Redfield Elementary School

We have two children who attend Sandpiper and absolutely love this elementary school, it truly is so special! Our children started in pre-K and have been part of this school community for a couple of years. We have enjoyed every aspect of their school experience. They genuinely love their teachers, cherish the friendships they have made with classmates, and look forward to going to school each day!Even though we are not personally bilingual (we are learning Spanish alongside them), our kids are thriving in the dual-language program. Their accent and pronunciation are fantastic, and they are excited about learning not just the language, but also the culture, all while keeping up with the regular curriculum such as math, reading, social studies, and specials (music, Spanish, PE, STEAM, art). We enjoy receiving the weekly newsletters that keep us updated on what the children are learning, appreciate the balanced amount of homework that reinforces new concepts while still allowing time for other activities, and value the small class sizes where teachers are truly invested and provide each child with personalized attention. We also love that the school uses positive behavior intervention and supports to teach students emotional and behavioral strategies. Our children are very motivated by this and love receiving STARS cards! There are excellent clubs and activities that keep the children actively engaged, such as Trekkers, Girls on the Run, Gardening Club, Student Council, and many more. We use the after-school Mascot program, and our children love it, too, because they get extra time and activities with friends. Sometimes, they even tell me I pick them up too early because they enjoy it so much!The sense of community here is truly unparalleled. The PTO is fantastic and organizes many events that give parents the opportunity to connect and build relationships. We have developed genuine friendships with other families, often enjoying time together not just at school events, but also forming lasting bonds outside of school. Our children have made close friends that they are excited to see each day, and as parents, we feel welcomed and supported by everyone. This warm and inclusive atmosphere truly makes the school feel like an extended family, and we are so grateful to be a part of it.I highly recommend this school to any family who wants their children to learn another language and become part of a vibrant, caring community!

As a teacher at Desert Canyon Elementary since 2019, I am so proud of our school! With over 600 years of combined teaching experience,our educators ensure high-quality education for every student. Our staff works tirelessly to support students, families, and each other. Our engaged families and PTO take such good care of our staff and make us feel special. Our students show R.O.A.R. (Respect, Outstanding Character, Appreciate Others, Responsibility) everyday. We are an "A" rated school and became an "A+ School of Excellence" starting in 2024. We are rated one of the top two schools in Arizona. Families can choose between the Dual Language Mandarin program or traditional English classes. DCES offers a Gifted Program, fine arts, robotics, a school counselor with a therapy dog, and an engaging garden program. We have two early learning classrooms: Preschool for three-year-olds and PreK for four-year-olds. Our Early Learning Classrooms have a Quality First Five Star Rating, which is the Highest Quality ranking from First Things First.

I had a very disappointing experience with this program. When I brought up concerns about how my child was being treated and offered respectful suggestions to support him, I was met with defensiveness and hostility from the principal. I expected a collaborative, child-centered environment and did not feel that was what we received.This setting may not be the right fit for families seeking emotionally aware educators or respectful communication with parents.

We have three children at this school, and they've all had positive educational and social experiences. When evaluating elementary schools for my oldest (now in Middle School at Cheyenne), I toured the Cheyenne campus and was so impressed that in early November the kinder kids were taking turns reading out loud full sentences (not just words) with teacher instruction. After touring other SUSD schools, I didn't get a sense the other public elementary schools had the students reading at that kind of level at that early in the school year, nor were the classrooms as structured and organized. The school has high academic and behavioral standards, so it's a good fit for our children to be educationally challenged while also being upheld to high behavioral expectations with respect for teachers/staff and peers. Across all grades, the children are required to do independent work, group projects, and lots of presentations. In addition to the academic concepts, the students regularly present in front of their peers/large groups, are required to share constructive feedback to peers, work together on projects as a team, in addition to completing independent work with both written (cursive included) and online platforms. In addition to the learning, the teachers sprinkle in small lessons in how to demonstrate kindness, gratitude, how to engage with others in person and through written communications. I love the foundational aspects of Cheyenne being a Traditional School, so they're heavily focused on core subjects including language arts/humanities and math. The school requires strong parental partnership to support their children's learning, so there is a very active parent community, which I appreciate. Not necessarily academically related, but I like the school is Pre-K through 8th grade so easier for one pick up and drop off for a longer period of time and wearing uniforms makes getting ready easy in the mornings. This school is not the right fit for every family or child, but based on our family dynamic and children, it's been amazing! There is not another public school like Cheyenne in Scottsdale.