Great Hearts Academies- Maryvale Prep

Posted: June 18, 2025

Posted: June 18, 2025

Posted: June 18, 2025

Posted: June 18, 2025

Posted: June 18, 2025

Posted: June 18, 2025

Posted: June 18, 2025

Posted: June 18, 2025

Maryvale Preparatory Academy K-8, has proven to be a deeply disappointing experience within the Great Hearts network. Students who are not Latino, related to staff, or children of faculty members often face unequal treatment and are overlooked when it comes to having their individual needs addressed.
Not to mention, the administrators are the biggest contributors to the cliquish, unfriendly atmosphere on campus. From the headmaster herself to the ESS lead, the director of campus operations, and the dean of students — they all set the tone for exclusion and favoritism. Their behavior makes it clear that being part of the “in crowd” matters more than treating all students and families with fairness and respect.

There is a clear pattern of favoritism and nepotism that extends into academics, classroom dynamics, and even extracurricular programs like sports. The disparities in how students are treated are noticeable and concerning.

If your child is not Latino, I strongly advise reconsidering enrollment at this campus. Equity and fairness should be fundamental in any educational environment, and unfortunately, that has not been our experience here.

Posted: May 5, 2016

Posted: May 5, 2016

Posted: May 5, 2016

Posted: May 5, 2016

My son has attended Maryvale Prep for the past 3 years. He started late after a bad experience with another school. His kindergarten teacher, Ms. Roth was excellent! She welcomed him and helped him feel confident in his abilities. He has had great teachers every year. Mr. Esau is a wonderful headmaster. He is motivating for students and staff. My son loves the coaches too. Really he loves all the teachers and staff. I am grateful for all they do for my son and my other 2 children will be attending as they are of school age.

Posted: October 7, 2015

Posted: October 7, 2015

Posted: October 7, 2015

Posted: October 7, 2015

This is a school that truly cares for their students! All of the staff and educators are amazing.

Posted: March 30, 2015

Maryvale Prep is truly an amazing school! It all starts from the top as it should. The headmaster, staff and faculty all have the same vision. They treat each other with genuine care and respect. This shows itself on how the students are treated. I have witnessed how teachers handle a situation when a child has not made a "good choice" they direct the student in identifying the problem and finding a solution and how to avoid that same situation from happening again. The school models the core virtues by giving their students the right tools to make wiser choices...genius! Academically the teachers are amazing as well. The do have a rigorous curriculum. Always challenging their students to achieve their full potential. For those students that may need more one on one help...MVP teachers do that too. All students regardless of their academic level feel encouraged and like they matter. To them the sky is the limit. Students are encouraged and recognized for demonstrating a core virtue. Having a teacher's aide in class makes such a great difference! I have two students that attend MVP and my family and I are so pleased with the decision to have our kids attend this school.

Posted: March 24, 2015

My son attends Maryvale prep. It seems to me he has a problem everyday. I have to wonder, is it him all of the time or is it that they want boys to behave like girls. Sit still, no horseplay, don't do this, don't do that, NO FUN. Boys are not girls and don't act like girls. Boys are physical beings. The school does not allow for that, not in my view. I may have to move my son b/c he is struggling with that. He's just a boy. What's going to happen when his spirit is broken b/c he cannot behave like a girl? As for academics, I rate them five out of five stars. I love the teachers and the way they embrace the "whole child". In that respect, the school is wonderful.

Posted: December 15, 2014

This school is AMAZING!!! If you have the opportunity to enroll your children in this school, please do!

Posted: August 18, 2014

This school is amazing! The Headmaster is wonderful. He is positive, kind, and always smiling. All of the staff and teachers have been amazing as well. I feel like my children are so much happier and their strengths academically are actually noticed by their teachers. If I had to talk about a negative, I would say that the pick up situation is a little rough,(getting better) but the teachers do their best. The other issue is that the "sanctuary" is in the neighboring church. They use this for meetings with parents and performances. I hope that this is only transitional, and that there will eventually be a performance center or something. This is not a religious school, and it feels like a conflict of interest to be "part of the church." Regardless of those two draw backs, my children are so happy and I drive 30 minute for them to attend. I am so excited they are a part of this school and hope eventually for more distinct separation from the church.

Posted: June 21, 2014

This school is a diamond in the rough. The teachers are phenomenal. The headmaster has a real talent in how to select amazing teachers. They are all so passionate, caring, kind, and understanding. I volunteer on campus and I have never seen anything but enthusiastic and compassionate teaching. I was so sick of the public school system and I was homeschooling my children. It was too overwhelming and I brought them back to school. I neede a school that would meet my standards when it comes to academics, diversity, extracurricular activities, and electives. MVP exceeded all my expectations. From the office staff, to the teachers, headmasters, parents, and children, we are truly one family. The school instills core virtues in their curriculum which teaches the kids to be honest, responsible, humble, courageous, wise, and to persevere, be great friends, and have integrity. Each class must do a community project so they are taught the importance of giving back to the community. Bullying not tolerated at all. Since there is so much teacher involvement it is stopped before it could even start. They have a highly effective discipline system. Best school in the entire state.

Posted: April 6, 2014

Our school has a great school culture and helps students in academics and moral formation!

Posted: November 26, 2013

I am very impressed with MVPA. My great-granddaughter started in kinder last year and is now in first grade. The school offer so many perks. They teach all academics including history, geography, science, music, art, PE and Spanish. They also teach an accelerated language arts and math from kinder up. They also offer before and after school programs for tutoring. Plus after school clubs and sports. The only thing that bothers me is that they insist the girls wear a very expensive skirt that is very strange looking as part of the uniform. They do not allow the better fitting skort for the girls with shapes that are not so slim. I think skirts are also a very bad idea for little girls to be wearing on a playground. The place that sells the uniforms is also in Tempe while the school is in Maryvale. Other than the uniform snafu this school is A+ in my book! The headmaster is awesome and very people orientated.

Posted: October 23, 2013

My son has a great learning experience from this school. He came from public school where he wasn't good at reading but with the help and dedication from his teachers he improved by leaps. I would recommend this school to everyone that are looking for top notch education minus the private fees.

Posted: October 21, 2013

I absolutely love this school!! This school provides curriculum that goes above and beyond, they teach the core virtues that empowers the students to become life-long learners.

Posted: October 21, 2013

I have 2 children that attend Maryvale Prep. I have had the BEST experiance with this school. The teachers and staff are friendly and are very passionate about what they do. I feel that my children are given the attention and tools they need to excel.

Posted: October 20, 2013

We love this school! Our son is in Kindergarten this year, and we could not be more excited about his teachers. They all have a great passion for their students and teaching, as does all the staff at the school. They really encourage parent involvement, and do a great job keeping parents informed weekly. I am very confident that our son will be getting a top notch education at Maryvale Prep!

Posted: September 23, 2013

My son's school is Maryvale Prep and he thinks that is the most awesome school ever and I agree. He is now in 1st grade with the most wonderful teacher, she thinks outside the box to help her students stay engaged with their studies. This is second year and all the staff and students are outstanding. They care not just about the students, but also the familys and community. Our son is learning new things each and every day, as he says his brain in growing. We have found the school and staff that we had been praying for since my sons birth, Thank you Maryvale Prep

Posted: September 22, 2013

This is an awesome school my grand daughter loves her teachers and she has improved alot in all academic areas. The teachers at Maryvale Prep take the time to help my grand daughter whenever she's struggling in any subject and they're always willing to help her. Thank You all teachers, all your hard work is greatly appreciated. Maria T

Posted: April 7, 2013

Maryvale Prep is everything I could ask and want in a school. My son has grown by leaps and bounds.

Posted: March 24, 2013

Although this school has great teachers, leadership, and safe atmosphere, the academic program is too rigid, and leaves no room for differentiation. I would have given 5 stars if there were some mobility in Math and English. There is tremendous support for struggling students, but zero for advanced students. It is very unfortunate, as the this would have been a school for EVERYONE.

Posted: March 24, 2013

Maryvale Prep has done an excellent job targeting students growth and encouraging confidence and success in their students. My daughter has thrived at this school and is a grade level ahead because of the commitment her teacher, Ms. Cardona has placed on her academic success.

Posted: March 23, 2013

My daughter absolutely loves this school and her teachers. I am also very impressed by the school and teachers. When my daughter was struggling her teacher was quick to identify the problem and work on a solution. She is now doing so much better with the extra help provided to her and we couldn't be happier.

Posted: March 23, 2013

We absolutely love Maryvale Preparatory Academy. We were looking for a school that had a more in-depth curriculum, that was more challenging for my children. Their previous school (charter) were catering more towards the kids that were more behind academically, the rest of the kids had to keep entertained instead ob being instructed. We found that in this school, and so much more. Core Knowledge, and Singapore Math are curriculums that are so complete to teach the children, that I can see the difference from the other curriculums. How they grasp concepts that seem more abstract and bring them home with such ease. They also have Spanish, Music, and PE every day (except on short-days), not just once a week. They kids absolutely love their teachers because they all are both, knowledgeable and caring, they are organized and structured, and I see how discipline it's such an important virtue they instill in them during their class time and also during their play time.

Posted: March 23, 2013

Maryvale Prep teachers are caring and compassionate about students and their development. The headmaster is highly visible and involved. Maryvale Prep adheres to its stated mission to prepare college ready students by vigorously maintaining its focus on academics and avoiding spending time on non-academic activities such as holiday celebrations. Students are held accountable for their behavior and taught the meaning of living a virtuous life. Finally, students and families are encouraged to get involved and support community by participating in carefully selected activites such as community clean-up day.

Posted: March 21, 2013

My granddaughter thinks this school is the greatest. I agree. The Headmaster is exuberant! Her teacher is excellent . The curriculum is challenging and seems to keep our 8 year old eager to learn. The extracurricular activities are topnotch. The music class and Spanish class are great and the P.E. class had her enjoying football and soccer and now basketball. This school is outstanding.