Boulder Creek Elementary School

This school has a few wonderful teachers. However, the rest of the faculty, including the principal, have no business caring for or teaching our children. Most of the teachers are clearly not suited in temperament for dealing with children and are outright rude to both children and parents. I receive phone calls over trivial things that they should easily be able to handle as adults, yet no accountability or communication over important issues. Anyone who has dealt with this school and has had a good experience has simply been completely lucky. I only have room for one example: At lunch, the kids form a line according to alphabetical order, always A-Z. Our last name is at the end of the alphabet. By the time my children get to the food it is mostly gone, and what remains are the smallest portions as the kids who come first are able to grab the biggest portions (who can blame them?). My kids come home with stomach aches. I suggested taking turns reversing the line which was not done. After speaking over the phone with me the principal said to my daughter, "The only way you are getting a different place in line is if you change your last name." Who speaks like that to a child?
—Submitted by a parent

Boulder Creek is a somewhat mixed bag. I think the teachers are generally quite good (my child has attended 2nd & 3rd grade here and is just starting 4th grade). I am particularly impressed by the staff/teachers involved in the special ed program. The process of having her evaluated for an IEP was very efficient and I felt involved, and her progress since getting the extra help has been phenomenol. On the other hand, the administration can be a bit put offish. I have had only one in-person interaction with the principal and it was extremely unpleasant. But to be fair, I made a suggestion subsequent to that interraction and it was put into practice quite quickly. Lastly, about parent involvement....I note that as my child progresses into older grades, the opportunity to volunteer in an ongoing/classroom environment shrinks. I miss having that level of involvement and I feel more disconnected than in years past.
—Submitted by a parent

The staff in COPE special ed is awesome!! My son is in this behavior program and is making leaps and bounds. They are great with communicating and giving me feedback on his behavior and progress, and try hard to work with every child's issues and help them make progress. COPE is very careful about supervising the kids at dismissal and in the hallways to keep them safe. I have complete confidence and can go to work knowing they can handle anything my son throws their way.
—Submitted by a parent

Boulder Creek is a great place for Parents and Kids. I have found if you treat people there with respect, you get the same right back. We have 3 children and 2 are currently attending Boulder Creek. The teachers there have had have been absolutely amazing. The teachers have always treated me and my family with the utmost professionalism. When we have called the teachers we have always received a call back within 24 hours, and my son's teacher has even e-mailed us on the weekend. I think some people forget that teachers have a personal life, and 25+ other kids to deal with. They are not miracle workers OR babysitters. As a parent it is OUR responsibility to ensure our children are learning and to follow through with checking up on them and partnering with teachers. It's easy to complain and blame; it's harder to take responsibility.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is good for kids who have a stay-at-home parent that can be involved in every activity that comes along. If not, you and your child are not important. Much of the staff look at you as though you are a bug to be squashed under foot, rather than a concerned parent. My son has attended for 5 years, and this is his final year at Boulder Creek (thank goodness). His teacher this year seems great, but past years have not been so wonderful. The teachers have not been very cooperative and if a problem does occur, they are more than willing to point it out and tell you that it needs to be fixed, but they are not willing to work with you in solving the issue. My son would not attend if I had a workable option.
—Submitted by a parent

At first I was really impressed with Boulder Creek, but as the years go by the less impressed I am getting. It seems like the teachers and staff have a revolving door. To many great teachers have left. I do not find Dr. Coleman approachable and the teachers do not seem very happy as years ago. Seems to me she has a tight grip on the teachers. And if your not apart of the PTA or some other organized group, she really doesn;t have much to say to you. Not sure if my children will finish out this year.
—Submitted by a parent

All three of my children attend this school (my oldest is going on her 5th year) and I am thrilled and have been thrilled with it every school year. Dr. Coleman, the Principal, is outstanding! She is extremely involved with the students. The teachers and staff are the finest I have ever seen. I know many of the teachers and they are caring and always willing to work with me when I mention concerns. My children have excelled in this school, and all of them are well above average for their grade levels. I always have, and continue to highly recommend Boulder Creek!
—Submitted by a parent

I have 5 kids 3 currently in the school and 2 that have graduated from the school. We have been with the school ever since it first opened and think it is a great learning enviroment with excelent teachers and staff. The principle treats all the kids like they are her own when it comes to safety and their well being and she even tries to learn all the kids names that attend there as well. All of my kids have done extremely well there, they are all straight A students and the credit goes to the hard working teachers that stay on top of things. If the parents want to be involved in the up to the minute grades of their kids they only need to check out the on-line snap grades program that was started this year. If they have any concerns the teachers are willing to help.
—Submitted by a parent

principal who does not like parental involvement. This is not the school to send your children to if they are average or above students. This school spends too much time and money on the kids who have learning disabilities and other issues. Other schools know how to take care of those kids and also value the education of the students that don't need special ed. Child safety around the school is abhorrent. I moved my children to Superstition Springs and none of us have any regrets!
—Submitted by a parent

The parent involvement at this school is very low and it shows. The administartion needs to learn to be friendly but that isn't possible. Thank goodness we are almost done at this school since the district obviously doesn't care about the leadership or lack there of.Disgusted Parent.
—Submitted by a parent

My husband and I have been thrilled with this school. Our daughter was in a private school until 4th grade when she started at Boulder Creek, and we were amazed that she gets more individual attention at a public school! The two teachers we've had have been phenomenal. We particularly love the AR program, which has improved our daughter's reading scores immensely.
—Submitted by a parent

I am not over happy or unhappy with the school, some of the teachers seem to be less than I would like, the two teachers we've had seemed to have some trouble with problem kids in the class, I think there is a better school out there.
—Submitted by a parent

Boulder Creek is a wonderful school with caring and devoted teachers. My child has been there for five years and my son will start next year. I can't imagine a better school!
—Submitted by a parent

We had 2 children in this school, both good students, one in ALP, one in all top groups and a peer mediator for 2 years. They hated the way they were treated. We tried to work within the school on concerns and accomplished nothing. Our problem began with one teacher, yet when we saw the lack of desire in solving a problem by the administration we had no desire to stay. When it becomes alright to treat children without respect it is time for things to change. We left this school, that was an option for us. I feel bad for those who live with Boulder Creek as their home school and who have no ability to drive their children elsewhere.
—Submitted by a parent

high amount of children per classroom, school beautiful but the principal is welling to be totally truthful. student count high for one teacher.
—Submitted by samuel george, a parent

The school has the AR reading program. I like this program better than book reports. They have shaded playground. The principal is very involved with the students.
—Submitted by a parent

Great Teachers and Principal leadership at this school. We have had nothing but outstanding teachers. Definitely stands out among local elementary schools. The Music, Art, Computer and PE Programs are outstanding, and the AR Reading program has helped make reading a strong skill for both of my children. The Library has many books for all reading levels. The facility itself is just 5 years old and is in excellent condition. Weakness - The child pick-up and drop-off is a mess though, many parents blatantly ignore the rules and do their own thing.
—Submitted by a parent

I think Boulder Creek Elementary is a wonderful school. The school is amazingingly well run for only being a few years old. It is a school that encourages 'community.'
—Submitted by a parent

We know a hard working school administration and staff when we see one and Boulder Creek certainly qualifies.
—Submitted by a parent

We have had to fight to get our children what they need and deserve at this school. Granted, we are thankful we are not in the Mesa School District, but let me tell you that I know for a fact that there are a great majority of families that are not happy (to say the least) with this school for their behavior toward parents as well as toward their students. Let's not even begin talking about the behavior toward children by the cafeteria staff.
—Submitted by Disgruntled Parent, a parent