Anza Trail

My kids have been at Anza Trail now for 4 years. I have experienced the range from kindergarden thru middle school with them. The school as a whole is very good. There will always be little things that could use some improving. If you are a parent on top of your child's education stay involved with knowing their teacher. There some great, wonderful teachers and some not so good. Get to know them.Visit the class for the day. See the routine. Even with having a large amount of kids they do a good job with coordinating everything. The only major improvement could be at lunch time. Always extremely loud and not enough organization and help. Needs to take note from some other schools that handle it way better. It can be done better Anza. Also for improvement could be the small playgrond for k-2. Has some dangerous spots.Will be getting a new principal next year so hoping there is a smooth transition without to many changes. Kids could always be challenged a bit more. But they are excited to go to school every morning and overall ready to excell at the next level every year. Keep hiring great teachers that love to teach and love kids and it will be great!
—Submitted by a parent

Anza trail is a very great school. Mrs. Bennett is a very great language arts teacher. This school has very good teachers and a great campus. But, the things I would change (as a student) would be the lunches(very unhealthy and not very good tasting) and the dances.

This is the best school, both my daughters have attended and loved the teachers and staff. They excelled in academics, I would refer this school to anyone who is looking for a great school K-8.
—Submitted by a parent

This is now going to be the second year for my daughter at Anza Trail, I'm disappointed in what people say about this school, I believe its great. The parking is small yes, set up is questionable, but that has nothing to do with the staff. Ruby is at the front desk she has always been as helpful as she can be very knowledgeable. They have dinner nights, book nights, movie nights and your child is awarded for their behavior, attendance and many other things. (Mrs. Hoffman was an amazing kinder teacher She left for the Bulldogs.) I'll admit to the kids not being challenged enough with homework; I do expect more math, reading, cutting and pasting. This is over all a get school the parent pick up is very helpful, the girl s remember you after awhile and the principle Mr. Bonar is very involved with the students. People expect a work place to be pure but no work place is up to everybody s expectations. About the gossip I have not ever had to be involved in it and this is the first I ve heard. She is now in first grade with Mrs. Doran see how this year goes, touch base later.
—Submitted by a parent

The School is getting much better, but has a ways to go! The new Pricipal is great and has made a significant difference in making everything better, with the most important thing being he is making teachers, actually do their jobs and making them accountable. He is alos making the students accountable, and has implemented "finals"....he understands the importance of our kids retaining the knowledge they were taught. Many of the teachers have no clue, nor do they express interesting in doing the extra stuff to help children with special needs. They arte still teaching to the test or the AIMS way too much, but we are hopeful this will change next year.
—Submitted by a parent

We will be moving to the Anza Trail area. I have heard nothing but negative feedback from people that have had their children at this school. We are moving to rancho sahuarita because of the families and the area however what good does this do if my child has a big chance at being unhappy at this school. Just so worried.

I truly believe that the students are NOT the main concern of many of on the school staff at Anza. Of course, there are individually concerned and great teachers, but unfortunately that is not the norm( at least in the middle school). On the whole, school leadership and teaching staff are substandard.
—Submitted by a parent

I have seen a huge improvement from last year! At least based on the lower grade level teachers and staff, the teacher's and staff are very nice. Communication has improved, I always see the principal around, and the morning staff is always friendly. I feel very comfortable to send my daughter to school here.
—Submitted by a parent

Anza was by far the worst school I have experienced. The staff and administration are very unprofessional, there is a serious problem with gossip and drama between the teachers and staff and the parents. The teachers gossip publicly about parents and students. I even worked there so I could feel better about sending my children there; that just made it worse. I got to really see what was happening in the classrooms. The students are of no concern to most of the staff and teachers. The kids are aware of some really concerning behavior that goes on between some of the teachers, administration, and staff. DO NOT send your kids here. So incredibly disappointing.
—Submitted by a parent

My kids have been enrolled in this school since last year. We came at a time when the school was trying to make allot of changes for the better. Lucky for us, we have seen the positive changes and are very pleased that we stuck around. The teachers in this school are so caring and concerned for my children. I know that with time this school is going to be exceptional and im so excited that my kids will be apart of this! Thank you Anza trail for all the great changes! :)
—Submitted by a parent

My son just started this year and he loves it his teacher is very nice and really cares about her students and the new principle is so friendly he attends the PTO meetings and really wants to hear from parents about their concerns and idea's he's not in his office all the time like some principles, you'll find him in the halls, helping children into their parents cars after school. I'm really impressed he's very approachable and caring. So far I think Anza is a great school thats only going to get better!!!
—Submitted by a parent

This is by far the worst school my kids have gone to. They have more drama going on with the teachers and the staff then anything. I'm very happy they are getting rid of the old principal, but now we do not feel like we can trust anyone there. The teachers all have problems with lieing to the parents and their spl.ed is by far just horriable. My son has Autism and they did not know how to help or teach him in the least bit. I will have to say that they do let you get involed in all their activites witch I liked very much but that does not make up for all the other bad things here. They have a very big issue with bullies and never do anything about it.
—Submitted by a parent

Horrible curriculum....the middle school teachers don't even have a syllabus for the semester and admittedly they TEACH TO THE TEST. All my children have are worksheets. It is very low quality education for our children. All they care about is test scores to receive state and federal funding. Horrible in EVERY WAY!
—Submitted by a parent

Love the teachers but most of the other staff is uneducated and very unhelpful. Parking is HORRIBLE. You would think that the parking issue would have been resolved YEARS ago but it still lacks organization. Half the time you have to park on property that is owned by a homebuilder which is "private property" but the school utilizes it as it's extended parking lot. Pulling your children out of school takes well over 20 minutes so plan for extra time if you have an appointment to make. The principal seems to be out-of-touch with parents and whenever you do have to communicate with her it's very cold and seems like she could not be bothered with your issues. I'm glad in May my children will be done with this school!
—Submitted by a parent

They are awesome, that is all I have to say, everytime I have a problem with my children, they are quick to help out. Way to go Staff!
—Submitted by a parent

I used to go to the school but I hated it the lunches were horrible the acidemics were horrible so I was bored all day so I begged my parents to leave and now i'm going to Tucson for school 1000 times better

Bad curriculum I was there for 3 years I was so bored in class the classes over crowded boring dress code and horrible lunches the only okay thing was new area and nothing better than that
—Submitted by a student

I have worked IT for decades (in school districts) and this school (Anza) is one of the best I have ever seen...not necessarily their IT department, but because of the care, education and safety they show to their student population. Not only is the school high in academic rating (Excelling) but the students who migrate from Anza to high school are statisically higher performing and better adjusted. Their athletic, math and overall academic department has already surpassed the other in-district middle school. Which is attributed not only to a qualified and modern staff but is managed by a nationally recognized principal who is both fair and balanced..

The school is alright...I don't have much to compare it to, other than my own school as a child! It has had a lot of growing pains, some have been worked out and others continue to need attention. The school could definitely use more parent involvement and financial help (and the school should accept parents offers to do so). There are some great teachers, that really care about the students. I have looked into taking my child to another school, but overall I feel he is getting a good balance of academics and discipline.
—Submitted by a parent

My child attends this school currently. The parking lot is too small and has an unorganized student pick up location.
—Submitted by a parent