Imagine Desert West Elementary School

Posted: August 26, 2025

This review comes from someone who spent enough time on campus to see behind the polished newsletters and carefully staged photos. On the surface, the elementary seems welcoming, but leadership tells a different story. The principal and vice principal have a way of smiling in your face while quietly undermining you behind closed doors — professionalism only when it suits them.
Parents and staff deserve transparency, consistency, and real leadership, not politics and favoritism. If you value integrity and want your child in an environment where adults actually model respect and accountability, you may want to explore other schools. The front office staff often get caught covering for leadership decisions, which says a lot about where the real problems start.
Not every red flag waves loudly — some come dressed as kindness.”

Posted: August 26, 2025

Posted: January 22, 2019

I have 4 students at this school and they love coming to school. Teachers are amazing

Posted: January 22, 2019

Posted: January 22, 2019

Posted: January 22, 2019

Posted: January 22, 2019

Posted: January 22, 2019

Posted: January 22, 2019

Posted: December 11, 2015

Posted: December 11, 2015

As a parent, I have 3 children that attend IDW and I cannot express how amazing the school is both in what they give my child academically as well as socially. The staff and administration is by far the most caring and supportive for both the students as well as the parents. I strongly recommend this school.

Posted: December 11, 2015

Posted: December 11, 2015

Posted: May 26, 2014

if you value your childs self confidence don't send them here! the teacher made my son feel as tho he was stupid and told him he was not going to make it to second grade he was so hurt and would call himself stupid all the time. my son has adhd and the teachers don't know how to help them they will be known as "trouble makers" they will not get the help they deserve. also i have seen most of the teachers get in the faces of the kids and yell at them.KIDS SHOULD EVER BE TREATED THIS WAY! to make it worse my son stays after school sometimes to get picked up 30mins after school one day i thought my son went missing from there no one knew where he was at NO1 WAS WORRIED THAT A CHILD WAS MISSING i call the front office and the lady up there is culesless of everything she was not worried that no one knew where my son was the school is so unorganized that we found him in classroom that he was sent to no one could tell me why the kids after school get sent to different places all the time and why no one keeps track of who goes where. scariest time of my life. so if you still consider this school think about it your child could go missing and no one will know there gone till you get there

Posted: April 27, 2014

I cannot tell express the gratitde I have for this school. My children have not only grown academically but socially over the past year. My children came from a traumatic and horrible homelife with their father and the teachers and administration have worked with me and them to ensure they are comfortable,safe and loved. I love this school and so do they. The teachers are by far top notch.

Posted: April 9, 2014

Here at this school, i have not had any issues toward this school. In exclusive this is my childs first year attending this school so far is good, like the way his teacher is teaching him. Before here he didnt write, well expressed himself and now he write lil paragraphs cuz his 6 he write more then usual. He reads more, and loves math. Yes, the front desk lady needs more addittude, looks like she dont like her job, and looks like she doesnt know. As far as ID's i havent seen them as for one, but maybe because i allways go pick up my child....

Posted: May 22, 2013

Imagine Schools at Desert West 6738 West McDowell Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85035 Horrible! You call the office and the lady that works the front office never has a clue about anything you ask her. The principal never calls you back when you leave him a message about an issue you are having. Totally not recommend this "school".

Posted: January 14, 2013

I strongly disagree with the previous review. So mich so that I joined here just to comment. Over crowding of classrooms isnt a Desert West problem. Its every school in America. Compared to schools in the area DW has decent sizes. My sons class only has 20 kids. And their teacher is great! As far as yelling, never had an issue. Except once..one teacher yelled at a student during dismissal. Because the kid ran infront of a car. If that was my child. Id be happy.

Posted: January 8, 2013

when the school first opened the staff was great the classes were small the students got the attention they needed. fast forward different staff and the classes are overcrowded. its a complete mess. when I walk down the hallways to drop off my kids at class I hear teachers yelling and kids crying either because their teachers are mean and overload them with work or the teachers yelling because they cant control their class. do you remember teachers yelling at you in elementary? I sure don't. my kids are terrified of either their teachers or staff at the school. I have tried contacting the principal with my concerns since December and have gotten the runaround. this school lacks communication between parents and their educators. If you honestly care about your children and want the best education for them and want caring and communicative school staff this is NOT the school for them.

Posted: September 25, 2010

My child has been with them since it first opened in 2006 when she began kindergarten, some of the staff that is still there from when my child knows have been very caring and compassionate to her emotional needs and are dedicated to make sure she gets the best education ever. And Mr. V is the best pricipal that has ever been in that school.I give this school an A+.

Posted: October 16, 2007