Kyrene del Norte School

This school is going down...Most of the experienced teachers are retired or left the school. Managing with new teachers...For some of the teachers...it is the first time to face real students!
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school. Mr. Fallgatter is an awesome principal. The teachers at this school really care about the kids and their education. My oldest went to school here 6 years ago and now my youngest children go here. There are many opportunities for parents to get involved (even if youw ork outside the home) and the communication from this school is excellent.
—Submitted by a parent

My son went to the Montessori for the Pre-K and I liked the small school environment and care. I am satisfied with the teachers attention/discipline.
—Submitted by a parent

Hmmmm..... I found the reviews on these pages difficult to agree with. I'm now a 7th grader and when I went to KDN in third grade and I thought most of the kids were very nice but I did have a bulleying issue and addressed it and it was not taken care of. The cafeteria food was horrible. And the school wasn't very welcoming for new kids, i found it difficult to make friends.
—Submitted by a former student

I have to say that this is probably the only scool district that I would let my childen attend. My daughter started there in Kindergarten and she is now in 2nd grade. My son will be starting the Pre-k Class. I moved to Gilbert in the Middle of my daughters school year debating if i should move her schools. I checked the reviews and what parents had to say about the gilbert scholl that I would have put her in. Wow I am glad I didn't change. It is so worth the drive to keep my daughter in a school that I know she can advance in. Thank You to all the teachers at Del Norte!
—Submitted by a parent

Kyrene del Norte is a rare find among schools. As an educator and parent, finding the right school for my child was important. Sometimes even challenging since my expectations were higher than most. My daughter was in the Montessori program in Preschool and now in All Day Kindergarten. Since day one, the staff, teachers, administrators have been supportive and caring. The small school environment is great since the school does not include middle school. The students are truly receiving the best of instruction and attention. My child liked everything about her first year experience that we drive from the far east valley daily for her to continue her education at Kyrene Del Norte. The commitment of the school to their students is genuine. I highly recommend this school to any parent.
—Submitted by a parent

Kyrene del norte has been the best experience, the teachers are well educated and parent envolvement is always welcome. If I could keep my kids in this school I would.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school, small commmunity feel to the staff and parents, highly recommend.
—Submitted by a parent

This review is on the Kyrene Montessori Pre-k through K program. The program provides a teacher and an aide in a class with up to 25 kids. The kids range in age from 3 to five (pre-k through k). The instruction is good. My daughter has learned much in her pre-k class. The teachers seem very knowledgeable and keep excellent control of the classroom. The teachers have both montessori and AZ teacher certification. Once a week they have music and PE. They also do art projects regularly, but I don't believe there is a separate art teacher. If your child is in the half day program, he/she might miss PE or Art. Additionally, if your child chooses to nap after lunch, he/she might miss the PE or art program. Spanish isn't part of the curriculum and is taught only if the teacher or a volunteer is familar with it.
—Submitted by a parent

The montessori program is wonderful. I highly recommend it.
—Submitted by a parent

When my daughter was entering kindergarden we researched several schools. We chose Norte because of it's MAG (multi age group) program that combines 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades. She is in the third grade now, and has flourished in the MAG environment. She has been allowed to progress at her own pace and has consistently worked above grade level since entering the program. I am hopeful that program will be expanded to include the 4th and 5th grades as well. The teaching staff is experienced and caring. Classrooms are well disciplined for the most part. We are also pleased with the music, art and PE programs. The music teacher in particular seems to excel in teaching basic music theory in a fun way. There is some degree of parental involvement but not nearly enough. Dedicated volunteers still manage to sponsor various outreach events throughout the year. Teachers still need more help in the classroom.
—Submitted by Tisha Crisler, a parent

Kyrene Del Norte has been an excellent place for my child to attend. The teachers are very committed to the curriculum, which is flexible according to each child's needs. Their 'Zero Tolerance for Bullying' program is totally backed up by all staff, as is their 'Character Counts' program, which offers rewards for behaviors such as honesty, courtesy, being a good example, respect and responsibility. My son is excelling in this academic environment.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has been wonderful for my children. One of my daughter's who has ADHD and two forms of Anxiety disorders has excelled in this school. My older daughter has been involved in many of the school's extra activities and learned alot from them. One of the best has been the Buddy Program. She got to be friends and help out other children in the school with disabilities make friends and get to where they need to be.
—Submitted by Michelle Bartlett, a parent

Del Norte was the first school to launch a Montessori program in the whole Kyrene district for 3-5 years old children. It's a great program to start your kids with.
—Submitted by a parent

Kyrene del Norte has been a great choice for my two kids. Most of the teachers there are good and very in tune with what each child needs. There is a good mix of cultures and lifestyles represented at Norte, which is a plus in this case. The new principal has been well received by the students and parents, and the Character Counts program has been well received by the kids. The parent-teacher organization has a handful of dedicated parents and teachers running the show, but could use more support, both financially and practically. Their Buddy Club is a big hit and has lots of student participation.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended this school from the 1st grade through 5th grade. The teachers and staff, with the exception of one teacher that proved a poor 'fit' (which can happen in any school), were really wonderful. She was placed in reading and math classes that challenged without overwhelming her (or - what would have been worse - boring her). Her teachers seemed to have the correct amount of push and support/help to keep her motivated and learning. The principal was new this year and has made a good start. Buddy Club is awesome.
—Submitted by a parent

The quality of the Montessori preschool is exceptional! The students are actively engaged, enthusiastic about attending each day, and show remarkable learning and progress. My student is able to attend music, P.E., and library weekly as well. He loves all of his teachers and they are very patient and kind to their youngest students. Parents are welcome in the classroom to observe, work in small groups, and help with special projects. This has been a wonderful educational experience for all of us!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is on average I'd give it a 3.5 on a scale of 1-5. The old principle just retired so i don't really know much any more. As you know the education in arizona is second or third to lowest. One teacher has a hearing problem, and for bullying no one really cares.
—Submitted by Uni, a former student

This is a great school. I have 3 kids in this school and they LOVE IT!! The staff and teachers are friendly and the school is so well organized. They have some awesome teachers that really care about how well your children are growing.
—Submitted by JoLin Bailey, a parent

This is a remarkable school with qualified and caring teachers and staff. My kindergartner has excelled beyond expectations in just 4 mos at this school. The environment is child and parent friendly and my child loves it very much.
—Submitted by a parent