Desert Mountain High School

I am a student in the IB Program and I couldn't love this school more. IB is challenging but you get to meet great people and learn to love the teachers! Join the DMHS IB Program! It's amazing!!!
—Submitted by a student

I'm currently in my senior year, and I still haven't discovered why high school is "the best time of my life". There is a BIG problem with substance abuse, but the school sweeps it under the rug. I can count on one hand how many teachers that I've liked and learned from. But I've had quite a lot of classes where the teachers just couldn't control the class! The administration is not very helpful at all. As a senior going off to college next year, I would appreciate it if I was treated like an adult. But I get the complete opposite--a five year old going to kindergarten for the first time. As for the students... I'm just happy to say that I found my friends without having to mingle with them. The majority of the students need to step out of Scottsdale for one day and experience life!
—Submitted by a student

We pulled our son out of DMHS mid-year because of poor choices he was making. The problem was that hundreds of students there were doing the same thing! DMHS seemed to lack the necessary controls to monitor the substance abuse problem, the inappropriate displays of affection, the dress code violations, and disrespectful students. The Counseling Dept. let us down when we most needed guidance. When I tried contacting all his teachers, only one cared enough to reply. I applaud the DMHS IB program (our younger son chooses this path), but if your son/daughter struggles with motivation and is more of a "hands on learner," they will suffer at DMHS. We've chosen to go out-of-district with son #2. He's in honors and AP classes and loves it. Whatever substance problem they have at his school is minor in comparison to DMHS. Good luck going there. You will need it.
—Submitted by a parent

I was a student at desert mountain until my junior year when my family moved to colorado. The education was a joke. The administration had no control of the overprivileged students that ran the school. I Spent probably half my classes with my head phones in my ears so i didn't have to listen to the bickering that was occurring between the students and the teachers. The school was run by politics and the teachers were too scared to do anything for fear the wrath of parents would come down on the. I experienced many drug deals and sexual activities in plain sight with no actions being taken to stop it. Fights occurred regularly as well. It seems like an A+ school but that is just because it is so easy to get an A.
—Submitted by a student

We have moved here from out of state- so I have a junior and freshman this year. Freshman seems to be doing fine since she is in pre-IB program. Hard cirriculum and she likes her classes. My Junior though, is struggling with the mean girls aspect of the class and it seems that the 13+girls that run the school are quite vicious. My daughter loved high school till she came here and now cant wait to get out. The teachers so far have been ok and genuinly seem surprised that I would reach out to them to introduce myself and involve myself with my kids education. On the other hand the junior counselor is un approachable, mean and seems to not like the kids or job very much- to date has been completely un helpful. DMHS is the school of mean girls......
—Submitted by a parent

Impressive!! The staff and teachers at the school are top notch and very supportive. Sure, you will always find a teacher you're not pleased with, just as you will anywhere in life, but this school has a remarkably high number of fantastic, dedicated teachers!
—Submitted by a parent

This school and the very dedicated teachers help the students reach their potenial.
—Submitted by a parent

I went to desert mountain and yes, was part of the IB program. IB was where the students who went to the top tier universities came from and its obvious why. I was so prepared for my university, which is top tier, even more prepared than some of my peers here who did AP at their high schools and were top of their class. IB just fosters an environment of intellectual stimulation, and yes pulls the best teachers for an obvious reason - its got the best students who are eager and ready to learn. I can't say much about the non-IB courses. However, extracurricular at GW were great. the arts - from drama to music to visual arts were at least while I was there top notch. People who put down DMHS are those who don't put forth the effort to get everything they can out of the school.
—Submitted by a student

A+++ school. Desert Mountain is a nationally ranked school. They have fabulous teachers for all students. The students are very nice and respectful.
—Submitted by a parent

It is the worst school. My first day of teaching the teachers told me I could not be creative, I had to teach exactly what and how they taught and I was required to submit lesson plans to them in advance so they could approve.
—Submitted by a teacher

This is a school where you have the opportunity to choose your path. The students who want to succeed in life will take the responsibility and learn and the students who don't care will blow off their classes and teachers. Really, it's not about the quality of the school at all, it's about the quality of the students and the community and Desert Mountain has all different varieties. However, as a former student, I will say that many kids think that just because their parents have loads of money that they can do nothing and money will magically appear. Perhaps instead of rating how well a school is preparing kids for life, we should look at parents to start taking some responsibility. A teacher is there to teach their curriculumn to the best of their ability, but they can't teach all students about motivation, success, hard work, determination, etc...
—Submitted by a student

I'm a senior this year at DMHS- in the IB program... Some teachers are awful, and some are fantastic... IB is extremely difficult, but worth it if you are willing to work hard for a great academic environment. IB attracts kids who are truly passionate about learning... Kids outside of IB are generally pretty snobby, and non-IB teachers tend to be subpar. The adminstration can often be disorganized as well... The school isn't great, but it isn't awful either... Just make smart decisions as to which classes/teachers you choose.
—Submitted by a student

I'm a very happy DMHS parent. My son is a senior this year and is not in IB and I have been very happy with his teachers and the school every year. Before sending my son to any of the schools on the Scottsdale Ranch I made sure it was an area we would be happy living in. Its a wonderful area but not for everyone. To anyone who thinks its snobbish I can only say 'why are you sending your kids to school with people you don't like?' There are so many other good schools in AZ to choose from other than DMHS if you aren't happy with it.
—Submitted by a parent

I just finished my freshman year at DMHS and i thought that it was a terrible school. if it had not been for my close friends i dont know if i would have put up with it for so long. I actually attempted to switch into xavier college prep and unfortunantly, they had no vacancy. i am not an IB student but i did attend some honors programs and they were fine. Although, my average classes were TERRIBLE. the teachers were unexpierienced and unprepared to handle the students and there attitudes. Everyone there is sooo stuck up! And, not just that, they have to show it off. i will not be atending desert mountain next year. that is how terrible it really is.
—Submitted by sarah, a student

I graduated in 2002. I was the first student to receive a national scholarship. I think that my education there was top notch! I was truly prepared for college. I took several IB classes but was not an IB student. I graduated college with a 4.0 at American University. I have lived in 3 other states and now have a daughter of my own and I want to move back to Arizona just so I can send her to DMHS! the education at that school compared to not only other schools in Scottsdale but others across the united states is one of the best. I love DMHS! do wolves!
—Submitted by Jessica, a former student

I came to this school from Horizon High School and I find it very disapointing that the IB program tends to drain all the good teachers. Average students who do not take Honors or AP classes will find they are not prepared for college, nor life. I am not in the IB program and I'm happy I'm not. To me it seems like an overated honors-class substitute. However, I do take all honors/AP classes, but from my experiance IB=not worth it unless you wish to study outside of the country (It's called International for a reason).
—Submitted by a student

I gradeuated in 05' and as a second year student at U of A I will tell you that DMHS and the teachers did not prepare me well enough for college.
—Submitted by a former student

This is one of the best schools in the state, forget about the city. The teachers are well-informed and the students are goal-oriented with a bright future.The pre-IB program is excellent, hard but well worth it. Keep it up DMHS.
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated from DMHS in 2003. I was enrolled in the IB program my junior year, but opted to take AP classes senior year instead. I am so thankful I took the most rigorous courses I could- I can trace my reading comprehension, analytical, and my writing skills to these challenging classes. The non-honors courses I took (mostly electives) were much, much less demanding and would not have prepared me nearly as well for a top university, nor for the writing and analytical demands of the professional workplace.
—Submitted by a former student

I just graduated from DMHS and I can say that I can not imagine going to school anywhere else. Yes, I was in the IB program so I had an intellectual environment, but besides academics, the school excelled in the arts, especially drama, whose shows I was always eager to attend, although the sports were mediocre, the spirit was incredible. I'm jealous that I'm missing homecoming. Extracurriculars were hit or miss, but you could create and find what you wanted. I found most parents to be pretty involved, especially with things like project grad. I am so happy i attended this school, i will always fondly look back to my time at DM. go wolves!
—Submitted by a former student