Copper Ridge Elementary School

My child has been at this school for 5 years and it's rapidly declining. It is true that if you have a full time job, there's no way to attend PTO meetings or other meetings. This school is in an affluent area and it caters to parents with the most money. If you donate $10k you can have your own parking space. If you donate a lot of money you can drive through crosswalks, cut the front of the parent pick up line and hold up the line. This school encourages entitlement. My child is in the gifted program and now we find out they are cutting the program in half. We are now looking at Basis School and many other parents are leaving as well.
—Submitted by a parent

PTA is a joke unless you don't have a full time job...The principal is greatly lacking in common sense and just plain getting along with others. My son has gone here for 4 years now and it's greatly declining. You can get your own parking space if you donate lots of money which also means if you go to pick up your sick child don't expect to get a close parking spot anywhere near the front door. So far we haven't had a teacher with any experience. They've all been right out of college. The classrooms are messy and disorganized. I don't see how they function. Fall festival is a joke as well. Parents with money are definitly treated differently here. Very Clickish$$$ No sense of community. Unfortunately school is a mediation settlement.
—Submitted by a parent

This school does not in any way feel like a community. The children run down the halls nosiy and disorderly. Teachers are yelling for them to quiet down and behave. In the classrooms the children are disrepectful to adults and to each other. The lunch room and playground are bully central. The teachers are not available to help as they are afraid of parents. Even though the children wear uniforms the materialistic objects are there full force. I phones in kindergarten and designer everything else all the time. Not the enviroment we want our children growing up in. We will be switching schools this year.
—Submitted by a parent

Pros: The bus and hot lunch program is convenient. Because the school is large, there is a decent amount of diversity (for Scottsdale). The library is a nice size. Cons: The teachers are unavailable to parents. There is very little differentiation btw students (meaning the teachers teach to lowest common denominator and leave the rest to fend for themselves); there are way too many students (almost 1200); someone is constantly asking for money or donations; academic standards are low; student bullying is a problem. Overall, I have not been impressed with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Overall this year has been fantastic!! My child is thriving and doing great so far. My only complaint is the pest problem..... Scorpions, fire ants and black widows have all been seen in my sons classroom and the surrounding outdoor areas.... With all the money that's in the area and there for extras that the parents donate, surely they could hire better pest control. One other issues I have is the back parking lot ... Watch your children.. Some of the parent are glued to their phones while dropping kids off and one of these days a child is going to get hit.... They either cannot read the NO CELLPHONE ZONE signs, or they don't think that are children's lives are worth anything.....
—Submitted by a parent

With all the changes this year... the school has not improved. The school year will be long!
—Submitted by a parent

Why punish a child with more of the same homework (worksheets) because they can finish their homework on the ride home? That's what the teacher did at this school. Schools use the phrase "differentiation in the classroom" in this school it meant, "you can't donate or you won't further my career", therefore, you do not really count. Oh and this is despite the fact that we were regular volunteers. At a restaurant fundraiser, we were in line and were ignored by the PTO for the family behind us until we called their attention to the fact. The response we got? "Oh, you people go to Copper Ridge?" You'd better believe, we do not go to Copper Ridge anymore. The hassle of driving our Honda to and from our child's new school is totally worth it. The excitement to go back to school everyday says it all. Maybe there are staff, teachers and parents who do not share this mentality, unfortunately, we never met any of them in the whole year we were there.
—Submitted by a parent

Love the uniform policy! The parents are extremely interested in the well being of all the children from K through 8th. The security programs in place are impressive for a public school. Our teachers have been great over the last few years. I would recommend this school to any family that partakes in the public school system.
—Submitted by a parent

Not impressed with this school so far. There is very very little communication between the school and parents. Teachers hide out in their classrooms and are not available after school. You can try to send them emails - but don't hold your breathe for a response. The school is huge and students are easily lost in the chaos. However, if you have the ability to join the PTO at the highest levels and to donate significant items to the classroom - you will probably be okay y here.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the parents about principle and the overall actions the school takes without consulting the parents and thinking about the kids. I have to say the tearches that my kids have had so far have been great. I think the school needs a change. The change needs to happen at upper level and re look at maybe getting a new principle. A principle that cares for the kids, a person that looks approachable. I have my kid in copper ridge only cause of the teachers they are wonderful and very approachable unlike the principle.
—Submitted by a parent

Copper Ridge has made an undermining decision to put up a Sprint cellular phone tower 20 ft. from the school building without notifying parents or teachers. On May 31, 2011 the World Health Organization determined cell towers a carcinogen, just like lead. Copper Ridge school officials signed the contract with Sprint on June 14, 2011 with full knowledge they would be placing a carcinogen on campus with our children.
—Submitted by a parent

Great experience and learning environment. Teachers are top notch and committed to our childrens education.
—Submitted by a parent

Our children have had really nice teachers. Unfortunately the grammar from some of the teachers is appalling. Letters come home to parents with grammar mistakes and I find this shocking. The principal is not warm. You can pass her by and she will not smile or say, "hello". The teacher to student ratio is terrible. The teachers are a bit overwhelmed. We pulled out of this school and have had incredible success with another school. The teacher greets parents with a warm smile and the teachers/student raio is 1 adult per 10 children. The PTA last year was a complete joke and run by a bunch of morons. I've never seen such a lack of professionals in my life. I hope for the sake of the school, the parents and children that this year has new PTA leaders. Expect a fashion parade of children and worse, the parents. Tons of moms trying to outdo each other with their plastic surgery and fake handbags.
—Submitted by a parent

If you have a lot of money and are either a very well educated Doctor or another acceptable, one with money, in the schools eyes you are great. If you do not have the needed money in order to establish importance to the administration, please do not have your child attend this school. Without designer clothes, trips and handbags, your child will become a recluse. Even if you have a severe problem, email the counselor and the principle, do not expect to get an answer unless you are with designer clothes, handbags, or cars, or anything else that resembles money.
—Submitted by a parent

My 3 kids went to this school because we lived near by, we pulled them out. The principal cares more about self promotion than anything else, most of the teachers are mediocre and the parents are very clicky and with a very flashy/new money show off attitude. My youngest daughter has a learning disability that was poorly tested and carelessly addressed. A couple of teachers were verbally abusive to the kids, the school put no pressure on the school bus company to pull the tapes after a severe fight was reported to them, etc. Overall, a very poorly managed school with a very high teacher tunrover and a self promoting principal. Run away from Copper Ridge, try Cheyenne which has a strong well regarded principal and a slightly better staff.
—Submitted by a parent

We are finishing up the pre-k year in Mrs. Torrilhon's room. I observed many pre-k classes before settling on this one, and I feel so unbelieveably lucky that my son had such a wonderful school experience. In the morning, he runs to class. We had tried a worksheet based private school before copper ridge, and my son was miserable. Not the way I wanted to start his school experience. Even though we are out of district, we are going to continue here, I am really happy that he is loving school. After reading 'Nurture Shock' I believe that Copper Ridge is really on the cutting edge of Early Childhood education, and specifically Mrs. Torrilhon really knows her stuff. I would recommend this school to anyone.
—Submitted by a parent

We went to this school for several years. We found the focus to be about everthing but the academics...too much emphasis on parties and teachers gifts. The kids are also poorly behaved and the school lacks a proper discipline program. Would skip this school if you can!
—Submitted by a parent

We have been very pleased with Copper Ridge. The Administration are top notch and very approachable. Both of our children are thriving and doing very well.
—Submitted by a parent

This is one of the worst schools in the system. Change of principals, inability to recruit mature experienced teachers, lack of discipline etc. etc. This school rates 0 stars.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children at Copper Ridge (2nd and 5th). We are very happy with the school. In my experience, the school has addressed my kids' needs well, even though one of my kids excels and the other finds school a bit more challenging. The Principal and Assistant Principals are terrific. The teachers range from very good to exceptional, and there is a lot of parent involvement. After school activities could be a bit stronger. Good reading emphasis. Math skills (math facts) could be emphasized a bit more, but math curriculum is generally good. Writing could be emphasized more. Very good parent/teacher communication. Unfortunately, no foreign language is offered until middle school years. Nonetheless, I would recommend this school to anyone.
—Submitted by a parent