Khalsa School

We are placing our son in another school this summer. Khalsa is highly overrated
—Submitted by a parent

I am grateful to have such a supportive community of people to be around and work with. Teachers usually get anything they ask for. The children really do come first. I wish that I could have gone here as a student.
—Submitted by a teacher

I was a teacher at this school a few years ago. The school talks all about community and supporting students. Some teachers are good and are able to offer support but some teachers are untrained for the age they teach. I left this school because I wanted a teach at a different Montessori school.
—Submitted by a teacher

My child is still at Khalsa but I'm thinking of switching schools along with many of the other parents. My son has learned little to nothing this school year. My son has a hard time making friends and the teachers have helped very little.
—Submitted by a parent

My son fell far behind academically while at this school. The school either didn't notice or said that it was normal and he would catch up. The administration doesn't listen to parents and makes poor decisions about how to spend funds.
—Submitted by a parent

As a teacher working at Khalsa Montessori School, I feel the administration is supportive, not only professionally, but on a personal level as well. Administration takes the time to listen to my curricular and classroom support needs. My colleagues are caring, certified Montessori teachers and many have masters degrees from respected universities. The campus is beautiful and well taken care of. I am especially excited about the positive changes in the middle school with the new team, and the project based, cross-curricular program that the teachers and administration are successfully implementing. I feel the school is competitive with other Tucson middle school. I also have 2 kids in the school and I feel like their teachers are an extension of my family. They provide a safe and loving environment with high quality developmentally appropriate learning that I feel they would not get in a non-montessori environment.
—Submitted by a teacher

Khalsa School offers many unique programs and services to a diverse population. The teachers are dedicated to offering a high quality academic experience, the administrators are involved with the daily operations of the classrooms and the success of the students, and the extra curricular programs are consistent and first-rate. The administrators, teachers, and support staff truly care about maintaining the highest quality program, and work tirelessly to discover and implement new ways to bring excellence to the school. There is also an active, caring parent community that supports and values the efforts of the school.

My daughter attended this school for many years. I was concerned by the principal reaction to issues many times. She either speaks non-stop at you or smiles while saying angry things. One day she yelled at my daughter and then I took her to a new school. I read that some have been happy with this school but most seem to say it's because of the teachers. I was happy with my daughters teachers until the principal would join in.

The middle school needs work. The administration needs to learn to listen to the input teachers and parents give. The students are compromised by a lack of special services.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school. My children love coming here and are excited to start school again. The school is responsive to parents. Last year a new parent communication process was started and it was really effective. Their commitment to authentic Montessori education is why we chose the school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has a lovely campus and some good, caring teachers. But, extracurricular activities are few, teacher and aide turnover is quite high, communication between teachers, administrators and parents is abysmal. Note that standardized test scores for this school are excellent (and the school has been deemed 'excelling' by the AZ Dept. of Ed.), but that could be in part due to a filtering process: children who do not fit the Montessori mold simply go elsewhere.
—Submitted by a parent

We left the school. Our child was not taught reading or math and is far behind in these subjects. The school does not have a good PE program, little extra curricular activities, and no music for lower elementary students.
—Submitted by a parent

My son went for many years, but we are moving to another school. I think the primary problems with the school stem from uneven administration. The administration does not support the teachers well enough or listen to the parents. I believe that their hearts are in the right place, but their ability is lacking. The pluses are that my son made many friends , and the montessori technique allowed him to excel in areas he is gifted in. But the school lacks some extracurricular activities. There are some very gifted teachers here.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attends the first grade at the Khalsa Camden location. I've never been happier. She loves school and seems to be learning at a fast rate. Both of her teachers are excellent. The classroom and the garden look nice.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a child in upper elem. Academically many teachers seem lacsidasical and my child is in tutoring. There is little music and art, parents are not listened to even with serious issues like bullying. We're on a waiting list for a different school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a child in upper elem. Academically, I see the teachers are lacsidasical. My child must go to paid tutoring. I also agree that other parents are somewhat chiqueish. We re on a waiting list for a different school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a daughter in 1st grade, and a son in 4th grade at Khalsa. Both my chidren have excelled. The school places much emphasis on values, communication, community and team work, and this shows in my children's attitude to learning. I have been impressed with the school's approach to fostering a love of learning, while creating a low stress and peaceful environment. The mix of academics, outside play, and creative work is wonderful with very little opportunity for boredom. Both my children have become avid readers very early, and seem to embrace all aspects of their learning.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent with two children at Khalsa school and an active participant in the parent organization, I was somewhat surprised by other reviews mentioning the cliquish nature of parents. I disagree, entirely. There is however, an increasing lack of communication between parents and administrators. The school seems to be losing some of it's foundational instructors and cutting back almost completely on extracurricular activities. Children with special needs are not addressed competently, consistency of curriculum and teachers in the charter school (1-8) needs to be addressed. The community of Khalsa, made up of some lovely and diverse families is the school's high point. Let's hope administrators start listening closer to their needs.
—Submitted by a parent

My child was a student at Khalsa from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Our experience was very successful: he had caring teachers, experienced challenging and inspiring academic projects, he met and kept his best friends there, and was very prepared for the college preparatory high school he now attends. Khalsa s administration was always willing to meet with me to find creative solutions to any bumps in the road we encountered. Art, music, drama, and P.E. are integrated into the curriculum. There is a friendly, active Community Organization and parent involvement is very welcome. The central foothills facility is the nicest in Tucson, on 5 acres in a rural setting with bus lines and parks within walking distance for field trips. I always knew my child was safe at Khalsa School, with teachers and staff who knew him as an individual and truly cared about his success. L.B.
—Submitted by a parent

Khalsa school has one of the best infant through kindrgarten programs in Tucson. They have a beautiful campus and wonderful teachers.
—Submitted by a parent