San Tan Learning Center

Those of you have posted over the past month with your observations regarding the school focusing on the wrong things. YOU HAVE NO IDEA and are wise to have moved on. Decisions are made depending on the direction of the wind at the time without consideration of how it effects the students. Your kids are dollars to the administration. Nothing more. Decisions are made by one person who has 100% of the say on all decisions. The focus is on gaining revenue and building more campuses. The used car sales example is spot on and just about sums it up. My kids will not be attending STLC.

I totally agree with the other posters that this school's main motivation is increasing revenue and attendance at the cost of the individual students' welfare. I understand the school is new, but unfortunately, most of the teaching staff is so young and unexperienced that they are unable to deal with common discipline issues in a productive and helpful manner. The school does not offer services for students who may need extra help or have learning disabilities; but holds them to unrealistically high academic standards. Overall, there is a feeling of lack of love, patience and caring for students. The school instead treats them more as means to meet certain standards that will help the school meet their goals. Our son started at a new school this year and has already received more feedback and personal care than he did in the entire year he spent at San Tan.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is terrible for so many reasons. I do not honestly know what motivates them, but it is not what is best for the children. The atmosphere is stiffling and uncaring towards the kids and parents. They jump from trend to trend, but succeed at none. First it was hands on learning, then nutrition, then PE, then academic advancement and a gifted program. Nothing lasts. The implementation of new ideas is done hastily and poorly and the change is never ending. It is like they are trying hard to figure out what will make them great and they have no idea what it might be. This is kind of place where the children's art all looks the same and then they drop the art program. This is a place where the children were not allowed to speak to each other at lunch. When they decided to be academically advanced, they moved every child up to the next grade level. They did not bring them up to speed. They just skipped a year of education. And they notified parents of the change at back to school night, the day before the new year started. I wonder what poorly planned, unsubstantiated by research leap they will make next. Thank goodness we won't be there to experience it.
—Submitted by a parent

Very disappointed!! Don't fall for the school's enticing and luring vision, as it is just a bunch of words on paper. True, STLC has wonderful "verbage" in its promotional materials and knows how to throw out winning catchphrases like 'the leading edge of education'. However, it is strictly "Used Car Salesman Tactics". My child was left behind the entire year, last year, with no intervention from administration. My child is extremely bright, but was not in any way challenged to meet his potential. Nor was he receiving an Individualized Learning Plan as promised. To my dismay, behavior issues were rampant in his class, not surprisingly with the ill-chosen Love & Logic model in place for discipline. Be careful with this school. It is unfortunately an illusion. The teachers and administration do not have the educational expertise to realize the academic promises they make. The administration is more focused on growth and revenue than on professional development for teachers, ultimately effecting the quality of education being delivered to our children. We have changed schools this year, hooray, and I would NEVER recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

San Tan Learning Center is a great school! The teachers are highly qualified, the leadership has great vision and a true mission for children's education and the respect of parent involvement is respected. We love having our kids at this school and we are excited for the new school year to get started! A+++
—Submitted by a parent

This school was a major let down. The teachers are great and the amount of parental involvement is superior to others but the organization is lacking and left me on many occasions feeling lost. They also have a huge emphasis on their gifted program. The gifted children are afforded many opportunities(i.e.many extra field trips) that the regular children are not given access to. My child may not be gifted in their eyes but I still believe that he would benefit from being given the same learning opportunities as other children.
—Submitted by a parent

not sure if this was a mistake or not - though the education is standard - there is a lot of malbehavior accepted in teheh school - children are very aggressive, the after school clubs are really a waste with the teachers or parent voulnteers not really paying attn to the kids - music teahcer left, curriculum coordinator is gone as well, principla leavign to start a district -the charters might not have enough reporting, monitoring or standard meeting crtieria so they just open up like everywhere in this state. go figure - you're in AZ.
—Submitted by a parent

Perfect school, my husband and I could not be happier. I love they teach one grade a head. My now 5yr old who started Kindergarten this year at 4 has learned so much. Reading books from front to back adding, subtracting, its amazing I woudl recommend this school to everyone.
—Submitted by a parent

Watch for the five star rating following the last review from December 30th. Parents of STLC students and their teachers are asked to monitor and counter any potentially negative review of this school.

STLC has become a GREAT disappointment. The administration is clearly more focused on the "business" of running the school rather than nurturing its founding vision. I have been a STLC parent for a few years and have slowly been seeing the light. It is a fact that the students do not have the resources that they should considering the amount of fundraising dollars that are elicited continually throughout the year. The administration has proven to favor and indulge a select population of the students (and parents) at the expense of the children as a whole. The school's motto this year is "Together we are Invincible"- I don't think so. My children will not be attending STLC next school year. I'm actually considering the old fashioned public school route. At least there, you know what you are getting.
—Submitted by a parent

Love this school!!!!! The administration, teachers and families all care about one thing...helping the students be all they can be. They have individuallize growth plans for each subject area as well as character development. The have an amazing gifted school that understands what it is to be gifted and how to get the most out of each student. They also help to educate parents on gifted issues, nutrition and character development. It is a loving environment that fosters a life long love of learning. Could not be happier!!!
—Submitted by a parent

Be cautious-they will place your child in gifted without even testing them first. Seems they want to inflate the numbers anyway they can. Check out the resumes-3 schools in as many years. And now seeking a position atanother new charter opening next year!
—Submitted by a parent

This is our first year at STLC and we couldn't be happier. After attending an academically rigorous school last year, I feared my children would not be challenged. I couldn't have been more wrong. The teachers design individually for each child, taking their needs into account. Indivual goals for reading, spelling, math, etc. Even character goals. New goals every quarter - 4 parent/teacher conferences. Nice to see the teachers have a plan for each of my children.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has absolutely thrived at this school! She entered Kindergarten with the ability to read and a do simple math problems using addition and subtraction. Aside from the academics, she is taught to be peaceful and respectful to others and to the earth. I continue to be impressed by this school. I am confident she is receiving a well-rounded education. Definitely better than a public school would be able to provide. The pricipal and staff are professional, caring and very involved in the day- to-day. My only critism would be regarding the decision to get rid of Ms. Natalie and Ms. Ann. They were 2 of the best teachers my child has ever had and their departure is a true loss for the school.
—Submitted by a parent

I would be very cautious of this school. They are opening a "Gifted program" this year, and my son had been attending the school for 3 years. They didn't identify him as one to be "tested" for the program. When I was enrolling him in a different school, because of my overwhelming discontent with the administration, the new school tested him. He is a shoe-in for the gifted program. He got a 97 on the non-verbal and a 93 on the quantitative section. Their gifted program is another way for them to take money from parents. The state does not provide $$ for charter schools to supply gifted programs. That is where my original complaint stems from. They allowed parents to be under the impression that a fund contribution ($50/month) was mandatory. Parents do your homework! ASBCS.az.gov (Arizona State Board of Charter Schools)

To comment on the post below this one. Those two teachers are no longer with STLC they were let go
—Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately, I think that sometimes the most unhappy people often seem to post the majority of reviews on these sites! We have 2 children at this school and absolutely love it! The teachers are top notch and truly care about the kids. The administration really seems to have the best interests of the students at heart. My kids have never been in a school that tracks their growth and individualizes learning so much. It's honestly better than our experience in a private school, but FAR cheaper! I love the fact that they have PE everyday. They get music and art, which many schools are beginning to cut out these days. And they get Spanish too! I know everyone has different experiences wherever they go, but ours has been nothing less than OUTSTANDING at San Tan. We are so grateful that we chose to come here!!
—Submitted by a parent

I've read all the reviews and to suggest that some might be vengeful is scary. Why would anyone want revenge??
—Submitted by a parent

Like the previous post-it really is just a show,the admin will tell you anything to get you to come here and then once here-no follow though. Longer school day, mediocre academics, very small playground. The school is expanding and have to fill up the new buildings somehow.
—Submitted by a parent

San Tan Learning Center has been an unbelievable experience for me as a teacher. With much smaller class sizes I am able to individualize curriculum according the student strengths and needs. The extensive amounts of specials the student receive provide a well rounded educational experience. They receive P.E. four days a week with a health nutrition class 1 day a week. In addition, the students participate in music two days, and one day a week in art and Spanish. With the state educational system continually dealing with devastating budget cuts, San Tan understands the importance of these specials and unlike many other schools continues to offer them. The overall attention I have been able to give to each child has been dramatically more than I thought possible, and as a teacher makes my jobs so rewarding. ~Mrs. Sarah Portela
—Submitted by a teacher