Mountain Oak Charter School opened in 1999 with an average enrollment of 210 students in grades kindergarten through sixth. The school uses a curriculum based on Waldorf with a structured thematic method of teaching. Along with core subjects, the school offers drama, painting, ceramics, dance, chorus, band, yoga, bicycling, physical education classes, student government, community service, and academic contests.

Comments from parents vary quite a bit. One parent stated the school allows bullying and has gangs that are completely ignored by teachers going as far as walking away when seeing an incident of physical bullying. The sad fact was that when presented to the director of the school, nothing was done with the bullying situation at all. On the other hand, the majority of parents are very pleased with the school, teachers, and staff stating they love the idea that as a child is promoted the teacher goes along with the class. Teachers and staff are very nurturing and caring. The curriculum is challenging, but students have the help of teachers when needed.

With such diverse comments from parents, I would tour the school when students are present to see if you can see any issues that you may want to address before enrolling your child. A look at the AIMS exams may help you decide if the school is providing a quality education. Percentages of third graders that passed the reading exam were 20% below state averages, writing was 33% below average, and math was 30% below average. Fourth graders were 20% below in reading, 20% below in science, almost 30% in writing, and 40% in math. Fifth graders were 8% below average in reading, 8% in writing, and 35% below in math. Sixth graders were 10% below average in reading, 18% below in writing, and none of the students passed the exam in math. Seventh graders were also below average in reading and writing but actually were higher in math by 3%. Eighth graders were above average in all core subjects with 100% passing writing.

With such diverse comments from parents and then the lower percentages of students passing the AIMS exams in most of the grades besides sixth and eighth, I would certainly ask more questions before enrolling your child.

Mountain Oak Charter School
124 N. Virginia St.
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-541-7700
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