Rover Elementary School

This school is an amazing and great community school. The teachers, principal and staff are excellent when it comes to the education and emotional growth of all students. I have been a parent at Rover for 5 years and I can't think of one negative thing to say about the school. 5 stars for sure!
—Submitted by a parent

Our son attended Rover Elementary last year for kindergarten. He was only four years old at the start of the year, so he had to test in. We were so blessed to have Mrs. Gilbert as his first teacher! All of the kindergarten teachers are wonderful, as is the librarian. The school offers wonderful programs such as Fame and Young Rembrandts. I fully recommend this school to all parents who desire a complete educational experience for their children!
—Submitted by a parent

Relocated from Wisconsin with an only child. Her first year at Rover and honestly, her teacher is the best! Picking your child up is an absolute nightmare and I do not care for the principal. The principal never introduced himself to me and he had a horrible attitude when I did approach him about an issue. The Wisconsin school system is totally different, I am used to principals who care about the children they oversee and appreciate parent involvement. The staff needs diversity training. I would not recommend this elementary school after my experience.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a sophomore in High School now, and there is not a day I don't miss this wonderful school. I had an amazing 6 years at rover, and it seems like they are doing even better now! They really do make the "whole" child. Wish it was a K-12 school, haven't found any schools that compare.

Excellent school in all aspects, excellent staff, my children improved their grades incredibly, definitely I recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Rover is a wonderful school. The teachers are extremely dedicated. Many teachers have been there seven plus years. Almost every teacher has a Master's degree. They are committed to each student's success and always available to parents. The staff is wonderful. The parents who volunteer, either in the classroom or for the PTA are friendly, committed, dedicated and amazing. There are many programs for students outside of school. They offer band, orchestra, and choir for all 4th and 5th grade students. Overall there is no other school I would send my children to. Rover is more than a school, it is a community dedicated to the success of children.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter and I love this school. We found Rover on the GreatSchools.org website. She completed Kindergarten and she will be going there for first grade this year. We have nothing but great things to say about Rover and the faculty there. The kindergarten program and teachers were phenomenal. The staff not only expect excellence, but they provide the necessary tools to make the children successful in all areas. Mrs. Zimmerman especially was the perfect teacher, she is dedicated and friendly and my daughter was sad to leave Kindergarten for this reason. I would definitely recommend Rover to anyone looking for a school that not only fosters a desire for learning, but also the desire to become a well rounded individual.
—Submitted by a parent

For a school with such a large student body (500 students), the administration has created an excellent environment that gives students personal attention and good support for academic achievement. There is plenty of parental involvement and great extracurricular activities like Girl Scouts. The music program is quite good for an ordinary elementary school (it cannot compare with schools specializing in performing arts). While there are some outstanding teachers, there are also some mediocre ones, due largely to district policies and teacher union contracts. Overall, this is a very good neighborhood school!
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children at Rover and couldn't be happier with the school as a whole. The Staff is wonderful and does whatever is needed to help the children succeed now and in the future. The PTA is FABULOUS!The only thing I can even think of griping about is the small parking lots. However, when parents enroll their children at Rover, they know that this is a drop-off only school (buses are for special needs children only). The resolution (by parents): come early to get a parking space in 1 of the 2 parking lots, or park across the street (there are several cul-de-sacs directly across from the school) and across the street to collect your kids. SUPER EASY! Like I said, this is the only thing I can think of griping about, but I'm not going to. I choose to park and walk to pick up my kids. Overall, my experience with the school has been nothing but WONDERFUL! Each teacher both of my children have had works exceptionally hard to help ALL the kids in their classrooms. WAY TO GO ROVER! KEEP UP THE WONDERFUL WORK!
—Submitted by a parent

Rover Elementary is an excellent school with caring teachers and staff who truly love the children and strive to help every student succeed.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had children at Rover since 2003. This is a wonderful educational community. The experienced teachers know how to bring out the best in any type of learner. They have pushed each of my children to reach their individual potential regardless of standardized testing, no child left behind or classroom performance. The administrative staff knows and has bonded with every child/family on campus. Rover is a family experience, families are very involved in the school and come from a diverse background which leads to a rich and caring educational environment. The school has a history of strong academics and is now emphasizing science and arts education. 4th and 5th graders participate in band, orchestra or choir. We have an annual Art walk that showcases every student's artwork and celebrates all of the arts. Rover is working with ASU to strengthen the arts and science curriculum. There is a school garden and science clubs (science detectives and Lego robotics) to enhance the strong science program. I love that our district has fought to maintain small class sizes, small neighborhood schools, music and provides gifted services to all qualified kids (yes, K-5!).
—Submitted by a parent

Rover has great teachers who care about the whole child. I thought that the rigor at my old school was good, but my son is doing things and learning things that my other children did not get at his age.
—Submitted by a parent

Rover Elementary can be a great school, but unfortunately, many of the parents at Rover are stuck-up and arrogant. This greatly affects the school climate. These parents act entitled and believe rules should be broken for their personal benefit.
—Submitted by a parent

The administration, teachers, and support staff at Rover are exceptional! The PTA is superb at fundraising, and then putting the money to work in the classrooms.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers and principal really care about the quality of the education the students receive.
—Submitted by a parent

Rover has exceeded my expectations in so many ways. The school environment is warm and welcoming. The teachers know each kid's strengths and works to help them on any areas in which they need extra assistance. Principal Martinez is available in person and on email to help solve problems. Parent involvement is strong both in the PTA and in general. Next year the school is becoming an Arts and Science Academy!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is finishing kindergarten at Rover and LOVES this school! There is a solid incorporation of art in learning and the she responds very well. My daughter is reading currently at the first grade level, as are some other class mates and I give the teacher and school a lot of credit for this. Also, the school has a 'no bully' policy that they recite every morning. I think it works, because the kids all seem to support each other.
—Submitted by a parent

I loved Rover for three of the four years that she attended. The last year there was a different principal, and I felt like he wasn't as dedicated as the first one. My child attended from 04 to 08.
—Submitted by a parent

Rover Elementary is a great school! Everyone is so welcoming and generous. I have three kids who have been attending Rover, and have been an involved parent for 5+ years. The teachers that my kids have had and friends children have had go beyond their call of duty. You will be lucky with any teacher you get... my favorites are Mrs. Gilbert, Ms. Foster, Mrs. Hardesty, Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Lutz, Mrs. Wakefield, and Mrs. Cornett!
—Submitted by a parent

My sister as been going to Rover for 5 years now and the focus as changed over the years. They only care about test scores and becoming a A+ school.
—Submitted by Tineille Waggoner, a former student