Franklin Elementary School

This is without doubt one of the best schools in Mesa, the 1 Star Haters who's kids couldn't hack it are obviously not helping their kids. Yes the curriculum is tough and it requires a great deal of parental involvement for the kids to be successful. No - a child with learning difficulties is not going to keep up here, so if your kid struggles at a normal paced district school - probably not a good idea to move them into Franklin. If my 4th Grader wasn't a Straight A Student and had struggled - I'd obviously be writing a different review, but she thrives here and there's no district school that can even compare.
--Submitted by a parent

I have three children at Franklin and like a lot of families we decided to send our children there because our neighborhood school is below average so in that regard we are thankful to have Franklin as an option. The positive thing about Franklin is that they use Spalding to teach reading. The K- 2 grades are not bad either. The problem is children are taught to memorize a lot of answers but are lacking when it comes to actually understanding the problems. Children should understand what they are learning not just memorize answers. I encourage parents not just to look at test scores when choosing a school for children this can be very deceiving especially at Franklin. It is a no "Fluff" school but it is also a no Fun School! The children are scared to ask questions because they are not allowed to talk and their is never a minute "wasted" for discussion. We liked it for K-2 when kids are still learning the basics but after that it's just to rigid the children aren't learning to problem solve and think for themselves! TEST SCORES DON"T SAY IT ALL:) If you are privileged enough to have a good neighborhood school please just send your children there!
--Submitted by a parent

Let me start out by saying I attented Franklin East, my neices and nephews went there, my friends have children that go there and I absolutely love their curriculum. However, I am giving this school one star simply for the fact that the new principle is terrible. She handled a situation so badly my husband and I were required to get a lawyer to keep our son out of harms way. When we brought this to her attention she wouldn't speak to us, instead she contacted her own lawyer and had us talk to him. This proved to me that she knew she had taken the wrong action and was trying to cover her own tail. She lacks the same attitude of responsibility that the school teaches the children. Now after talking to other parents and to a former PTO president I have found that she is less than desirable in many parents eyes and that I am not the first to withdraw my child from Franklin because of her actions. Please be mindful of this as you research Franklin and be careful if you send your children there. I would hate for another family to go through the heartache we did.
--Submitted by a parent

Now that we have seen the difference this school has made for our children we won't move out of the area! A proven curriculum and stellar music program has given my children advantages that I didn't have growing up. And Thank You, Franklin East for still having 2 half day class options for Kindergarteners!!
--Submitted by a parent

My 5 yr old enrolled Franklin East, I enrolled her another school after 3wks. Rooms overcrowded, teacher seemed caring first week. Children are not permitted to use the restroom, lack of guidance for kindergarten no assistance in cafeteria. My child became afraid of the Teacher, she was afraid to talk or ask question. School is very regimented no individuality of children. Mrs W. greeted me as I was dropping off my child for school 3rd week, she told me in front of my daughter and classmates, she didnt think , my child should remain in her class! Seems my little girl cried the previous day. No concern as to what made her cry. My daughter does not cry easily. Was she being denied the use of the bathroom. This was very unprofessional on the part of the teacher. I enrolled my child in a Montessori school the following day. She came home with a huge smile and gave me a hug thanked me said she loved her new school! Stay away from this place may have been good at one time not anymore.
--Submitted by a parent

Love this school but not the principle. Not sure if it's her reputation or the schools(probably both) that she doesn't want tarnished but when it comes to bullying issues or anything negative she doesnt/didn't do anything about it. Academically I really like this school and will continue to send my other children there. If any issues ever come up again I will take it to a higher level than the principle.
--Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school! Teacher, parent and administration involvement is top class! My kids absolutely love the school.
--Submitted by a parent

2 of my children have attended Franklin East, ages 5 and 9. My 5 year old attended full time kindergarten this year, and my 9 year old is on his third year at Franklin, currently in grade 3. I have moved my 5 yr old to another school already (mid-year, not ideal) and my 9 year old will be attending a different school next year as well. I consider myself to see both sides of the story before making judgments, but situation after situation, is has become very clear to me this school, particularly the Principal Ms Carpenter, does not have their best interest at heart; honestly, I'm not even sure she has a heart. My 5 year old was made to feel like a failure and he could do no right. The teachers changed at least 3 times while he attended. Without consistency, how can they expect the children to be perfectly behaved? My 9 year old was recently suspended for calling another boy in his grade a girl. Reprimand him, yes, suspend him, NO. If the behavior continues, yes, there is a problem, but it was a one-time occurrence. Again, I cannot say enough negative things about this school. Tears have been shed and beyond frustration experienced. No stars for this school!
--Submitted by a parent

My son has benefited greatly from attending Franklin East. He is in first grade now, and he is far more advanced than other children his age who do not attend Franklin.
--Submitted by a parent

This school does NOT help children (or their parents) who are struggling academically. I've been told to take my daughter to a neighborhood school by her last 2 teachers & both have NOT tried to help her in any way, nor have they tried to help me help her. I am enrolling her in another MPS next year (by the request of my daughter) & had to have that school call Franklin because they gave me a hard time about the 'policies & procedures' of doing that. Sad to say talking to other parents of struggling children & old teachers from Franklin it is all too common for this situation. I am deeply saddened by this since my oldest had attended Franklin from K-6 with no problems at all & we loved the school. It's just not the same any more:(
--Submitted by a parent