Quartz Hill Elementary School

I've been at QH for 5 years with 2 kids. I have older kids who've been at various GPS schools (k-12) & I simply love this school. The teachers, staff, & administration create a very intimate, fun, charming school setting where learning is fun & exciting for kids. I love the small community feel where everyone knows everyone & the "it takes a village" undertow makes the kids feel valued. I think QH is a wonderful & caring school that my kids love. Parent involvement also makes this school what it is, parent volunteerism is so high here there are lotteries for who can volunteer at different times. Test scores are high & are a huge point of pride for QH. Children all seem happy at all grade levels; the positivity at QH is contagious :)
—Submitted by a parent

I am surprised at some of the negative comments! One of our kids is advanced and we ended up at QH after trying/looking at few charter schools and a private school. WE LOVE IT! The principal is very involved, knows all the kids, met with me privately before our child started had her tested the first week and placed her in a higher grade more appropriate to her needs. The principal is outside at parent drop-off nearly every morning, greeting the kids. He is approachable and always made time to meet with me. We've been here 3 years now have 2 kids enrolled. The teachers are awesome, there's been basically NO teacher turn-over (unlike the private school we attended previously!) The teachers are dedicated, the school community is fun - lots of activities such as musicals, bingo nights, family nights, etc. I feel very welcomed here and I am not part of a "clique." We're NOT members of the popular religions here and we don't have "connections" - we're from out of state. I do volunteer my time, I get to know the staff and try to be involved and at the school at least weekly. My kids are challenged and enjoy school. We love Quartz Hill.
—Submitted by a parent

Any parent who believes this is a good school has never had anything to compare with. This school and the district in general is not teaching to the level our children are capable of. Also the principal and F/O staff at QH is inexplicably rude, condescending and lacking in self awareness. They are doing the kids and this country a terrible disservice by wasting their time. The general spirit is negative, mean and disheartening. They do not demonstrate the character they expect to see in their students, not by a long shot. The curriculum is a joke and not a very funny one. The focus is solely on AIMS preparation and nothing else. We moved here from Scottsdale and the difference in quality are light years apart and now my kids are enrolled on a charter school after trying 4 district schools. My 1st grader is working on division, predicates and the 6 traits of writing. My 6th grader is reading Hemingway and studying economics with great emphasis on financial responsibility. They are receiving real-world preparation, these are the kids who will save the planet. If mediocrity and complacency is your thing then QH is for you. If you demand a better life for your kids keep looking.
—Submitted by a parent

Just started 2 children at this school this year and we are very impressed. We came from the top-rated charter school in GIlbert and so far I am amazed at how both the GPS communication and the PTSO communication at Quartz HIll blows that school out of the water. I can actually see how my children are progressing and what they are struggling with instantly online everyday! Getting real/timely feedback from their charter school was nonexistent. It has really helped to be able to sit down with my children show them their realtime grades and talk to them about what they need to work on. Their teacher is so approachable and with every issue I have brought up so far she has helped to resolve them quickly and easily. I continue to be amazed at how much better the overall communication is here and I am shocked at how poor the charter school was actually doing...at the time I didn't know any better.
—Submitted by a parent

If there was a different principle I would rate this school much higher. The principle is an elitist and very judgmental of both parents and those sweet, little children who attend the school. He caters only to those families who have connections or who donate lots of money. I have seen him yell at parents and put little children in tears for making sincerely innocent mistakes at parent pickup or elsewhere. Getting into this school does not mean you will stay. If you don't fit the clique or donate enough money, he will find a reason to not let you back in. He worries more about defending his standing as an excelling school and his image than about the tender feelings of the little children he is supposed to be helping to mold. If your child is not perfect or needs any kind of extra help you are seen as a detriment and he will find any reason to get rid of you. There are some really outstanding teachers, but there are too many other really magnificent Gilbert schools with wonderful principles to hurt your children by sending them to deal with this principle's antics.
—Submitted by a parent

Not good communication from the school. After we submitted all the paperwork to get our child enrolled in school, I called to confirm the start date and was told that our child would have to wait till the following year to start. I was very confused as when I visited the school,we were told that there was no problem getting my child enrolled. My husband called the school back and they had no idea who would have shared that info. WEIRD and a little disconcerting. So we started our child in school and a few weeks ago had a parent/teacher conference and my child's teacher wants us to have our child repeat Kindergarten again. This is extremely unnecessary as our child is very bright and smart and learns quickly, but because our child started late in the year and the class size is so large she cannot dedicate time to helping our child catch up. Seems like this is the schools problem and our child should not be "punished" by repeating a grade. We are moving schools to a charter school, with more dedicated to education and smaller class sizes.
—Submitted by a parent

I totally disagree with the last review. The women in the office are always helpful and considerate. They seem to be very happy and friendly with everyone who comes in.
—Submitted by a parent

I would TOTALLY rate this school a 5 star IF the ladies at the front office were more helpful/friendly. This is my son's first year at Quartz Hill and so far his teachers and the principal have been great. I've been to the front office several times and the two ladies I've dealt with have been nothing but rude. The first time I figured they were probably having a bad day but this is about the 4th time and their condescending attitude was the same - other than that, this is a wonderful school, it challenges the students which is what we like.
—Submitted by a parent

The comments made about the principle being very dedicated and involved with the children is somewhat spurious. He seems to get along with the children more then the adults and skirts his responsibilities as a Principle by not handling administrative situations properly or with professionalism. He acts more like a big kid himself and wants the kids to think of him as a friend. As a parent I would prefer my children to have their peers as friends and the adults at the school as mentors. If the teachers were not as dedicated and as good as they are there, I would have taken my children out of the school a long time ago.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our second year at Quartz Hill and everyone at the school is very helpful and caring. Both teachers we have had have been very dedicated to the learning of their students. We have known Mr. Hallock at other schools and he has always put the students first.
—Submitted by a parent

Our experience with the entire teaching staff and administrators has been nothing but positive. The encouragement they receive starts at the top with Mr Hallock. He fights for his kids and his teachers and I feel very fortunate that my boys have such a great environment to learn and develop.
—Submitted by a parent

Any parent would be crazy to not send their child to this school. My daughter started kindergarten this year and having been a former teacher I know the difference between good and bad schools. I can't say enough about the principal, Mr. Hallock, and his staff. I do not know of anyone who is more involved and cares about those kids. He is the most hands on person there. He plays with the kids at recess, greets them every morning, all by name, stands outside in the afternoon until they go home, everything! He cares about his staff and his school and it shows!
—Submitted by a parent

I love working at Quartz Hill. I have worked at other schools but have never felt more part of a team than at Quartz. The parents are amazing and they support the teachers and their child's education. They help make Quartz Hill an excellent school. The principal, Mr. Hallock, loves what he does and it shows. He knows the names of all of the students and many of their parents as well. He is constantly coming up with new ways to motivate the students to reach their goals...and it works. Mr. Hallock supports his staff and really makes Quartz Hill an awesome place to be.
—Submitted by a teacher

Quartz Hill is the best school, hands down. The faculty and staff are wonderful. Mr. Hallock is hard-working, nice, approachable, and accomadating. No other principal knows all of the students by name. No other principal plays with the kids at recess. To the parents wishing for more, I challenge you to find more at another school. I have attended pep rallies there before. There are plenty of enrichment programs - art, music, and PE during school hours -which Mr Hallock had to fight to keep, the district is cutting budgets. There are programs after school as well. They also appreciate any parental participation. If you want more charitable events, why don't you plan one with the school? The only problem is that some of the students are unruly, rude, and disruptive. To a previous poster, thank goodness you took your daughter out of the school! Now there is one less brat!
—Submitted by a parent

I strongly disagree with the last review. In my experience, the staff at Quartz Hill were not the least bit courteous. On repeated occasions, I was treated with disdain and condescension. I removed my daughter from this school after only a few months because I was so appalled by the rudeness of the principal (yes, Mr. Hallock) and teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I taught an after-school program at Quartz Hill that the students loved, but I couldn't believe how uncooperative the school staff was. They treated me like I was an intruder who was not good enough to be there. One time, a teacher yelled at me in front of my class because I had used her white board marker! The students and I were all incredulous. We'd never seen anyone flip out like that over a marker before.
—Submitted by a teacher

We have attended Quartz Hill since it began and are so impressed with everything about it. Our son has enjoyed his education and if ever there is a time where he needs additional help, the support is provided by the teachers. There is also a fantastic open dialogue available between teachers & parents. Mr. Hallock is amazing and I feel that if you are given the opportunity to go to school here you will be blown away by it. Each year there has been a teachers assistant helping in the classroom & the ratios are good numbers. A friend of mine who is a teacher came to visit during lunch and was impressed by the way the children behaved. Parents are very involved and overall everyone is very courteous.
—Submitted by a parent