Pioneer Junior High School

I graduated from Pioneer three years ago, and I've met some of my current best friends there. The school is okay, I guess, I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. If I could I'd do 3.5 stars but I was generous and gave it 4. They have a decent drive for transitioning to high school, I didn't necessarily feel ready for High School after leaving here

Pioneer is a great school! I had a great 7th grade year, and am looking forward to starting my 8th grade year in the fall. Mr. Dover, the principal, is very involved with the students and is a lot of fun. The accelerated classes (English and history) and the advanced math classes are very good. All of the departments are strong, but the 7th grade elective choices are lacking. Some classes (mostly advanced/accelerated; parents want their kids there) did have close to 40 kids in each, but other classes, like science, had around 20.

I have no idea why some of the reviews say that PJH is horrible, that's ridiculous. I'm currently in my eighth grade year and it's amazing so far. even better than 7th grade. im in band and its amazing. mrs. garcia (the band and chorus teacher) is really supportive, encouraging, and fun! when i transferred in my 7th grade from avms, i didnt know what the accelerated program was so was not in it, obviously...i am now in the acc./honors program and it's a bit more challenging but definitely worth it for high school. the only thing that i believe should be added is a non-rotating schedule, a break after the first 2 periods, and a single lunch period after the 4th period. it'd be really cool if like at my old school, if 7th graders in pre-algebra receive an A in all 3 trimesters, to move to geometry in their 8th grade year ans skip algebra 1 which is pretty much the same thing as pre algebra. overall, the teachers are amazing, our new principal, assistant principal, are awesome, and the school is soooooo amazing!

This school is super awesome...it was a no brainer to send my child here. The absolute best counselor ever was here...although she has moved onto the high school...she was a seriously gifted woman. She really connected with students without having to lower her expectations or become a "friend" in a peer way to them. They respected her as an adult mentor and she respected them as human beings. The office staff is not so great. The inability to connect with people "outside" the known community is pretty bad. Lots of assumptions about students and their parents based on appearance and a short history puts them at odds all the time! The attendance clerk is ALWAYS pleasant and understanding to parents and students, exactly how you should be in a position of interaction with children and families. Teachers go above and beyond and are very energetic and dynamic. I would say that the physical education department lacks some true purpose - kids who are obvious athletes and have a healthy exercise/nutrition understanding aren't always graded fairly. Kids who don't meet targets are given poor grades, regardless of their efforts - this doesn't teach a love of fitness, just resentment.