Pardes Jewish Day School

We have been at Pardes for 3 years and have 2 children enrolled in the school. Our children are excited to go to school everyday! They are receiving a wonderful secular and religious education. The teachers are kind, knowledgeable, and make learning fun. Class sizes are small, so teachers are able to differentiate instruction to meet each students's individual needs. Pardes also works hard on teaching children values and how to be a good person. There is a wonderful community feel for the children and parents.
—Submitted by a parent

My family moved to the Phoenix area in August and decided to enroll our 9 year old daughter at Pardes. It was a wonderful decision for us. It was a nurturing environment, wonderful curriculum. We were crazy impressed with the teachers. We really liked the reading program. The creativity with everyday learning was amazing! Super happy with our decision. Our daughter is thriving!
—Submitted by a parent

Pardes Jewish Day School is an amazing school. We recently moved to town and enrolled our two children and they thrived academically and socially. The administration and teachers went above and beyond to nurture our children. The academics were vigorous and changing. The individualize education that our children received was impressive. I would recommend Pardes without hesitation!
—Submitted by a parent

We have had children at Pardes for over 6 years now and love the school more each year. We have the financial means to go to any of the private schools in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area, but believe in Pardes and the wonderful secular and religious education our children are receiving. My children are happy to go to school and look forward to seeing their friends and teachers. I have no doubt that we are in the right place and that my children are getting the best education possible and learning how to become responsible young adults!
—Submitted by a parent

Its hard to believe that Pardes is still in existence as it continues to under-perform by promising way more then it can deliver. The administration has its "shpeel" down pat and persists in luring well-meaning Jewish parents into it's doors. However, when the children can't read or understand math, they blame the child and say they have a learning disability and send them off to a very expensive outside tutoring center. Please stop and think - why do so many Pardes students have "learning" problems???? The answer is: their lack of a good education due to Pardes' lack of leadership and poorly trained Teachers who have free reign to teach or not teach whatever they feel like since they do not follow a standard curriculum and have no accountability to any higher governing body. PARENTS BEWARE!!! This is not a normal Jewish Day School that you would find on either coast - it is basically day care.
—Submitted by a parent

Since our son began attending just a few months ago, we have not only watched him blossom into a confidant child but also can see a growing sense of self. The whole school is a support system for every family. We are better parents because of the interest Pardes has taken in us and our child. He so happy everyday with the bonds I am sure he will take with him for life. In kindergarten the average reading level is at second grade; but the most important key to success the school instills is that the children feel proud of themselves and their success as well as setting examples for each other. As a Doctorate student myself, I am able to pinpoint these exact skill sets being introduced at this young age which are imperative for life success. Unfortunately, the previous unfavorable comment seems to based from a negative emotional reaction than from rationally related information.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is only starting in Pardes as a Kindergartener but he as already come out of his shell thanks to the teachers and staff there. Everyone who works there takes time to include me and my son in activities that he would enjoy. My son has more confidence and spirit than I could of imagined. But more than anything he looks forward to getting up and going to school. That says alot about the school and staff in itself.
—Submitted by a parent

This is our fourth year at Pardes and we are thrilled with both the secular and Jewish studies programs. Our daughter, who was one of a number of kids recently accepted into the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (no idea what the reviewer below was describing), has learned to be not only a talented reader, but more importantly, an analytical reader. She makes connections from the story/poem she's reading to real-life experiences. The math, social studies, language arts and science programs are also extraordinary. We wish we had more space to go into detail. We also have a son in his second year at Pardes. He, too, has had a fabulous experience. Our children are very different and Pardes is the perfect school for both of them. Our children are surrounded by amazing teachers who truly care about them and know them as individuals. The teachers foster this individuality and encourage them to grow both socially and academically. The administration is warm, open and supportive. They welcome parent involvement and feedback. When you are at Pardes, it's truly a second home.
—Submitted by a parent

One more thing. To the staff who wrote about Pardes's ranking in the John's Hopkins Talent search - one student scored the highest on that test who happened to be at Pardes. However, that student has long since left and moved on to live up to his potential elsewhere. Yet another pathetic attempt by the staff to stretch the truth about the quality of education at Pardes - just more smoke and mirrors. Such an embarrassment.
—Submitted by a parent

Now that we are beginning our 5th year at pardes, we decided to share sentiments towards the school. Let me start by noting two of the "baby sitters" we have used have been Pardes graduates. Both these amazing kids, after having graduated top of the class in high school are now attending prestigious colleges (Duke and George Washington). And both clearly say that they credit Pardes for their confidence, their education and their ability to adjust to varous people and situations. This is why we chose Pardes. We have watched and experienced the Pardes administration and faculty bending over backwards to address all aspects of academics, taking into consideration any child who may may need more attention in one subject or another. The campus is nurturing and our children are flourishing. Let me note that upon reading other reivews, we felt proud. And when we stumbled upon one that seemed so very angry, all we can say to that disgrutled individual, is: It is impossible to please the impossible to please. In conclusion, we believe wholeheartedly that Pardes offers an expectional learning environment.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of two children at Pardes I couldn't be happier with my experience. My children are two very different personalities and the small class size and individualized attention allows them to get exactly what each needs to thrive. Additionally, I am impressed with how well the leadership staff selects the "right" teacher for my child's specific needs. I am also reassured by the flexibility in the learning structure that places no boundaries in subjects where my child excels while making support available in specific areas where one may need it. Pardes is a top choice in Jewish and secular private education.
—Submitted by a parent

As a father of two children, I am thrilled with the Pardes community and the secular and jewish education my children are receiving at Pardes. Pardes has instilled a love of learning in my children. My children have benefitted from the individual attention and support they have received from their teachers as evidenced by the fact that they both tested in the top percentiles in all of the same standardized tests administered to students at other highly regarded private schools in the valley. By the time my children reached first grade, my children could recite all basic daily and shabbat prayers, routinely asked insightful questions about their judaism and are now eagerly hoping for a first trip to Israel. As an added bonus, the idea of being a "mensch" (a good person) permeates everything that is done at the school. I highly recommend Pardes.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children have been attending Pardes for 5 years now, and we are thrilled with our decision to provide them with an education there. We looked into all of the local, "big name" private schools in our community and were most impressed by the warm atmosphere in the classrooms and the responsiveness of the Pardes administration. The education is second to NONE. The annual tandardized tests that Pardes students take rank them consistently at the top of the state and nation academically. Our children are happy, thriving, enthusiastic leaners. Pardes was the best decision we could have made for our children.
—Submitted by a parent

I am so happy with Pardes. Both the secular and Jewish education that my children are receiving is amazing. The class sizes are small and the teachers do an amazing job of creating individualized work to meet your child's needs. There is such a warm and welcoming community from all the parents, teachers and staff. I couldn't imagine my kids at any other school. Pardes is the perfect place to give your child an amazing well rounded education.
—Submitted by a parent

We looked into Pardes because we believed in education and in the benefits of a Jewish education at that. However, we have been sorely disappointed in the low quality of education and lack of structure at Pardes. We've been stunned by the unprofessionalism of the Teachers in the form of rampant gossip and lack of management by the Administration in doing anything to stop it. Any time a parent brings concerns to the Administration, they are double-talked and told that they are incorrect or are making too much of an issue. For example - wanting to see the curriculum in our children's classes. We were told numerous times that curriculum existed, however we never saw it with our own eyes. It appears that each Teacher makes it up as they go along and that when parents notice, they are told half-truths. If you want a solid Jewish education for your children, then you will have to move out of this state because it does not exist at Pardes. Even worse, your children will not receive a decent secular education either and all the while you will be told that they are. Most parents at Pardes get stuck because by the time they realize how little their child has learned, it's too late!
—Submitted by a parent

We changed to Pardes from a public elementary school about 3 years ago. The school was large and we didn't feel the students were receiving enough personalized attention. Our children are in middle school at Pardes. The administration and teachers are awesome. There is an open door policy. They treat our children as individuals and help inspire them to do their personal best. The student/teacher ratio and positive environment are what attracted us to the school too. We are happy to be apart of this thriving school.
—Submitted by a parent

My children have thrived at Pardes for the past 5 years. They have received an outstanding education. In the middle school, they are learning concepts at the high school level and above. My middle school age children have tested at post high school level on the SAT-10 standardized tests for the past few years. The teachers are caring as well as knowledgeable and truly care about each individual child, often tailoring the curriculum to meet each child's needs instead of teaching to the middle as most teachers in other schools do. They are also learning the core values of Judaism and Hebrew. I would highly recommend Pardes to any parent who wants their child to receive an outstanding Jewish and secular education.
—Submitted by a parent

We feel very sorry for any parent who actually believes that their children are being adequetely educated at Pardes. Not only are they being swindled by the Administration, they are "drinking the Pardes kool-aid" given to them by parents who are stuck at Pardes because it is too late for their children to switch to high-quality schools. It is a real shame that no one in the Jewish Community is standing up for the children of Pardes and insisting that something be done about the sub-par education that their children are receiving. The children come out of Pardes completely unprepared for High School and forget about a decent college. Ask any Teacher who had met a former Pardes student and the first question they ask is "why don't you know how to write a proper sentance" and the second question they ask is "why can't you add, subtract or divide?". Parents at Pardes will defend it, however it is only because they don't know what a challenging education is and they are too far in to move their children. Pardes needs a complete overhaul which will take being honest with themselves about how unprofessional, unorganized, inefficient and non-financially sound they truly are.
—Submitted by a parent

Pardes is the place to be! I am a graduate of Pardes and I couldn't be more proud. I had such an incredible experience at Pardes. All of the teachers were superb, the administration was incredible and the kids are wonderful. I can't speak highly enough of this school. It has done so much in terms of preparing me for life. I loved every minute at this school. There is a truly warm feeling and I feel that Pardes exemplifies the Jewish values portrayed in its mission statement. I felt that the quality of learning was at a level far beyond that of schools similar to Pardes, The skills that I learned will benefit me for the rest of my life, both Judaically and secularly. The principal and leadership is amazing and does such an incredible job of leading the school and making the decisions that are best not for themselves but for their students. I truly, truly would recommend this school to anyone who is looking for a high level of Judaic, Hebrew and secular learning, an incredibly warm, caring, nurturing environment and an all around incredible school.

Our daughter is having a great experience at Pardes Jewish Day School. She is thriving in her secular subjects, and her knowledge of Hebrew language and Jewish culture is really gratifying. As important, in both her opinion and ours, Pardes gives her the space to express her creativity and the confidence to try new things without worrying about failure. Some other schools might send more homework, and that's probably fine for some children. But I cannot imagine another school nurturing my daughter's intellect, her spirit, and her sense of identity like Pardes.
—Submitted by a parent