Desert Thunder

My child has a 504 plan for her food allergy. The administration has been outstanding on accomidating her needs as well as her teachers. She had been attending for 2 years now and we really couldn't be happier. The staff is friendly and caring and the education she is receiving is great!
—Submitted by a parent

My oldest is a 3rd grader who has an IEP and receives services threw the school. The services provided are bellow my expectations due to lack of individualized attention and slow process. My son has the same issue he started the year w/, unable to build clear thought sentences verbally and in written form. Due to his home room teacher he is ending the year on a descent note but could have been better if after school services had been available. As for my first grader he started the year on a good note but unfortunately is ending it poorly due to not doing well in reading and writing. Threw out the year I asked for tutoring and was denied multiple times due to services not being available. I was also advised his reading would pick up and not to worry. We help him w/ reading and writting on top of doing 2 -3 pages of home work a night w/ spelling. By the time his assigned work is completed he would be burnt out and our study time was always a struggle. He wasn't challenged in anyway and I trully believe he coasted by and his needs were ignored. Over all, DT is a good school, safe, clean, staff are approachable and the meals are balanced, tasty but can be small in portion.
—Submitted by a parent

I attend Alhambra Traditional School, and now I am moving within the range of the school district here. I soon will be attending Desert Thunder. While reading the schools website, I saw things that many students would love. (Well from ATS at least) 2 weeks of winter and spring break, easy academics, and an easy grade scale. At Alhambra Traditional they have higher leveled academic procedures, a tougher grading scale, and the best scores in Arizona. I like ATS but some of the teachers there are... well just.... bad; but when reading reviews and the school website, I saw that many students that have atteneded DT have been beaten by their classmates, teachers are very strict in a hateful manner, and there is a uniform. The uniform is just a way to make a terrible school look professional. I do not look forward to changing schools here, and would recommend for you NOT to sent your child here.

I have had 2 kids in Desert Thunder and I have not been happy with the quality. My son was punched in the stomach and when he told the teachers did nothing. We weren't the first family to have this kind of issue. My son was terrified of 1st grade teacher and I have never see such fear in his eyes. He had trouble expressing himself so we never found out why he was so scared. He peed his pants every day and was never sent to change yet he smelled from a mile away. Never had an accident before. I pulled him imediately after seeing his fear of his teacher and I now home school him. He's back to being a happy out going kid. Now my daughter now in 1st begs me to home school her and I am not an easy teacher. She has speech issues and I have had NO communication with them and I am just trying to find out if she even goes like she is supposed too. They after 2 months in school have already asked me to hold her back next year since she can't read. No offer to get her help or test her for LD's. I had to request testing and it's been a month and I have heard nothing!!! I plan on pulling her and Home schooling her very soon!!
—Submitted by a parent

In response to the 6th grader posting 4/15/10. I agree with you, some of the teachers are inappropriate, catty, vindictive, immature and often in plain sight cold. I have a clear knowledge of this due to being a parent of this school and having to deal with the teachers behavior. No matter how polite you are never and I mean never question a teacher at this school. I'm sorry you as a child had to deal with this, they are the adult.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in kindergartner at DT. She is our first child to attend school and is doing wonderful. By February, not even seven months into school year, she was reading on her own, could count up to 100, was introduced to other cultures around the world, learned about geography and is now very familiar with simple addition and subtraction. I have compared her learning with other children in the family that attend different schools in the same school district, all the children are only 1-3 months apart. (5 children total) and she is ahead by far. As a parent I feel the teachers are doing a great job. One of the things I feel needs improvement is the cafeteria food. The cooks serve the food waaaay in advance and by the time the children get it, ITS COLD!!!
—Submitted by a parent

School is great and I love the way they have set up student drop off and pick up. ALL children are picked up after only 15 minutes:-) All student's live close enough that parents can walk, if they choose to. Only thing I hate is the uniforms, so borring! At least do one top color and one bottom. There's a reason they are called uniforms, having 5 different color tops and 2 different color bottoms doesn't make sense.
—Submitted by a parent

I am in 6th grade and have never been to a school so horrible. The students and teachers are extremely inappropriate. Some teachers are wonderful others are absolutely horrible. Do not even think about sending your child/children here i can almost guarantee that if you came from the schools i was in you would as well be upset.
—Submitted by a student

I am so disheartened by all the school districts in the greater Phoenix area. My daughter is currently attending Desert Thunder and this school is no exception to the poor quality of education children receive in this state. We have recently moved here from the Mid-west and both of my children have never seen teachers and staff that care so little about childrens education. You must be your child's best advocate for a good education.
—Submitted by a parent

My Kinder and 2nd grdr are new to DT School this year. In comparison to the Tolleson Charter School, DT is just as great! I am an involved parent who has been greeted openly and friendly by the staff due to always being on campus and have never been made to feel as though I didn't belong nor any question was a bother. This year my kids will be seeing the Speech-Language Therapist who took the time to meet me on a short notice, again open and friendly. We have never worked with a male teacher but am open and hope for a successful year with he and the school.
—Submitted by a parent

'I have found that the school likes to label the children and once the label has been given do not want to work with the student to change the circumstances'. This is so true. I have to say though, Not all the teachers do that. My son is in third grade now,and so far he's had 2 good teachers and two really bad ones.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children that attened Desert Thunder for the 2007-2008 school year. We moved them to the school and were very pleased with the improvements the children made in a very short amount of time. The staff is amazing and they really seem to care about the children. I think the kids are more excited to go back to school this year then they have any other year.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student at Desert Thunder going into 6th grade, and have been attending Desert Thunder since it oppened, along with my younger sibling (moving into 4th). everyone there is friendly and help their students the best they can. Any decrease in the school efficiency for the year could easily be due to the huge growth in students. No matter what parents may think, I am a student and know exactly what happens at school. I knot that Desert Thunder is still soaring to the top, learning, learning, learning!
—Submitted by a student

Desert Thunder has experienced tremendous growth this year. The administration, teachers and staff have done an excellent job accomodating to the changes. Highly recommended school!
—Submitted by a parent

Without a doubt, a crazy year in 7th grade. When the teachers said it would be a big change they weren't kidding! Last year I would have given the school a 4 or 5 star. Now I struggle to give a 2. I will say the new teachers have come in and given some stability in the grade. Things might have been better if they were there all year.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have attended the school since its opening in 2004. The school like any school has had its struggles yet I've never seen a group of teachers work so hard to make my kids successful. This year there is a new administratioin and I feel they are doing a great job. I am confident that the Principal and teachers will continue to meet the challenges of today and provide my kids with a strong education.
—Submitted by a parent

I consider this school an exceptional example of teachers doing the best they can with the funding they get. One needs to give them credit for reaching the Performing Plus level that they have reached having only been open for a few years now. I send out kudos to Mrs. Reinhart for taking her 2006-2008 class on comet ride to excellence. My daughter has shown her true potential and some of that is owed to this teacher. I also want to commend the 6th grade staff. The level of expectation for their students is first rate.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been very unhappy with this school for the last 2 school years. My son has attended this school since Kindergarten and is now in 2nd grade. I believe the class sizes are much to large. I do not think that the new administrative staff has done a very good job this year and miss Dr. Beason's leadership. I have found that the school likes to label the children and once the label has been given do not want to work with the student to change the circumstances. I wish there were charter schools available in Goodyear so that my son would have a school that fits his needs and is more inviting.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children at DT this year and I must say that the Teachers and staff are a cut above the rest. From the moment you walk into the front office you are greeted by friendly and very helpful front office staff. To all the teachers I deal with, that are very helpful and always keep me informed on my daughters progress, a big example of this is your Dibel testing that is done. It is great to know where your children stand throughout the year and not just when report cards come out. Keep up the great work, you are doing a super job and deserve to be commended on all your hard work.
—Submitted by a parent

I worked with a fantastic staff of devoted and caring teachers. I taught some of the best kids I've ever come across. Mrs. Gray and Mrs. Aguilar are amazing teachers in 6th grade and amazing to work with. I observed Ms. Haines while doing buddies with them and there isn't a better teacher out there. I know Mr. Deffenbaugh is doing the best he can to make DT a great place to learn. I saw growth in the school all three years I was there. The biggest negative that I saw from the school was that middle schoolers didn't always have the opportunities that other middle schools have. That being said, I think most students liked coming to work.
—Submitted by Kevin Kuzel, a teacher