Riverside Elementary School

This school is going through many changes including renovatios new teachers and administration. The new principal is caring and always ready to speak to parents she is often at the drop off area in the mornings and after school. The staff is nice and helpful. The new teachers are great, special thank you to Ms Han she is one of the best teachers in this school. It took this school a while to get people who cared about our kids but now its on its way to becoming a great school.
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside has improved greatly so far and has a great vision for 09-10 that is now focusing our students and their education! We are thankful that we now have a Board Member who is a parent and took a stand to make the positive and very important changes that he did...Thanks Mr. Martin Gonzales for being a productive and concerned parent and now our great Board Member..We appreicate you!
—Submitted by a parent

Its a new school year 09-10. Riverside School District is ready to start a new even more productive year ever! We have new administration with a big vision for our students! I am excited to see the positive changes. I am greatful we have new administrators who are accountable! Welcome Mr. Rivera and the new staff..Welcome back teachers and staff!
—Submitted by a parent

My children attended this school and I am very proud of the teachers they had. The best ones have moved onto higher levels in other districts. The last principal left only after bringing the school from underperforming to highly performing by bringing in many great educational specialists, so it is a shame she left. Yes there were a few bad ones! as a matter of fact the bad ones drove away the really good ones who wouldn't put up with such low standards! The district has way too many issues, I hope they fix rthem and then maybe I will bring my kids back, for right now I moved my children to Laveen to follow one of those great teachers now in admin. there. I wish the school the best and will continue to support its improvement as an active community member but I won't risk my childrens eductaion waiting.
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside is going through many positive changes including new administration and programs to enhance our child s education. Teacher s are dedicated to their job and care for our child s learning. Thankfully, those that were not so great either decided to leave or were removed from the district including the principal and her staff. We are looking forward to a new school year with dedicated staff and great things to follow.
—Submitted by a parent

Mrs. Pamela Eklund is a fabulous Administrator! I have never seen such great concern for the education value of a child as this Principal has provide for EVERY child. Mrs. Eklund has a great educational staff: Ms. Estrada, Ms. Mendoza, Ms. Eastep, Mr. Whiteman, Mrs. Wingo, Ms. Herrera, Mrs. LaMont and Mrs. Silver, please come and see for your self.
—Submitted by a parent

Many great changes have taken place over the past five years. Administration at the Elementary level is finally taking charge of the school. Programs to involve parents are slowly forming. Participation is low but it is still new. Extra curricular activities are slowing beginning to form. Technology in the district is top notch. Teachers are teaching and ones who are not or are in desperate need of retirement have been removed, even if it took till march( better late than never). I do not like the uniform policy as it is not cost effective. I now have to purchase school clothes, non school clothes, and church or special event clothes. Single mom of three can't afford it. Parent participation needs to include all types of parents not just talks for parents learning how to assist their child with learning. PPO joke. Visit other successful districts watch and learn. Ask get rewards.
—Submitted by a parent

I have one child at Riverside. I have to say that the school has changed greatly in most recent years. They are beginning to offer more programs to assist students than before. The one thing that I have noticed is that there is not much parent involvement with the school system. The school has begun monthly Coffee Talks in English and Spanish to address certain issues to make Riverside a better school. However, they is often very little parents who attend. A school is supposed to be a community where everyone participates not just the teachers. It takes a village to raise a child. We need more parents to give positive contributions so we can continue to improve.
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside is an average school in a high minority (demographic) area. The teachers are mostly excellent. The parents however fail to take advantage of the power of involvement in the school. I have two children in the district and both test far beyond the federal standards. The curriculum is just fine. The parents in this district fail to take action and would rather complain then work towards a better school. The non-existent PTO committee is a perfect example of this, as is the nearly empty board room during board meetings. To say a school is horrible and not provide a reason as to why, just shows the average mentality of the districts parents. Support your school fellow parents, help with the PTO, attend board meetings, do not just complain! Use your power as a parent in the school!
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside is a growing school with great potential. It has grown incredibly since my children started and continues to grow. They are adding many activities at the middle school, as well as tutoring and increasing parental involvement. The teachers seem dedicated and knowledgeable, however administration is constantly changing. 3 years ago I may have given it a bad review, but I have watched extracurricular activities be added and fought for, a PTO attempted, and teachers who will fight for students well being and work overtime to help a student achieve their goals.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had two children attend this school. My oldest is now going to the King's Ridge Middle School (same district). I have had excellent experience with this school all of my children's teachers have been experienced, knowledgeable, and nuturing. They have state of the art computers in every classroom with academic software on all of them and a large computer lab too! Unfortunately, not many parents get involved in the school and the PTO is non-existant.
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside District has a new 5-8 middle school called Kings Ridge. The leadership at this school is excellent, the quality of teaching staff is far above average. As a first year school sports programs are limited to after school soccer and P.E. This school has made every effort to reach out to parents in the community because it takes a village to raise a child - the school can't do it alone. School uniforms and a responsible thinking discipline program are two first steps in bringing about a culture focused on student based learning.
—Submitted by a teacher

I was not happy at all with this schools academic programs or quality of extracurricular activites.
—Submitted by a parent

I really like Riverside. Dr Rivera is an awesome principal. The teachers are pretty good, open and honest. The only thing they really need extra circular activities for the middle school children. At that age they really need sports, clubs etc.
—Submitted by a parent

Unhappy with this school it do does not offer any tuturing or help for student's who need it. Teachers have no time for one on one for students.
—Submitted by Lisa, a parent

Riverside is a growing school with a lot of potential. I disagree with previous opinions. Although Riverside may not have many extra curricula activities, they have a state of the art computer lab and three computers in every classroom. The school also has had an up to date library with internet and a computerized card catalog. Many teachers have gone out of there way to assist students who may need help. Unfortunately, parents do not get involved in school activities, which is obvious by the reviewer who did not know if the school had a computer lab or library. As a parent I take interest in what my child is doing and what is going on in school. I also volunteer time at school to make it a better place. When I attend school board meetings there are few parents there. Riverside is planning another campus, to assist in growth.
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside school is very small. Administration is poor and discipline is lacking. Class sizes are large and students often get overlooked. I am pulling my children from the school, since I feel they have not learned very much this year.
—Submitted by a parent

We move our son from Anazasi Elementary School to Riverside Elementary School and there is a huge difference. For Instance; at Riverside they don't have computer lessons, no physical education, no music lessons, they don't estimulate our children to go to the library, I don't know if they even have one. I think they need to have all this activities besides of a better security at the school. The school it's been on construction, way before the classes started. All the fumes and construction material is not good for our kids. If I had the chance to put my Son on a different School, I would definitely do it.