Paseo Hills Elementary School

This has been one of the most disappointing elementary school experiences I have ever encountered. Unfortunately, this concern extends beyond a single issue and includes teachers, office staff, and school leadership. I have personally witnessed staff members behaving in ways that I consider rude and disrespectful toward children, parents, and visitors.It is troubling that children are expected to demonstrate respect toward peers and adults when there appears to be a significant lack of respectful behavior being modeled by some of the adults in the building. Children learn by example, and the current environment does not consistently reflect the standards of respect that are being demanded of them.Additionally, I share the concerns of other parents that incidents of bullying are not being adequately addressed, and that the school often appears to turn a blind eye to these issues.One positive development this year is the principal’s decision to step down, and I hope this leadership change creates an opportunity for meaningful improvement. I sincerely hope the district and Board of Education step in sooner rather than later to ensure that necessary changes are made to better support the students and families of this school.

We never imagined that finding the right school for our children would be such a journey.Like many parents, we always assumed our girls would attend the local public school. But after experiencing public school—and later trying a charter school—we found that something was still missing. The charter school, though promising at first, began to feel more and more like the public system we had left.That’s when we decided to take a leap of faith and explore private education. It was a big decision, and honestly, a little scary. But it has completely changed our daughters’ lives.The transformation has been incredible.School is fun again. Our girls are excited to learn, and they come home eager to share stories and discoveries. They’re learning ancient truths and engaging with ideas in meaningful ways. The hands-on learning approach keeps them involved and curious, not just sitting at a desk all day.The teachers have been nothing short of amazing—always available, supportive, and willing to take the time to help our kids grasp difficult concepts. We’ve never seen this kind of dedication and care before.And we can’t say enough about the financial team.They were patient, knowledgeable, and walked us through the entire ESA and STO process step by step. We were anxious about affordability, but they eased our fears and made the transition possible.We’re so grateful we took the leap. This school has been a blessing to our family.

I want to share our personal experience with this school because I think it’s important for parents to know what the environment is really like.This school has a very strict approach to discipline and student behavior. The expectations are extremely high, and children are expected to follow the rules very closely throughout the entire school day. Talking is limited in many situations, not only in the classroom but also in the hallways, cafeteria, PE, and other parts of the school. There is a lot of focus on being quiet, staying in line, and following instructions exactly.I understand that some families may really like this type of structured and traditional environment. For some children, it may work very well. But unfortunately, it has not been a good fit for our child.Our child is more energetic, social, and independent, and over time we started noticing how much the environment was affecting them. Almost every day, they come home upset and emotionally drained. They often have no motivation or energy to do anything after school. As a parent, it is very difficult to see your child come home unhappy day after day.What concerns me most is that our child sometimes feels like they are constantly doing something wrong because of the frequent reminders and behavior complaints. I believe children need structure and boundaries, but they also need to feel comfortable, confident, and happy at school.We have had experience with another school before, and it was a completely different experience for our family — our child was much happier and more motivated. Because of that experience and what we have seen this year, we have decided that we will definitely change schools next year.The academics here may be good, but parents should understand that strict discipline is not just one part of the school — it is a very big part of the overall culture and affects the child's entire day.My advice to parents is to visit the school before making a decision. Don't just ask about academics. Spend some time observing the environment and think about whether your child's personality and needs are a good match for this type of school.