Vista Peak P-8 Exploratory

My kids attend this school and we are moving them next year. There are several problems with this school. Horrible administration- too many admins but no leadership, the rudest front office staff I have ever encountered, terrible schedule and over promises to families and under delivering to the kids. Foreign language got pulled, fees for each student required where they have no use of technology, and extremely poor communication. Students are out of control, staff hired are completely inexperienced and the leadership is too consumed with image and making excuses for thier lack of doing a good job. I would never send my kids to this school again and I am disappointed that this beautiful school has such a poor start. They really do not meet the needs of every student. It's BS
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attends this school and while they are very early in their development, i have yet to see a school so dedicated to their students. Students have access to state of the art technologies and are earning certifications and college credit as early as 9th grade. In time i think all of those so ready to criticize a school in their first years will look impatient and foolish. If we measure success purely based on standardized test scores that are 30 years dated, we will never see innovative schools that children enjoy attending. I suggest you spent a day at the school before drawing any conclusions here. A ton of potential and the leaders in charge are dedicated and passionate about what they are building. The secretary of education Arne Duncan wouldn't have traveled all the way from washington DC this year if they weren't doing something right.
--Submitted by a parent

My child has attended VP since it opened, her grades are great (wish we had a GPA grading scale in this area). Yes growing pains have occurred and will continue to occur as the school grows into a mature institution over the next 3-5 years, but the low parental involvement in things such as the PTSA is disappointing. Regardless of the school, if the parents are not fully engaged in the education of the children the system will fail. For those who continue to complain there is always the option to attend another school; but we want to see VP succeed in its' vision to provide a great educational experience to the children. As a parent member of the PTSA it would be great to see a full the house at the meetings on the first Monday night of each month (unless otherwise noted). My ratings are based on the fact that the school is new, requires more parental involvement, adjustments amongst the teaching staff, and more collaboration from what I consider to be an out of date school board (root to the oversized classes throughout APS). If you want to really help your children, other students, and teachers/administration ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES and HELP them succeed.
--Submitted by a parent

This is the worst school I have ever had to deal with. The teachers have extremely poor communication, the administrators, have absolutely no genuine concern. Classroom management is virtually nonexistent. If your child has special needs??? Stay as far away from this school as you can. My child is autistic and their answer to dealing with him was locking him in a room until the parents could come pick him up. There is no genuine compassion. I have 5 children, worked in schools and around children for almost 7 years and I never seen anything as abhorrent as this school.
--Submitted by a parent

I was so disappointed with this school. I was a parent volunteer and was in the classroom once a week for the entire year so I was able to see first hand the overcrowded classrooms, the lack of respect that the students showed the teachers/staff and the lack of communication from the directors (principals) and staff to the parents. There appeared to be little control of the students and the quiet and shy kids seemed to fall between the cracks. In my opinion, the teachers are overwhelmed with so many students and are not able to connect with them in a way that you would see in other primary schools. I feel sad that I have to give this school that appeared to have so much potential a failing grade.
--Submitted by a parent

We have had a wonderful experice with Vista Peak. My daughter has really excelled in her class. She went from constantly getting in trouble, talk of ADD, and referrals to a child psychologist to a complete 180. She rarely gets in trouble now, her reading level is advanced and we have had even seen a change at home. I highly recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent

(I currently have two daughters attending this school). My oldest daughter has attended this school for the past two years and came here from the Cherry Creek School District. I was concerned with switching her as far as the cirriculm is concerned. I am more than satisfied with the teachers, cirriculm, and communication. My daughter was reading below grade level when the school year started, she is now reading ABOVE her grade level thanks to help from her teacher and her father and I at home. Both teachers stays in constant contact with me regarding their progress, and feedback and homework is also sent home every friday.
--Submitted by a parent

I wish I could give this school a zero. I complained mid-year that my kids had no homework, were getting no schoolwork sent home for me to see and the teachers didn't communicate with us at all. There were no friday folders or notes or test scores or anything coming home. Nothing changed. My kids started to dislike school and were becoming unhappy kids. They told stories of teachers yelling a lot and kids out of control. One teacher told me she wouldnt put her kid in this school. I moved my family across town out of Aurora and now they are miserably far behind in school. I am devastated as a mother that I couldnt keep this from happening. Please if you love your children do not send them to this atrocious school. I would keep them out of Aurora all together because all the Aurora schools have terrible test scores and horrible behavior problems.
--Submitted by a parent

Awfully rude front office staff, bad direction, rude and unruly students and image concious but does not deliver. Have made a world of promises that have been ignored or not kept. Over promises and students bear the burden. cares only about image, not students
--Submitted by a parent

Studets are unruley and doesn't seem like much adult supervison. To many students in a class room. My kids are not going back.
--Submitted by a parent