International School of Arizona

My child has attended this school for 4 years. This will be our last year at ISA. The children at this school are not very nice to put it mildly. My partner explained to me when we have our child around other children with wealth its going to be an issue. Not all but with the majority anyway. This started the first year we enrolled and has just gotten worse as the years have passed. My child comes home telling me about children making very mean comments to about her clothing worn on free dress days, telling her to cut her hair, being alienated and bullied at recess, kids stealing her food at lunch time sticking their fingers in her apple sauce and the kids have even become physically abusive. The school says they have strict anti bullying policies in place but when it comes time to enforcing these "policies" it just isn't happening. They chime, "Kindness and treating others as we want to be treated it's the ISA way!" Well it's really not. The school is so worried about loosing students so little or nothing is done to enforce these said policies that are in place to protect your child. When brought to the attention of staff one of the directors spoke with our child and explained to her she wasn't being bullied but rather just has a mean girl in the class. It's a private school so your only option is to sue the school as there is no school board to report to. The lack of parenting I have seen and the leniency within the school is simply ridiculous. Kids are NOT naturally mean. I'm sorry. It isn't kids just being kids. This is wrong. This is bad parenting and bad procedure. The level of education you will get here is far superior but at what cost? Many of the parents are so very rude. Some are nice but many have a grandiose sense of self importance. Surprisingly This is true even amongst some of the ( French ) staff members If you are not part of the adult cliques and don't have time to host play date after play date your child will be left out of everything. It's very sad. When in a small community the child truly feels when they are being left out. Communication can be very difficult if you are not a fluent speaker of your enrolled language. Some of the teachers have blogs That are translatable. Some choose only to communicate in their native language via shutterfly and other programs that do not offer a translate option. Now not all the teachers, but you will get the ones who have great difficulty communicating in English or simply refuse to do so. During Parent teacher conferences, with some teachers you will need to provide your own translator if you want to understand what is being taught to your child. It has been extremely frustrating. My child is fluent in the language track we enrolled in but my child's self esteem has suffered. We want our child challenged academically but we also want a safe nurturing learning environment. Now I'm sure we are most likely one in ten who suffer bullying so you may be just fine here. If your child has behavior issues and you don't really "parent" you will be amongst your own kind. Now I'm sure there will be review after review saying how wrong I am and how ISA is the best thing since sliced bread. This was our experience here. We are part of the minority. My child shouldn't be treated like this and it's our job to make the best decisions we can for our child's and our own wellbeing. Goodbye ISA.
1 7 years ago (15-05-2018)

This school has been the worst for several kids going there. I heard they are kicking out of school 6 years old! Insaneeeeeee They cannot even control 6 years old?????? What kind of school is that????? Some kids are being bullied during recess and NOBODY does anything about it??? It’s insane! Some teachers are being on kid’s back all year long for no reasons?????? Why would you put your child in that school once you hear all what’s happening there!!!!!!!!! THIS SCHOOL SHOULD BE CLOSED
1 7 years ago (31-12-2017)

International School of Arizona (ISA) has provided our children an education bar none; we recommend ISA without reservation! Being fluent in French has allowed our children to be at the top of their class after graduating from ISA (5th grade), especially in English! Our goal was to give our children a competitive edge in society after graduation from college. It turns out that just learning another language, our children have experienced overall an easier path in managing their coursework (all subjects). This potential is open in all children; tap into it! Thank you ISA for 43 student years!!! It's a bittersweet moment to have your last graduate.
5 8 years ago (26-05-2017)

During second semester my My 5 and 3 year old speak three languages Best school ever
5 7 years ago (20-12-2017)

Great school with full inmmersion programs in Spanish and French, international teachers and superb new campus.
5 8 years ago (17-09-2017)