Anthem Elementary School

I have three daughters in grades k-2nd, we moved to florence from arizona city and I have to say I am pretty impressed by this school. The food is way better than their last school. My daughters getting a lot better education. The teachers they have actually care and listen to what the parent has to say. My 1st grader is having trouble and I asked her teacher to give her a little extra help and with her and my support my daughter is doing better. They have no bullying problems at all. My only complaint is the bus system and lack of after school programming for the younger kids. My girls have nothing to do aside from school work.
—Submitted by a parent

The food is gross like slop the kids fight over sack lunch also they like to charge even if your on free lunch ( my daughter took milk and they charged her for full meal) and wanted us to pay cash. The place is full of bullies and the staff do nothen about it... It was so bad my daughter called home everyday from nurse feeling sick wanted to come home then started to have anxiety attacks. They also want to put my son in a normal fifth grade class when he has (cemo brain) he cant remember anything he has IEP and they still pass along the buck.. I also had a friend who had a child there and he was getting all F's and they still passed him to another grade she moved and the school he goes to now got him into IEP for autism. After school program is a joke and they make up things to keep your kids after school for not taking out notebook in time the teacher sit there and makes the kids do homework and does not help them..l instead of using that time to tutor the children falling behind and your kids dont get home until almost 5 at night. Some of the teachers are ok but the good ones dont stay long or all parents want that teacher..good luck with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

My kids have been going to this school for 7 yrs now and they love it. The principal, Mr Yennie has always addressed any questions I had immediately. What I love is how they are taking the Anti Bullying Campaign very, very seriously. This is something I believe is extremely important. The teachers that my kids have had are always taking their job seriously and make sure that my kids are in the best enviornment. I highly rate this school.
—Submitted by a parent

run, run, run!!! this school is a horrible place for children! not safe, not safe, not safe!! dont leave your children in the hands of this prison!!
—Submitted by a parent

We were pleasently surprised by this school. My Daughter had a horrible experience at a local charter school her second week of Kindergarten. She was so terrified and humiliated by the teacher that she became terrified of school, and had to be home schooled for the rest of the year. After visiting every school within a 45 minute radius, we enrolled her in Anthem for first grade. The principal was very helpful in guiding us to a teacher that was gentle and could help my little girl. Mrs Prescott, her teacher, has been fantastic . She is gentle, patient and full of encouragement. The principal, vice p., librarian, etc. all look out for her. What a wonderful Place.
—Submitted by a parent

It doesn't even rate for us anymore. We finally had to move out of the state to get away from that school. My kids were constantly hating going to school saying how the teachers huulated them, were told they don't know anything, their class was all bad kids. I talked with the principal as well and she did nothing! We are so happy to be out of that school...and watch out they let anyone get on the bus. My poor K kid got on the bus and they the wouldn't even let me find her! Nobody knew where she was. An older kid saw her and told me and I had to wait in the cafeteria where we had to sign our kids out every day. What a joke of a school!!!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in the 6th grade at Anthem and is being harassed everyday and the principal and the teachers have done nothing about it. Her teacher even disciplines students in front of the whole class. My daughter is special needs and she has destroyed what self esteem she had. She used to love school until we moved to Florence and now she hates school and begs me to let her stay home. Be careful if your child has an IEP because they don t seem to follow them.
—Submitted by a parent

This school stamp sheets should be taken away the principal does nothing but sit in her office!!! didnt help my child when she was being harrased and told things that are bad on the campus we called the school and the front office answered the principal didnt handle the situation so we filed a complaint and still no help from the principal. Also the teachers were being unfair racially against another child that i know the principal did not handle it
—Submitted by a parent

I have twin boys and triplet girls who all go to Anthem and love it. The staff and teachers have done nothing but help me and my wonderful kids succeed! The principle is always wonderful about letting us know what is going on. I know my kids are safe and that they are getting a good education.
—Submitted by a parent

I find this school moving in the right direction, it had its hiccups a couple of years ago; but it takes time for greatness. The Admin. staff are very nice and accomodating; there are a few teachers who need to work on their personality and enjoy what they are being paid to do and that is to TEACH. Our children are tomorrows leaders and your role as a teacher is very important to them for success. I would recommend Anthem to other newcomers to the area, I think they are doing a great job.

The stamp sheet program stinks and makes no sence. Take away recess instead of having my child who doesn't get home untill four already stay an extra hour after school for not doing home work. And manditory late day for forgetting a pencil or needing a new one is rediculous! Thats considered being "unprepared". Where did the FOUR boxes of 20 sharpend pencils go that i was told to supply my child with at the beggining of the year along with all the other supplies? I am also curious as to how much money it costs tax payers to bus children to and from school then to and from school to get late day kids and to and from school AGAIN to get the even later stay kids????? Wow, bet that money could be put to better use throught the school. And how about going green? Great example for the kids.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a daughter in 1st grade. She had to be homeschooled last year due to a rotten experience she had at Eduprize school up in San Tan Valley. She ended up having horrible separation anxiety from her mother. Principal Brown and the staff at Anthem K-8 have been excellent in helping us re-introduce our little girl to school I can't believe the effort her teacher (Mrs. Prescott) has put in to help us with her. We have been encouraged to come in for lunch with our daughter every day and feel we can count on the school to take phenomenal care of her. Plus, the new technology they've put into the classrooms is amazing. We are very happy with this school!
—Submitted by a parent

I have children in K and in the Life Skills class. I think the teachers we have had experiences with in the Kindergarten classes and Life Skills class, are great examples of intelligent, caring, and compassionate teachers that this school employs. They truly care about each student and go above and beyond on a regular basis to ensure that they are comfortable in their environment and able to succeed in all they do at school. I have nothing but good things to say so far about this school and really appreciate the teachers and administrators who have made my children's experience there enjoyable.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the second posting I do for this review. I read something one of the parents mentioned, and its not right for these teachers to act paranoid with the students. Why become a teacher, knowing you'll come across different attitudes, races, and levels of student learning. Another thing is parents have a lot to do with the respect students give outside the home. Teachers are not to be the parents. Teachers need not to punish the students that do well in class, for ex. keeping them in for lunch and recess, or making them write letters, explaining why they did what they did, when they had nothing to do with what the 1 student did. Another words, the teacher makes them lie. That's uncalled for, and all that screaming I have heard down the hall from teachers, it's ridiculous, what is that, a military base? Come on teachers, be ex.
—Submitted by a parent

The school is new but has attracted some of the top teachers in the area. Our teacher has her B.S. and Masters in early childhood education and is a joy to work with. And my Son is only in kindergarten.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has attended this school since its opening. Outside of a few brilliant teahers like Mr. Gooden, Ms. Gay, Ms. Dybing, this has been a very dissappointing eexperience. Had we work schedules permitting it, we surly would have moved her to another school. Along with the lack of homework, follow up, communication. The numerous half days, time off, work days, 3 day weekends are unbelievable. You can be sure there is no homework or testing assigned before or after either one of these days. My childs potential certainly was not tapped or developed. There weren't books available for some classes to take home, age appropriate/interesting books in the library to check out. Meeting with the principle was of no use. I can only hope my child will be prepared for future demands in education.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended Anthem K-8 last school year and LOVED it!! We really loved this school, it doesn't get the credit it deserves. She got strait A's and she had a teacher who loved her and all her students. Excellent staff, teachers and community. Very happy!!
—Submitted by a parent

Students are very unruly and poor supervision. Not impressed with the staff either. Taking child out of this school shortly.
—Submitted by a parent

I think the school is okay but I think they need to find Teachers who really care about teaching. My daughters math teacher hates her job and it shows. I feel that they give 7th graders way to much homework. The teachers need to spend more time being a teacher and less time on their computer. I find there is a lot of issues in this school that need to be addressed right away because our kids aren't getting the education like they need.
—Submitted by a parent

My experience with Anthe K-8 has been great. My son has been there for one school yr., 2nd grade. He did very well academically. He had A's and B's all through the yr. and finished the yr. with all A's & 1 B and recievd an award for principal's Honor Roll. His teacher was very nice and was very focused on her students...where they were excelling and where they needed extra help. My son loves it at Anthem K-8 and he loved his teacher. He is sad to going on to 3rd grade because he liked his 2nd grade teacher so much!
—Submitted by a parent