Mountain Vista High School

We will give an honest review of our experience and observations over many years. Principal works hard, is approachable and seems to be liked by most parents and employees. Office staff is no longer friendly and can be downright rude on the phone. So maybe don't take it personally. Specials offered are nice but there are too many. Kids don't get enough time in each to learn much in any one subject. Phys Ed is really lacking. If you want your kids to learn sports, rules and test basic physical aptitude it won't happen at school. Good social emotional lessons. Very good school counselor but sadly she quit. Academics are okay. Northridge is one of only a few in the district with the discovery GT program. Teachers and parents call it a school within a school. It helps Northridge with high testing scores it receives every year. The school also spends weeks teaching to the standardized tests and putting kids under pressure to perform leading up to the test. Maybe that is standard at all public schools? Discovery program at the school is not good for students who learn too early they are not special or good enough or smart enough to be included in discovery. We have even seen the rest of the students referred to as "non-discovery". There are a lot of cliquey parents associated with the discovery program depending on the year who can make other families feel excluded or as if their children are less than. Other school districts manage and integrate GT programming better and more compassionately. Really high turnover rate with students and teachers. A few great teachers. Too many teachers and support people who are really burnt out and negative who need a new challenge, grade to teach or career change before it affects too many more kids. Being able to connect to your child's classroom and teacher is inconsistent and mostly lacking. A few teachers request classroom volunteers. Majority in each grade do not welcome any help or any parent presence. This is uncomfortable and has concerned us for many reasons. The school building is old. They fix and update some things but the age and too many students crammed in to the old building takes away from their learning experience. This has improved somewhat with fewer and fewer students every year. Still too many kids for the building. Overall Northridge gets a C from us as a public school in Douglas County in 2023.

We just started this year and the support from the staff has been amazing! Having a child with a learning disability, was a breath of fresh air having a strong support system. They went out of their way to make my kiddo feel included (it is scary going to a new school) and know he has support and help.

This school has been a wonderful place for both of my children. The teachers and staff are fantastic and engaged with the students. The school strives to make sure there is growth at every level.

This is my sons third year at Arrowwood. (2 years preschool and now in kindergarten) he is hard of hearing and autistic. The preschool teachers are too good for this world (especially Shannon Slucter) and the SSN program is incredible (ran by Brittni Melius, who is amazing) I feel confident he is in good hands everyday.

We live in the neighborhood and we couldn't be happier that our kids get to go to Copper Mesa. They both get to be in class with their friends, who they also get to see after school and on the weekends at the neighborhood parks, and play on the same sports teams with them. We love running into our neighbors at the school and school events - the sense of community is so welcoming and inviting!Education wise, we are just as happy. We feel that both of our children are seen and heard for who they are and what their academic strengths and weaknesses are. Copper Mesa has a wonderful intervention team, as well as acceleration services, and the smaller class sizes really let the teachers get to know their students and cater to their needs. The staff are amazing! From the principal to the janitor, every single staff member is clearly happy to work there, and always greet us with smiles. I love to volunteer my time in the classrooms to see how and what my kids are learning, and I am constantly impressed. We highly recommend Copper Mesa Elementary, both as a neighborhood school, and as an open enrollment option. It's a wonderful environment to learn, make friends and grow up in, and we wouldn't want to be anywhere else.