Garden Lakes Elementary School

This school is a gem as well as the area. Kids from bad areas are coming here and sadly sometimes influence the good kids.
—Submitted by a parent

Garden Lakes Elementary is an excellent school, I've had multiple family members and now my own children go to that school. I've always had such a great experience with the school, administration staff and school aides. Each teacher my child has had were very creative and patient. I'm very pleased and will keep my child in this school
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent teachers but they should cut out most of the Wednesday half-days and study. Too many teacher breaks.
—Submitted by a parent

Why is my child coming home singing songs about Mc Donald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco bell and so on, and raving about Ronald Mc Donald visiting the school. Do these companies pay the PESD for covert marketing techniques? Uh...hello! This is a school, they should be teaching our kids...yes YOUR kids...about staying healthy and eating healthily, not how great it is to eat cheap and poor quality food!
—Submitted by a parent

Okay I was class of 2009 and I was proud to say that I enjoyed my time at Garden Lakes. I was active in several clubs and had tons of fun and friends. My last year or two, upper graders started to have some problems. Fights broke out every once in a while, gossip turned bad about everything. The whole thing was stupid considering we were only 8th graders. One of the Reviews here say they are being "punished too hard"? Excuse me? Garden Lakes works hard to keep kids from Kindegarten to 8th graders safe. I don't think you understand why it's important to prevent fights and behavior like this. It's good that they can tell which groups of people have more trouble, but they'll never JUDGE. They want you to succeed. (:

i have nothing much to say for this schooll there was fights all the timee.most the teachers was way too harsh.The skool aloso puniched way tooo hard 4 things that had nothing to do with skool or there bisness! i was constintly being sent to the office 4 things i had nothing to do with. they judge you by who u hang out with.

I attended the school's Veterans Day celebration yesterday and am still in awe! What a beautiful spirit of hope on this campus. The full-day experience began with a gathering on the lawn of all staff, students and hundreds of parents and veterans. The choir and the band filled the air with beautiful music and brought many a tear to those in attendance. Truly a community experience. Veterans remained all day on campus speaking in many "breakout" sessions. Primary students marched in a parade around campus as the older students cheered them on. Pictures and posters of loved ones who have served or are serving covered every window and wall. The school was draped in red, white and blue. Lunch was picnic style with hot dogs, apple pie and ice cream. The administration conducted their weekly Sing and Read with the younger kids before the end of the day dedicating this week's time to patriotic songs. Students were bustling around campus two hours prior to the day's beginning to decorate, organize and assist guests and, in the afternoon, they cleaned the campus. Staff members truly had this event organized well. What a fantastic experience! Patriotism lives on!
—Submitted by a parent

People that complain about safety regarding the lack of fence on 107th Ave are crazy! The only time your kids are out on the field they are supervised, and only upper level grades are out there! Teach your kids not to run into traffic and trust teachers to watch you kids, they do, not one death or injury yet! After school activities are limited but they are just that after school. If your kids like sports let them go to the YMCA or Young Champions this school focuses on education and learning. The AIMS results show that it is working! We all understand that after school sports do help with social growth but they are an Elementary School and they are trying to make it better. Upper grades have been doing stuff at the high school and they have music programs still! Sports are not learning! Results dont lie! Excelling!
—Submitted by a parent

I am now a parent of a 6th grader with GLES. My son left this school for a few years, but in his first 3 years he/we learned a lot. I was not happy leaving GLE, but now that I have compared GLE with the other schools my son attended I can say that I am glad to have my son back at GLE! We as parents need to communicate with our kids as well as their teachers. The teachers are always there and willing to answer any questions. Keep up the good work GLE staff.
—Submitted by a parent

I am quite pleased that Garden Lakes is the only 'Excelling' school in the Avondale area. Happy that Garden Lakes is where we live and where, effectively, my son will be attending for the next seven years. Love this area and I read prior post and do feel that this is an 'older' school, by AZ standards; bathrooms are not kept up and I do agree w/prior post that no school programs are offered, ie sports, etc. I have experience lack of communication from teachers which is different for me because now I must rely on my son to tell me what's going on at school (preschools are more communicative). I agree w/the poster regarding communication lacking; I do agreee with that. It is what we make of it and in this very large society we should be thankful that Garden Lakes, year after year, continues to perform. Thank you
—Submitted by a parent

Although the school has a strong academic rating, the school does not communicate well with parents or the community, it has very few after school offerings, and there is a strong 'us against you' mentality from teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter went K-8th and my son is in fifth for K.. Excellent School.
—Submitted by a parent

I am proud to say that we had over 1000 people, including students and their parents, administration and at least one teacher for each and every grade level turn out for the annual 'Walk to School' day. This day alone shows the tremendous support the community has for the school and its students. At Garden Lakes, we believe that all students can be successful, no exceptions! To the parent who referred to Garden Lakes as a 'rundown warehouse,' he or she should be reminded that Garden Lakes has been an 'excelling' school for three years in a row, one of very few in the entire West Valley. This success can only be achieved through the combined efforts of the devoted faculty, adminstration and the students who strive to reach their goals every day. Come join us on November 7th and see how we celebrate our Veterans!
—Submitted by a teacher

Extreme displeasure with this school faculty, principal and staff. They practice preaching/teaching a certain belief or way of life, but not, in fact, holding these same virtues for themselves. Excessive avoidence in addressing disruptive student behavior in addition to consistent over crowding of classrooms. Comparison to a weather beaten, rundown warehouse best describes this location. It saddens me to see the decline over the last 10 years. A change in leadership is needed.
—Submitted by a parent

Lower grade teachers are awsome. Upper Grade some need to retire. Extracurricular activities there are none and Ron Richards to blame for that. We need fresh teachers, PE Music and Art and staff to have excitment needed to generate this need on campus. So unfair to kids & they wonder why there are so many problem kids. They are bored! No guts to get it done. Too many politics. Lazy teachers and the list goes on.
—Submitted by a parent

This school, for the most part, has an amazing teacher staff, the gifted program just lost its teacher, and will not be the same, as the rest of the school is not all that supportive with it. extra curriculars are getting better with time, and the PE instructors are helping get more sports involved. In general, this is a fine school, if you want you child to be ahead of the pack, its a fine choice, but if your raising the next Einstein, JFK, or Eisenhower and you choose this school, you ll be disappointed with how it sometimes treats its 'gifted.' i was actually almost failed for writing 'too advanced' for my grade level, even though my teacher knew i had been doing it for years. other than those few instances though, it is a great school.
—Submitted by Robert Killian, a former student

Both of my children attended 8 years at Garden Lakes and both excelled in advanced classes through high school. The program for gifted students is excellent. My daughter now attends ASU Honors College and is on a full ride scholarship because of the excellent educational base she received at Garden Lakes.
—Submitted by a parent

I fell that this school has disrupted the learning process of my children's learning. The teachers are very inconsiderate of my children's feelings and my concerns and whenever my husband and I ask the office people to give a message to one of our kids, they never give them or leave out valuable information. There are no after school activities for my children, who are sports fanatics. After two years, My husband and I decided to take our kids out of Garden Lakes Elementary School and put them into a more advanced and caring private school that actually listens to people's concerns. I would never recommend Garden Lakes to anyone!
—Submitted by Jackie Reynolds, a parent

Two of my children have attended Garden Lakes and I highly recommend this school. The kids have excelled academically. The teachers are exceptional. The principal, Dr. Waltman is very involved in making sure his school is exceeding expectations. Parents are encouraged to particpate with their childrens educational development. The PTA has carnivals, and other fun activities and school functions for the children to particpate in.
—Submitted by a parent

teachers caring.. staff polite... my child recieves special education and I am very impressed with the program.
—Submitted by a parent