Richard B Wilson Jr School

Lots of parental involvement. However, administrators lack communication skills, empathy, fairness. They love the parents that are always there but the working parents are treated like they are absent parents and their kids are troubled. Too quick to judge. Also, majority students anglo, lots of discrimination at the junior high level within students, lots of weed, too many latch key kids with money and too much alone time!
—Submitted by a parent

I took my daughters out of a private school which cost me $24K a year for both and enrolled them at Wilson 5 years ago and could not be happier. The teachers are great, the administration is wonderful, and it has one of the highest parent participation rates in the country. I have yet to have a single bad teacher and feel that any concerns I have ever had are quickly dealt with in a professional manner. The curriculum is more than appropriate and both of my daughters who due to birthdays are actually a year younger than their classmates have tested at exceeds standards in all areas. I feel the test scores are due in a large part to the excellent staff at Wilson. Had I not lived near the school I would have opted to keep my children in a private school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has the worst communication skills with parents and prospective parents. Administration shows area bias when open enrolling. I was told that since I live in Eagle Crest my child would not be a good "fit" there and to try Coronado. I simply wanted to put my child in a school where he had friends. So fair warning if you come from Catalina area those at Wilson k-8 think you are trash and should not attend

This is a awesome school I have gone here 1 and a half years and it is wonderful

Not so impressed. We moved from out of state and my kids were in all advanced classes and getting them put in the correct classes here was more than a hassle. They tested them and agreed where they needed to be but the communication between staff and departments is lacking. My 8th grader's schedule had to be sent back 3 times to get corrected. The office staff is not friendly or helpful and acts annoyed if you ask any questions. They charge for full day kindergarten (i guess typical for AZ) but if you choose to go with half day instead then your child misses out on Art, PE, Music, Library and Computer. If you end up going to this school just make sure you are a pro-active parent and skip all the middle men by going directly to the principle Mr. Hannah as that is the only way anything will get taken care of.
—Submitted by a parent

I attended Wilson as a 7-8 grader and returned later in life as a student teacher and then a teacher for a year. Grat experience from both perspectives and can't wait to get back there to teach in the future!
—Submitted by a teacher

Great school, great teachers, make this a wonderful school to transition to high school. I can't think of any aspect to even be critical of in my evaluation. We are proud that our children attend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is excellent! I am in the 8th grade and I have been going here my whole life! The teachers and the education is great!
—Submitted by a student

I am an 8th grader at Wilson K-8 and it is an excellent school. The 3 years I have spent at Wilson have been both fun and educational. The school offers many extracurricular activities and takes a considerable amount of field trips. The school's show choir is amazing and has been my highlight at Wilson K-8. The honors classes are also great. I only have a few complaints about Wilson... First would be the teaching-style of a few teachers. Some teachers don't explain much and leave a ton of extra research to be done in the library and outside of school. There is also no time to go to the library and computer lab and the rules can be extremely strict at times. Overall, Wilson has been a positive experience and deserves a 4/5 rating.
—Submitted by a student

I have had four children attend Wilson and find it to be an overall excellent experience. The office staff is friendly and courteous and try to put the students at ease at all times. The teaching staff is of the highest quality. The administration is great and care about the well being of the students.
—Submitted by a parent

I sent my children here and they love it they say that this is the best school, there teachers are very nice, all the acttivities here are creative, and the parents are pretty much involved in everything.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter and son both attended Wilson. Although there is heavy parental involvement, many kids are treated like just another number if their parents can't be as involved. Certain teachers are allowed to treat children badly with principal approval. My son had his self esteem crushed here by a teacher who told him he was worthless and a principal labeling him as a bad kid because he got beat up on the bus.
—Submitted by a parent

Everyone is fabulous here. The teachers are wonderful, the parents are so involved. My kids love it here!
—Submitted by a parent

Everyone is so friendly here! Great kids, great office staff, great teachers! A bit of a culture shock from the last amphi school where everyone was so critical and cliquish there was never anyone to talk to there. Best move we ever make
—Submitted by a parent

I attend Wilson School. I originally started in kindergarten, and am now in my nineth year there. Parents are very involved, especially in the elementary, MOST of the staff is great...especially all of the seventh and eighth grade teachers. [they are amazing]. Our administration at the school is somewhat invoved. Overall, the adults are great, but sometimes the students fall short. Personally, I am in every availible gifted class which can make it hard. While I am ahead of many, in the few classes that are considered 'gifted' the classes can often become boring. Lastly, I have been involved in things student council and NJHS. If possible join! It is deffinitally worth it! I have loved going to Wilson for my elementary and Middle school, and I would deffintally recommend it for students, but after my nine years I am deffinitally ready to move on to highschool.
—Submitted by a student

I am a student at Wilson K-8. I have enjoyed most of my experiences at the school, and highly reccomend it for those new to the area. The teachers are fantastic and the grounds are amazing! We are very good at athletics too!
—Submitted by a student

Wilson school offers the best teachers and office staff to work with your child/children and the parents. I don't have any negative thoughts for Wilson School.
—Submitted by Larry Newman, a parent

Overall, Wilson K-8 has been a positive experience for my child. The quality and enthusiam of the teachers is outstanding. My son, especially liked the teachers who treated him as a 'young adult' (rather than an immature kid)and appreciated his intellecual side and sense of humor. He was blessed to have teachers who demanded his best work and pushed him to succeed in various subjects. These instuctors inspired him to think with and open mind and to consider teaching as an adult. Thank you, Wilson
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter came here from a highly rated elementary school in california. It was in march of 2004. We found that she was significantly behind the children at wilson. She went to summer school after the fourth grade and again after the fifth grade. She is catching up but it has been a real struggle. The teachers at wilson have consistently taught the core basic subjects necessary for a child to learn. Reading, spelling, math etc. We are very pleased with all phases of the education our daughter is receiving at wilson. Keep up the good work!
—Submitted by a parent

I think some of the teachers are a somewhat to traditional in that too many worksheets are used. I would prefer more real world experiences by having the children doing...researching....experimenting. In fifth grade my child was bored. The gifted program is not very organized and creative. Two of my children have a great teachers....so I think a successful school year would be based on which teacher the childen would get.
—Submitted by a parent