Lookout Mountain Elementary School

This school year started out on a rough note which could have been helped by better planning by the administration. A Band teacher was not hired for several weeks after the start of the year so music students suffered. Bad fit between honors teacher and classes left students frustrated and then without a teacher after teacher left. Administration could have been more proactive to lessen the negative impact. Quality teaching time was lost.
--Submitted by a parent

Sadly the quality at Lookout has plummeted. The class sizes have gotten far too big in the past couple of years, making it difficult if not impossible for teachers to be effective or fun. The rigid curriculum makes already stressed teachers teach to a test rather than find innovative ways to help our children learn. I realize the lower quality at Lookout is a result of the deep cuts so many schools across the state have had to endure. Unfortunately, it's our kids who suffer.
--Submitted by a parent

Lookout Mountain is outstanding! From the incredible teachers, fantastic principal and administrative staff, to the after school programs and school resources (such as the student television news program and extensive music and sports), this is truly one of a kind in Arizona. Parents in nearby districts are constantly looking for ways to get their kids into this school, and having had kids there for the last three years it is easy to see why. Only one negative (and a small one at that) -- students that live within one mile of the school cannot take the bus. If this rule were taken away, pickup and dropoff would become much easier. But that is a small price to pay for the excellent education our kids are getting here.
--Submitted by a parent

Transferred to Lookout Mountain from Mesa in the middle of the year. Tried everything possible(including three visits) to ease the transition for my children, but leadership didn't follwo through, making the entire process more difficult than necessary. On arrival, we learned that no precautions had been taken. A part time staff member ultimately assigned classrooms.... without even reading trascripts. Leadership certainly talked a good game prior to the move, but when the rubber hit the road, she was nowhere to be found. Parents and teachers later shared similar stories and expressed a degree of apathy that was alarming. I would like to think our experience was unique and that anyone in charge of the transitioning process would recognize the importance of helping kids feel welcome and fit into a new environment...our experience was disappointing to say the least. The curriculum was good and the teachers we experienced genuinely cared, but were clearly confined by their leadership, or lackthereof. Moving schools can be traumatic...having a caring voice on the other end can make the difference. After our brief experience, we moved our children to a private school.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school! Challenging courses, experienced teachers, homely campus, intelligent students. Saying it is an excelling school is an understatement. A profitable experience for any child.

This school is the best of the best because of all the dedicated parents and staff members. The people who are deeply involved in children's education always do the best they can. The parents are superior, the staff is awesome, and the community is super involved. No where does there exist a school with a better contingent of staff and parents. Lookout rocks.
--Submitted by a teacher

great teachers and friendly staff. terrific playground and safe neighborhood. my kids have made many friends and definitely enjoy learning daily at their new school. very impressed. mr. archer is the best teacher at the school.
--Submitted by a parent

LOM is an ok school. The facilities are old, leaking and full of asbestos. The classes are over max. Seems they accept way too many children out of the area. Parking and pick up is crazy. Frankly I am surprised there haven't been some serious accidents.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been attending since Kindergarten and is now in 3rd grade, my son started Kindergarten this year. This is a wonderful school. The teachers have all been awesome! Mrs. Turner (K), Ms. Baird (K) and Ms. Bridgewater (1st) have been the most wonderful and caring people. It's been obvious that it's not just a job to these 3 teachers, they actually care for the students and want them to succeed. I moved out of the area last year and I practically begged the school to keep my children even though we are now out of the district area. I have nothing but good reviews for this school.
--Submitted by a parent

I was apprehensive about moving to Phoenix and into the AZ public education system; coming from a smaller town and an excellent charter school. Because of economic stress, we were forced to leave our area and home, and start at LOM in the middle of the school year. The principal was amazing as she allowed our children into the school as open enrollement students, and making them feel comfortable and welcome. We chose to do open enrollement at LOM, as the school closest to us has a poor ranking and lower standards than I prefer. The school has a high level of unity and parent involvement which helps to keep it running strong. The teachers are great as well. While we do miss some aspects our previous charter school, LOM has made the transition easy for my children, which was a big concern for me. I knew that if we went into a school with low standards, from their previous school that they would have a lot of problems adjusting and confusion through the gap in standards.
--Submitted by a parent