Litchfield Elementary School

My daughter was varianced at Litchfield El. for her entire primary education. The teachers are great, administration is great, academics are great. Wonderful community involvement and support. Nice to see families who care about their kids and their kids' academics. If there is ANY problem at all, it is the politics played by the little snooty Mommy group known as the PTSA. They do a great job of fund raising, but refuse to spend their $60k plus on the kids. There are several projects that have been approved and fund raised for (playground equip, stage sound system, landscaping, gopher removal, etc....) yet the PTSA hangs on to the money and fights over which husbands' company gets to do the work. the PTSA needs to be wiped out and started over again. Great school, they PTSA just needs to stop handcuffing the Principal and do what is best for the KIDS!!!
--Submitted by a parent

Reading the last two reviews makes me scratch my head. As an active parent and a PTA member I know these parents made little effort to get to know the principal who is very open to meeting parents. My son child bullied also. Within a DAY the bully was left off a field trip. Immediate action was taken by the teacher and principal. The staff make a great effort to help all students succeed. I volunteer and I see this happening. The school has some of the the smallest class size I have seen in public schools, so to say there is 'too many kids' means they have not researched class sizes in AZ at all. This is a great school but like any school a parent needs to be involved and get to know their teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

If you have a choice, don't send your kid to this school. They don't care about the children. Everything is black and white with them. Your kid is either good for them or bad for them, either way it's all about them. They give up on kids who aren't perfect. The reason they're highly performing isn't because they're a good school it's because most kids are there on variances and they deny kids who need any extra effort to highly perform.
--Submitted by a parent

I heard so many great things about this school so I applied for a variance and was thrilled that my son was accepted. It appears to be a good school on the outside. It's very cute, they have a helper-dog that is on campus, and the openness is gorgeous. It's all appearance though. They fail big time on academic and social education. There was a bully in my sons class, reported by several parents, and nothing came of it. They never gave me an honest report of how my son was doing, telling me he was fine, a great helper, great student, etc. etc. until variance renewal when I find out he's been getting in trouble all year. Then they sent a hugely insulting, extremely unprofessional letter to me about him. (For the record, I've never heard from anyone that my son has been a bad kid until the last weeks of school there). Academically, they have too many kids and don't challenge the kids to work at their own pace, kids get bored or frustrated waiting for other students to catch up. They don't have a strict grading system to let parents (or kids) track their kids progress, but they expect the kids to know where they stand. Overall, I'm glad my son will be going to a new school next year.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a parent at LES and I teach an after school Drama program to the students. I am very excited and proud to be apart of the education of our future leaders of the world. LES is a great school and I hope to continue providing a Theatre Arts program at the school. The teachers are great and the school offers fun outside events for community. Every year they hold a Fall Carnival that is very impressive and "A LITTLE DRAMA" students dance to THRILLER! It is so much fun!
--Submitted by a parent

I think Litchfield stands out as a better school in AZ. The principal is very visible and willing to listen and the teachers care very much for the students. The parents are a mixed bag, the PTA is not too visible, and the Litchfield Park residents come across as particularly unwilling to help.
--Submitted by a parent

My husband and I can't say enough great things about this school! We have a son in 1st grade and a daughter in 2nd. They both love this school and as a family we have been impressed with all of projects and programs offered. The children work at their own pace and are evaluated often for appropriate placement. Both children are learning above grade level. The Principal is very friendly and visible on campus daily. We are very pleased with our choice in schools!
--Submitted by a parent

My grand daughter who is in 1st grade has attended Litchfield Elementary for her full day Kindergarten and 1st grade as of 2-9-2009. I have nothing but praise for the staff and administration at this school. I am a retired teacher who has taught for 38 years in grades 1-12; and can professionally state that I have observed nothing but caring loving teachers who are teaching with great skills. The Principal also is doing an outstanding job with the same love and caring attitude. This is truly an outstanding school and we are most thankful that our granddaughter has been able to attend.

My son is autistic. Since starting the special education pre-k program at this school he has regressed steadily. He fears going to school! the school is unwilling to budge on iep goals or recommendations by parents. There are no tyical peers avalable for pre-k special education programs so they apparently do not care about providing a FAPE. I am in the process of removing my child from this school and homeschooling because it is so bad! if you have a special neeeds child please beware!
--Submitted by a parent

We are thrilled with our Son's achievements in 4th grade during his first full school year at an U.S. School. The tremendous support he received from his Class teacher and the School at all is absolute remarkable. He is still a ESL student and we look forward to his 5th grade year with great optimism.
--Submitted by a parent