Circle Cross Ranch K8 School

It's a bad school. Right now I am in 8th grade and every week our principal has to hold an assembly for the 7th and 8th graders saying how bad we are. This is actually very true as the 8th grade has its bad share of students that disrupt class and always complain out loud when we get a simple assignment. Then you have the 7th graders. Plain awful. You'll never want to see them. Always yelling, always going to other classes and disrupting them, and ignoring and complaining to teachers. They make this school really awful. Because of them and some 8th graders, we are now walked to each class and cannot go to the bathroom. The bathroom wouldn't be bad, but since we are walked to classes, we can't leave! We also end up late everyday to each class because of this. Try to avoid this prison.

My son had the most amazing kindergarten teacher last year and I was so thrilled with his experience at CCR. Sadly he went from having a teacher who communicated amazingly, rewarded and disciplined students properly and was passionate about teaching, to having a teacher lacking all of the above. Any problems I had were not fixed. I was passed back and forth between the vice principal to the teacher as if I was the problem. They do NOT communicate well. My phone calls were never returned promptly, I had to call them after 24 hours of waiting on several occasions. To top it off, my son came home nearly every day with unfinished school work. His teacher didn't seem to care if he was learning or not. Im happy to say that my son is now at a much better school and I'm thrilled with what it has to offer!
—Submitted by a parent

I think the Principal has to do something, she has improve the image of the school, discipline, and to improve the level of education there. student level is low, less involvement of teachers, administration employees care less... The Principal is the boss and she has to fix these small problems that are getting bigger month after month.
—Submitted by a parent

The administrators are terrible. They waste the teacher's time with unnecessary menial tasks instead of giving teachers time to plan quality lessons. The principal especially, is too concerned with her image as a principal instead of making the tough choices that will benefit the students. Disruptive students are not dealt with because the principal is too afraid to do anything because it will make her look bad. The district insists on having their hands on everything involved with teaching. Teachers here are told what to teach, how to teach it, when to teach it, for how long, and how to assess students. This in turn has taken away the creativity needed to teach high quality lessons that will get students interested in learning. Is this really the way students should learn? The teachers here are amazing, but are severely limited by the districts's bureaucracy and their tyrant principal's poor leadership.
—Submitted by a parent

My 4 yr. has done great this year at CCR, in the first month she doubled her vocabulary. I'm not an in class parent, but I send supplies and participated in the field trip. I stay very involved with my childs progress because thats my job as the mom. Ms. Mary and I talk often to make sure everyone is doing their best including my crazy girl. It's not a blame game it's your childs future get involved, help your family and local community!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter started this Spring, and absolutely loves the school. She is eager to go, and even study. Her grades have gone up, and she is increasingly involved in other aspects of school life. As parents, we have had no issue with communication, and the teachers are readily accessible for any questions.
—Submitted by a parent

My child was always a straight A student until we moved to QC and put her in CCR. Her grades went down and when question she stated that she didn't 'see the point in working hard, no one else does'. I was blown away, I talked to her teacher, she said most are C students and that's 'normal' . When I attended the HR assembly (that's right my kid still got Honor Roll with B's & C's *rolls eyes*) I saw most of her class get awards (teacher said these kids were C students and their getting awards?!?) I'm still in shock at how crappy this school was. I enrolled my child at Benjamin Franklin and she is now back to working hard, getting A's and is her happy self again. Parents: If you want more than a bleak future for your kids take them to a better school than CCR!!!
—Submitted by a parent

These parents who think they will get a better education going to Chandler schools or other districts are nuts. You are going to find the same problems there that you find at Circle Cross. Be supportive and volunteer, get involved to help make the school better. The only way to get better is the community stepping in helping out. I would choose Circle Cross Ranch over any school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am disappointed in the school and district as a whole. My daughter is an excelling student who is ignored because her teacher has to deal with disruptive students. The school has low expectations and teachers have to dummy down the curriculum. The district is too busy buying new computer programs to help students instead of giving the teachers the administrative support to work with ALL learners. My child sits at her desk and does worksheets while the other lower students work 1 on 1 with the teacher. I have personally observed this on several occasions. My child is being left behind because other children are behind.
—Submitted by a parent

FUSD went through some growing pains a few years ago with the housing boom which explains some of the previous comments that have been posted. They have since built new schools and, though some schools are still very new, the district is doing a great job. We have been very happy with Circle Cross Ranch. Our son has excelled in all areas and has many wonderful teachers who have gone above and beyond to ensure that he is successful in everything he does. The clubs and extracurricular activities are great as well. The school has great communication with parents including paper notices, e-mails, and automated phone calls. Great school all around!
—Submitted by a parent

I'm very disappointed with this school and administration. The teachers are overworked and students who disrupt the classroom are not dealt with at all. My daughters class has these kids in it and after 7 months they still cause disruption and nothing happens to them except lunch detention. It's not fair to the kids who have to deal with this everyday and lose learning time. We are going back to chandler where the teachers are happy and students are not allowed to take learning away from others and where they are not over tested.
—Submitted by a parent

CCR is great! Some people below said that grades have gone down but that is due to the high expectations that they are held to. Kids also don't make the honor roll for poor grades. They need at least an 80% average to make the lowest level. Those parents would know that if they attended an awards assembly. I will alwyas keep my kids here. Great school!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

We love CCR!!!! It is a great school. We love the teachers and staff. The school works hard and pushes the kids to succeed. I think parents who rated the school low are not used to havingteachers who care and hold students to high expectations
—Submitted by a parent

my son started in kindergarten after a terrrible experience with a preschool teacher which left him not trusting his teacher by not intertacting or speaking in class. he had a wonderful teacher at ccr and he has come out of his shell. the teachers that i have been in contact with communicate well with my husband and i. if i send and email to the teacher i get a prompt response. i am very glad i put my son in this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I felt sorry for my kids (k and 6th grade) they both loved this school specially the teachers and the front desk staff but we had to moved I hope another students and parents enjoy the same experience, we'll misssssss you.
—Submitted by a parent

I like this School very much, The teachers are great and my kids are doing very well, This is the 3rd school they moved my kids to.And about the communication i haven't had problem. But this school is still new and its not like its been there for 5 yrs, it takes time to get things together, The only thing I wish they can do is put more speed limits on the roads, sad to see the same parents taking there kids to school, are the same ones driving fast when kids are walking across the streets.Seems most of them don't know how to stop for them.
—Submitted by a parent

This school does not comunicate well with parents. My son got his very first award and we were not able to be their and see him get it along with the other parents cause some home the letter they mailed us never go to our house. I have to find things out from other parents.Sometimes they don't even know. But it they are trying to get you to donate money to the schools you will get tons of letters each day leading up to the day of. They are for getting how improtant an awards is to kids and parents. I hope they get it together. The rest of this year will be the test to see if my son will be back or not.
—Submitted by a parent

I haven't been impressed by anything this school has had to offer in regards to curriculum or communication. I've never seen mediocrity celebrated to the degree this school has demonstrated. Why have an assembly for honor roll when they give out certificates to everyone who had c's. They reward students who get green stamps week after week by asking parents to pay for the special activity then make the children make up the work they missed during the participation. Who does that!?!??! My son will be attending a new school as soon as possible.
—Submitted by a parent

The administration in this school is very poor, and communications to parents is horrible. I have two children in this school and we are on our second year I gave the school the benefit of the doubt because they were just starting out, but I was wrong. And the fact that they have k-8th graders and two schools crammed into one just erks me. The prinicpal has always been a high school principal and wants to set his policies with little children like they are in high school . The whole school policy is just ridiculous. We love queen creek and have lived out here for 5 years but hate the florence school district, so we will be moving to Gilbert and enrolling our children in a better established district.
—Submitted by a parent

The administration is wonderful. They noticed my 12 year old daughter was having problems just functioning on a daily bases and suggested I have her tested. She was diagnosed with OCD. Looking back the signs were always there. Her previous school never picked up on it. But it was the first thing this school noticed. Thank goodness! They have been supportive and extremely helpful with her condition.
—Submitted by a parent