Need help with schools !!! (Denver, Aurora: credit, house, purchasing)

[Nurse901]

Hello everyone ,
Me, my husband and our 2 young kids are planning on moving from Aurora to C. Springs next year however, we are quite lost with the schools . We have researched schools online but would rather hear from residents/natives from the Springs. Which school districts are the best overall ? Specifically what individual schools are really good? Our main decision in purchasing a house will be the schools in which our kids will attend . The schools where our kids would go to now are not good so we just want to make sure we don't make that same mistake again . Thx !

[Phil P]

Umm, I heard that Denver overall has worse schools than the Springs, with Denver having some of the worst schools on average for a city its size. But I've never been to one.

I don't think there are really any very bad schools in the Springs. I heard D2 used to be worse, but it's improved quite a bit. I've been to Sierra a few times and I was impressed. I know that all the D20 and D49 schools are good. But even at a good D20 school, Pine Creek, I remember a kid shooting up heroin in the middle of class and a fair amount of hairy stuff. So I don't think your ever going to completely get away from bad behaviors, but that was by no means the normal way kids in the school operated, and I don't think it would be for any Springs HS.

[TCHP]

Online research for schools is, IMO, a bit deceptive when looking at scores, composites, and reviews as it does not easily factor student and parent involvement and individual achievement possibility in the formula. Does proximity to work, the Interstate, or other items factor into this at all or is it all school centric? Do schools have to be the best or is above average or even average okay? Public or Private?

The available districts in Cos are 2, 3, 8, 11, 12, 14, 20, 38 and 49 and all are in specific geographic locations that may or may not work with the above additions. There also are a host of special needs, charter, and private schools available here as well.

[otowi]

What grades are you looking at? Are there particular characteristics or programs that are more important to you than others? Pretty much all the schools are decent, but many have individual strengths that others may not have to the same level or at all. Just as an example - let's take Coronado High School - it is well known for its music programs, robotics and engineering programs, most amount of college credits in high school in a traditional school, and best high school PTA.

[captain_hug99]

D20 has a reputation of being the best district, BUT, I've worked with several teachers who left that district and tell the story that it is a reputation, not necessarily fact.

D49 elementary schools are over-crowded, I teach in one, we have 700+ students. The district is one of the fastest growing in the state.

[otowi]

D11 has some really top notch schools as well as some more average ones. D12 is great, but not for every kid, and is so largely due to $ - those parents will pay top dollar for tutors, etc., to get their kids through - it isn't that that the teachers or educational programs are better than elsewhere, really. There are plenty of people who love D2, D3, D8, D14, etc., - they all have their fans and detractors - you can get a good education in any of the districts. Some schools are better than others, but that can also change overnight with a change in teachers, principals, etc. Socioeconomic status predicts test scores more than anything the schools do, and they don't tell the story of what is really going on in the schools. Some of the top performing schools on test scores do not do as good a job as serving the average or struggling student as some that have the worst test scores - there's just a lot more to the story. If you value diversity, you might prefer D11 or D3 or D8 over D20. I personally think D20 is significantly overrated. Not that it is bad, but it certainly isn't special, imho.

[Nurse901]

Thank you for all your responses. We really appreciate it. Our oldest will be entering preschool in the next year so we are attempting to do all the research due to plans to move next year. This decision is tough for me considering the schools I went to growing up would have scored a "10" but... that was mostly due to the money that was poured into the schools. My family was middle class so that was not an environment that I enjoyed being in. We desire schools that are well rounded with good parental involvement, supportive teachers, resources for struggling students (in case we have a child that needs extra help), a variety of arts (music, art, PE) and yes perhaps good test scores. Do you all know if all the public schools currently have common core as the curriculum? We are not a fan of that curriculum but not sure if we can get away from that. We can't afford private schools and charter schools is not a guarantee admission to the school. Thanks for the feedback.

[Mike from back east]

From north to south we have, in rough order, D38, D20, D49, D11, D12, D14, D8, D3, and D2.

The Index of Key Threads has many listings for threads on the various districts with links to the district websites and many other types of info.

Tell us where work is and we should be able to steer you to excellent schools.

[otowi]

Based on what you listed, you might try to get into Steele Elementary in D11.

[Nurse901]

Thanks Otowi,
Can you tell me a little more about Steele Elementary? Positives/negatives,type of student body, PTA, Etc....