Merton Primary School

As a parent of 4 boys, my overall opinion is such. Good intentions with unintended negative results. Cliques are a problem. Bull horn used to yell at kids in lunchroom. Curriculum too easy for majority of the students. Average public school with average results.

My daughter goes to Richmond and likes the teachers and students there. The school puts a lot of efforts to straighten the communications and interactions with parents, so that I am kept updated with what's going on in her class and the school. The school uses different tools to enrich students' academic, social and emotional experience at school as well as home. The teachers provides students and parent resources to help each individual to be successful. Per the School Report Card for 2017, Richmond received highest Overall score, highest Student Achievement score and highest closing gaps score in 5 years. It is a great school!

Swallow Elementary is amazing. They should change the school name to Swallow Academy. The staff is top notch, the academic rigor is top notch, the facilities are top notch and the surrounding area is amazing - best place I can think of to raise a family. The school prepares students well for Arrowhead High School. The combination of Swallow Academy (Swallow Elementary) and the University of Arrowhead (Arrowhead High School) will truly prepare your son or daughter to be anything they want to be in life.

I have had 3 children at this school, two of which have required special education services. The school has failed to provide FAPE repeatedly. They have been caught manufacturing IEP data, they continue to take a punitive approach vs. providing evidence based positive reinforcement (particularly grades 5 and up), they have failed to communicate changes in special education staff to both parents and students leaving students completely unsupported in navigating change, and are resistant to common evidence based accommodations that require staff to provide individualized supports, and (just as the cherry on top) a staff member (and part of the IEP team) stated that my son had a "Rain Main mentality," I finally made the choice to pull my daughter from the school after fighting for my son for nearly 5 years because I have grown tired of fighting the administration at every turn for what my child is legally entitled to. Administration is unhelpful at best and dishonest and damaging at worst.

I can only give our experience 3 stars as this was our first year here and unfortunately very under impressed with the classroom, dedication to understanding each individual child, ourdated teaching methods and more. Strong sense of community was a plus but overall was hoping for more.

I have sent several children to Zion and love Zion more than ever! The teachers truly care and work very hard to reach every student. I count my whole family SO blessed to be part of Zion!