Challenge Charter School

"I use to attend this school and it was terrible. I didn’t exactly had the freedom of speech during the school hours. During my time there I was struggling with speech and they didn’t help me what so ever. During recess we can’t exactly be children and play. You can’t run and play tag, no balls are aloud, cant even go to the restroom without letting every teacher know. Uniforms are very expensive. I remember buying my uniform before school start and was only able to buy two shirts and two pants and the total was above $100. Not only that the uniform is itchy and rough against the skin. It’s pretty heavy and tend to get hot. I remember a kid was wearing a school appropriate jacket and was getting chewed out by the teachers for wearing it during 80 degree weather. Every time we go to assemblies the teachers would make all of us stand in one line and check our uniforms from head to toe, one at a time. I also remember that I couldn’t eat lunches at the school and had to bring my own. The lunches weren’t always cooked all the way and a lot of kids would get sick a lot due to it. I myself was one of those kids. One year my brother started attending this school and he had a speech problem like me but was way worst. The teachers would tend to pick on him and call him out on things he didn’t do. They tend to call my brother a liar and threw him on medications that he didn’t needed. They were picking on him so badly that after the first few months of school he would be crying and begging to my mom to let him stay home. I highly dont recommend this school if you want your children to be picked on. Though I do have to say the education is pretty good. When I switched schools, I happened to be way smarter then everyone in my grade even though my grammar was shaky. They even taught you how to write in cursive and most schools don’t do that anymore. If your kid does go to this school I do assure you, your kid will be intelligent but mentally unstable. So good luck because teachers, staff and principal is a bunch of childish adults wanting their own thing and will do whatever it takes to get it."

"This is such a wonderful school with caring and highly educated teachers who really care about your children. They work with students who may be struggling a bit in small groups to ensure they don't fall behind and it makes a difference! I know my children are receiving one of the best educations in AZ. Thank you!"

"My 3 kids all thrived under the active teaching style here. This school has excellent academics and there is a really tight community between the student, teachers and administration. It has a smaller family feel which is comforting knowing they are getting the attention that is needed to excel in years to follow. The Miller family has been great to our family and to our friends that we have spread the word to!"

"I will say that academically this school is perfect! The curriculum is by the far the best I've seen. Some of the teachers are great. They have a motto "students first" which is 100% true IF your child is not special needs, also if the "parents sit and don't speak". Your opinion or help is not needed with your own child because they have been running the school successfully for the past 30 years. You will be talked to like a child being made to feel 2 inches high. Words like "listen here young lady" from one of the co founders, Late night phone call from the principal herself telling you not to "speak" a certain way towards her but no problem if she herself talks to you in a demeaning be littling way. Personally I've been told more then once that if I don't "support" the school then maybe I should find another. I've seen the two sides of some of the staff and I've got to say that they are really good at putting on a show when things are going their way 100%. But if you disagree or let them know that the way they are handling your special needs child is not ok you will get an ear full of negative debate and by the end of it you choose to not say a word and agree in fear your child may be treated worse when your not around.My child had been disciplined for behaviors he could not help. Came home frequently upset and stressed out because the teacher saw a "child who knew what he was doing" "acts of defiance" instead of a child with special needs who is uncomfortable in situations he was put in to. they constructed an IEP that was so generic and when you asked for another meeting they said oh we will just wait till the end of the year so we're not having so many during the year, which as a new mom to the IEP world they are not allowed to say this. For mainstream children this is a perfect school but not for any child with a mental disability or handicap. I feel as a public school this school and staff needs to be better trained for children with disabilities, each and everyone of them need to be educated so the next time they have a special needs child walk threw their door they will have a better understanding of their actions instead of seeing a "defiant kid", non compliant child. Maybe even have some empathy for the child."

"My daughter goes here and she has good friends and great teachers, principal. This school has to wear uniforms. And they have fun activities. She is in 6th grade now. And she loves it there. THIS SCHOOL IS awesome. And your child should go there."