Cactus Ranch Elementary School

While for most kids who can keep up with an accelerated curriculum, this school refuses to help out with those that fall even a step behind without massive, massive efforts of the parents to demand help. This school is 140% at least, over populated at all times even though the school district has made feeble attempts to move kids to othere schools, the effort at most has been ineffective. Worse is the fact that since this school is so over crowded, it resembles inner-city schools. Kindergartners and first graders begin lunch at 10:30 in the morning since the cafeteria cannot feed all the kids, and the kids have 20 minutes to eat. Peel back the shining shell that this school tries to promote, and you find an over crowded education system that is broken.
--Submitted by a parent

My kids love this school! I don't think you could find a better school. The teachers have every kind of after school club you could imagine. Lots of wonderful parents that are very involved. We just love it!
--Submitted by a parent

My son used to go there and I would not recommend this school as the teachers are not responsive and are not focusing on the needs of kids. Admin/staff and the principal will take for ever to schedule anything. I would not send my kids back there
--Submitted by a parent

My son attends KG at CRE. I agree that this school is very crowded now because of more than expected population growth in the past few years(I my self and most of my friends also moved recently, so I can understand). Most of the people who moved are young families, so there is a big spike in student registration. If the new bond passes, there will be new elementary schools and that might solve this issue. Despite the huge ratio, teachers are still doing a really great job. Yeah, lot of teachers are new, but they are good (according to my son's experience and the inputs from my friends whose kids are in other grades). Even I don't like the fact that lot of kids are in portables. We should do our best to see that the bond passes.
--Submitted by a parent

The school is very crowded. There are 11 KG and 11 first grade classes and I think about 10 second grade. The entire third and fourth grade are in portables. The ratio is 22:1 (max allowed). The rezoning has not helped. Inside class, six kids share the same circular table! Teacher quality is down since about half the teachers are new/inexperienced.
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent school, couldn't be happier with the academic level and staff commitment and drive to educate our kids.
--Submitted by a parent

CRE is a great school. My son has gone to Kindergarten and 1st Grade there and he has had 2 good teachers. The office staff and administration are wonderful. The school is very, very large, but the district is handling the overcrowding the best they can at this point. We really like Cactus Ranch. Kim H.
--Submitted by a parent

I have 3 grandkids that I pick up from different schools. I just want to say how impressed I am by how well Cactus Ranch is organized, especially when it is time for school to be out. They have the names on their back packs and the parents have the names of child and teacher for the persons to walk them to their car. I have found everyone to be so helpful when I have had to pick up my grandkids from the office. I'm really impressed by being checked to see if I'm really who I say I am. All of you are doing a good job at Cactus Ranch School. Keep up the good work. Judy Smith
--Submitted by Judy Smith, a parent

This is an outstanding school with a terrific atmosphere for learning! I LOVE this school.
--Submitted by a parent

I have 2 children that attend Cactus Ranch. We have been at Cactus Ranch since the day it first opened. It has been a wonderful place for my children to be. The teachers are wonderful and so very loving. They all have gone out of their way to help each student with any difficulties. This school is very high rated and I would recommend it to anyone. My daughter moves on to another school next year, it will be a sad day! I wish they could attend this school thru 12th grade. My son will still be there for another 2 years, YEA! All of the students are very well taken care of and it has always been a safe place. I always had piece of mind knowing that my children were in good hands. Their academic ratings are very high. I would highly recommend this school, give it a try.
--Submitted by a parent