Dunstan Middle School

Wonderful school, we can't praise it more highly. The excellence starts with the school leadership, flows through the teachers and results in an exceptional experience for kids. Safety is definitely a top priority, I also feel that my child is challenged intellectually and has great classmates to engage with. Furthermore there are great extra curricular opportunities including robotics, cooking, chess, dance, etc. Our school is filled with students of diverse background that make a positive impact on the culture of everyone attending. And despite any socioeconomic differences, each student is pushed to reach their greatest potential. Though we had many choices in the area and could have chosen one with top test scores, we knew the quality we would get at Foothills wouldn't be at those schools. We are proud to be a Foothills Falcon family!

I'm generally familiar with this school and its treatment of guest teachers. I believe that guest teachers are already at a disadvantage walking into an unfamiliar school to ensure learning keeps happening without some teachers making this more difficult. This happens at GGES more often than not. Having spent over ten years managing classrooms and raising my own four children from birth to adulthood, I feel I have learned how to effectively communicate, how to engage children positively and constructively and how to reward students and encourage them to grow and flourish. I love being in the classroom interacting with students in a fun, dynamic and rigorous academic setting. Unfortunately, some teachers have a preconceived and negative view of guest teachers... sometimes it is subtle, sometimes not. I don't feel comfortable returning to this school because both the general and sometimes specific treatment I have received from teachers and staff at GGES leaves me with the impression that I am both unwelcome and unsuitable for this school. That saddens me, but I am going to continue performing in an exemplary fashion and striving to demonstrate excellence at other schools -- schools that recognize and appreciate the value we (I) provide as guest teachers who genuinely love this job.

This school is friendly and safe, but there are some teachers who don't grade anything or provide any feedback to parents. One of the teachers was saying how great the school is because it gives her so much "flexibility and work/life balance." But this teacher never returned a single graded paper. Another thing I am not crazy about is how the school is always fundraising and asking parents for money. But then they turn around and hire another (presumably expensive) assistant principal who seems to have too much time on their hands. I would still recommend the school if you happen to live nearby.

We were in Kindergarten when K Lakes underwent a huge transformation of the old administration leaving. When we came back in 1st grade it was such a different place…a wonderful place! We have experienced amazing support, communication, and education for our 8yo (now in 2nd). We are so glad we stayed to be a part of the new administration under our new Principal Molly Touher. No only do we highly recommend K Lakes, but our boy does too!

We moved to Patterson last year, from a DPS school. Although we have lived in the neighborhood for over 15 years, we took our oldest son ( DPS graduate) to a DPS school as his school was closer to our workplace. We wish we had made the move sooner. We are thankful to be part of the Patterson community and do not regret moving our two young daughters there. This move was one of the best things we could have done for our girls (8 and 4). Our daughter's third-grade teacher, Mrs. Elsenbast, was such a breath of fresh air. She ensured our shy girl was welcomed and thrived in the new school environment. The staff at Patterson has been so welcoming. One thing that makes Patterson so different is that the school tries to involve the parents as much as possible through many events and opportunities for partnership throughout the year. Patterson is a great school.

W e began ACA in middle school, and the school is cliquey. It was an isolating experience for me as a parent, and my son was never accepted for the type of student that he is. Both the school Christian culture and the acedemic culture is one-size-fits-all. Young earth creationists disparage science, and a fuWe began ACA in middle school, and the school is cliquey. It was an isolating experience for me as a parent, and my son was never accepted for the type of student that he is. Both the school Christian culture and the acedemic culture is one-size-fits-all. Young earth creationists disparage science, and a fundamentalist teacher taught her doctrine of hell and condemnation. The school disparages other religions and gay people. I was told in a meeting with the principal where I expressed my concerns about this one teacher that his doctrine is better than mine. The school says that parents are heard, but that was not my experience. If this school should grow, perhaps an openness to people of different denominations would help. To his very last experience my son felt that he was misunderstood and that this teachers were trying to change his beliefs. He was called a Lutheran, instead of being respected an Eastern Orthodox Christian. ndamentalist teacher taught her doctrine of hell and condemnation. The school disparages other religions and gay people. I was told in a meeting with the principal where I expressed my concerns about this one teacher that his doctrine is better than mine. The school says that parents are heard, but that was not my experience. If this school should grow, perhaps an openness to people of different denominations would help. To his very last experience my son felt that he was misunderstood and that this teachers were trying to change his beliefs. He was called a Lutheran, instead of being respected an Eastern Orthodox Christian.