing to address the matter ; unfortunately i would not recommend this school any more.

My son transferred to Sirrine Montessori Center as a former Montessori pre-K student, but he had also been at one of the top-rated Kyrene elementary schools for years prior. His kinder and first-grade teachers were amazing, but in the second grade he became very down, lost all his self-belief, and frequently told me he was the slowest and dumbest in his classes at the former Kyrene school. I asked him why he felt this way, or who had said any of that to him, and he would say it was just obvious. We spoke to his teachers and sent him to a counselor there, but no one seemed to know what we were describing. From a teaching friend I have, I learned I could ask to have him evaluated in case he had any learning disabilities or needs. I asked at least three times, and was told it would be arranged, but never was. Meanwhile, every single day when we picked him up he was unsmiling, worn out, defeated. I'd had him on waitlists at public Montessori elementary schools all during his second grade, and when we learned he was accepted at Sirrine I was beyond happy and relieved, not just for the Montessori elements, but also due to the smaller school and classroom sizes overall.He loves this school! (Well, as much as he will ever love going to school.) When I say he literally looked like his old self with the reduced stress, and no more of that completely defeated demeanor that first week, I'm not exaggerating. It was like he was a kid again, smiling, lighthearted, and at ease. As the year progressed, his teachers were both incredibly kind and encouraging to him, and they never waivered in giving support. His lead teacher stayed in regular contact with us (without us reaching out first) and I realized this is what it feels like to actually be partners with his education. He had some rough quarters grades wise, and she gave me tools and suggestions that made all the difference.And then, in the winter when he had the worst repeated/ongoing illness he's experienced by far, not only were his teachers there for him, but his school's office and health staff were incredibly supportive. I was so concerned about him, but not once were they anything but genuinely caring and calm while I was seriously worried.I am eternally grateful for SMC's staff and environment; it is truly an amazing group of people that make it so great.Caleb J's mom

This school used to be filled with kind and supportive staff, now, not so much. The new Principle Mike is pretty rude and so is their staff, quite a change compared to the past 20 years. Their early education teacher, doesnt know how to decide that a child is ready for kindergarten, but rather goes off her little test on paper with a pass or fail. Missed opportunities for kids who are intelligent and ready to learn, but may not know everything on their written test. Just not the school it used to be.

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!