Heart of Denver Properties

Curtis Park/City Park West

Curtis Park is Denver's first park. Land for it was donated by real estate investors hoping that the park would entice people to build homes in the new area. It soon became the residential district for the growing city. From the 1870s to the 1900s, Curtis Park was a neighborhood of the middle and upper-middle class. The diversity of class is reflected in the variety of house sizes, ranging from small cottages to large mansions. With the "historic" designation in 1975, the neighborhood saw a beginning of the return of the middle class. Residents are attracted by the charm, the unique style of homes and close proximity to Downtown.

The first streetcar line in the area was constructed in 1871 and began at 7th and Larimer and followed Champa up to 27th Avenue. Initially desolate and unpaved, by 1879 new construction lined the streetcar route. Many of the new residents of the Curtis Park were immigrants of varied economic status, and diversity thrived in the area. Architecturally, Curtis Park contains a variety of melded together styles with the Queen Anne influence being predominant. The Italianate style is found more often in Curtis Park than in any other neighborhood in Denver. Many homes were built by individuals lacking formal architectural training which is reflected in the eclectic blend of architectural styles seen in many homes in the area.

Curtis Park's boundaries are a bit fuzzy, and overlap slightly with those of adjacent neighborhoods. In general, however, Broadway and Downing Streets bound the neighborhood to its west and east, and 23rd and 38th Streets enclose it to the south and north, respectively.

Another reason these neighborhoods are appreciating is due to America’s Favorite Pastime coming to Denver – Coors Field and the Colorado Rockies. The surrounding warehouses turned into trendy bars and clubs, making LoDo, just adjacent to the area, one of the nation’s premier hot spots for singles and young married couples.

Curtis Park's great location makes the downtown commute easy and worry-free. A fifteen minute walk, or a short light rail ride, takes residents to funky Lodo or the chic city center. Ballpark and Upper Larimer border the neighborhood, offering local pubs, restaurants, and Colorado Rockies baseball. A green oasis amidst the tall downtown buildings, Curtis Park's streets are lined with large trees, perfect for afternoon strolls. Outdoor enthusiasts and children will love the focal point of the Curtis Park area; Mestizo-Curtis Park sits in the heart of the neighborhood, offering soccer, tennis and basketball courts, horseshoe pits, a new playground, and an outdoor pool. The Sacred Heart Church, Denver's oldest parish, speaks to the historic significance of this neighborhood. With gourmet dinners downtown, gallery hopping in Lodo, and tennis matches at the park, activities abound in and around Curtis Park.

We believe that Curtis Park and City Park West are good investments because of the proximity to the red-hot LoDo real estate market. The trends of real estate appreciation and development of this area point to an increase of both. Buy in this area if you’re looking for a historic home ranging in price from $200,000 to $750,000 with an average of $250,000. In addition, the diversity of the neighborhood gives investors the ability to attract a wide segment of renters, making this area viable for income property.

Useful Stats

One-Year Appreciation Rate¹: 4.30%

Crime Rating²: 185

Please Note: The information on this page is believed to be accurate, however consult directly with your Heart of Denver Properties Realtor or other professional to ensure that you have access to current and accurate data.

1. Source: Zillow. Neighborhoods represented by more than one zip code reflect the average of all zip codes.

2. The crime index suggests the risk of certain types of crime occuring in this community as compared to the national average. The national average for each type of crime equals a score of 100, so a score of 200 would represent twice the risk as the national average, and a score of 50 would represent half the risk of the naitonal average. Neighborhoods represented by more than one zip code reflect the average of all zip codes.

Neighborhood Schools

Art and Cultural Studies Acadamy at Manual
Grades: 9-12
Barrett Elementary School
Grades: PK-5
Bruce Randolph Middle School
Grades: 7-8
Cole College Prep A KIPP Transition School
Grades: 7-8
Columbine Elementary School
Grades: PK-6
Gilpin Elementary School
Grades: PK-6
Harrington Elementary School
Grades: PK-6
Leadership Acadamy at Manual
Grades: 9-12
Maria Mitchell Elementary School
Grades: PK-6
Millennium Quest High School
Grades: 9-12
Pioneer Charter School
Grades: PK-6
Polaris Program at Ebert Elementary
Grades: K-5
Whittier Elementary School
Grades: PK-7
Wyatt Edison Charter School
Grades: K-8

Art and Cultural Studies Acadamy at Manual

Grades: 9-12

Enrollment: 362

Special Features:

About Art and Cultural Studies Acadamy at Manual:

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Low

14% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 1% in math, and 3% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Decline

14% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 1% in math, and 3% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 59.1% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 69.3% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 7.0 years of experience, compared to 9.8 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 94.6%, compared to 87.4% districtwide
· The graduation rate for this school (2003-04) is 67.6%, compared to 81.0% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004
· Foreign language program

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 32 year(s) of experience overall and 2 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards:

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for high schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Barrett Elementary School

Grades: PK-5

Enrollment: 163

Special Features: All-day kindergarten offered; All-day early childhood education offered; uniforms

About Barrett Elementary School: Barrett Elementary School is a place to learn and a place that offers a framework of responsibility, support, warmth, and caring for all students. The teachers are dedicated and work to maintain a positive learning environment. The school encourages parents and community leaders to get involved and take an active role in school programs.

Barrett School of ZOOlogy provides small class sizes, so that teachers can challenge each student to do their best. We are pleased that students made progress on the CSAP test. We integrated a K-3 reading program using Wright Group series. We are a pilot school for Lindamood Bell which is a research based company that has developed programs to treat and prevent reading difficulties and accelerate academic success for all students. The program focuses on Phonemic Awareness, Symbol Imagery, Vocabulary Development utilizing the Wright Group, Lindamood Bell, and Summer Scholars. We have a Home Instruction Program for Preschool children ages 3-4 to help parents provide educational enrichment. We have implemented the District's Literacy program, where every child will read one million words during the 2002 - 2003 school year. We are very fortunate to have strong parents, teachers, and community leaders who take pride in Barrett's students. These groups collaborate with Barrett and support its educational program. We believe that "it takes a village" to teach our children. Together we can make a difference!

To continue to improve student achievement in reading, writing, and math, the following strategies have been employed: we strive to maintain small class size; we provide an intensive reading/writing program; we pride ourselves in our Gifted and Talented/Challenge Program and will continue to enhance it; we will continue our excellent hands-on math and science program; and we will continue to keep the parents and community leaders involved in educating the students.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Low

51% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 34% in math, and 35% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Stable

51% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 34% in math, and 35% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 64.7% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 67.7% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 8.0 years of experience, compared to 9.3 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 94.0%, compared to 94.8% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004
· English as a Second Language Resource program.
· Special Education Center Program (2003-04).

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 6 year(s) of experience overall and 6 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards: All-day 6 week summer program; Full-day Early Childhood Education; 3 hrs. block Literacy schedule; A team-teaching in reading and math approach; Small class sizes; Student recognition programs (Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance, and Good Citizenship); Technology program (Internet, computer lab, Alpha Smarts); Community support/partnerships (Ocean Journey, Junior Achievement/ IBM E.Mail in Math and Science, Executive Women International, W.I.N W.I.N, SWAY Pen Pals,); After School programs ( Art Class, Computer Class, Study Hall, Train Club, Reading/Math Club, Drill Team, Colorado Ballet, Year Book Club, and Destination Imagination).

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for elementary schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Bruce Randolph Middle School

Grades: 7-8

Enrollment: 654

Special Features:

About Bruce Randolph Middle School: Bruce Randolph Middle School is a new school that opened August 2002. Located on 3955 Steele Street, it is the accomplishment of a community's effort to have a new school within the neighborhood areas.

The school is unique in its design. The three instructional pods create a family environment where a caring, learning community is nurtured. The unique and thoughtful educational design encourages a strong academic program. Students and teachers are organized into teams. Teachers collaborate to develop integrated units of study, project-based assignments, and team activities to build a positive team culture.

The school is a "State of the Art" facility. With over 250 computers in the school, students have access to 3 mobile computer labs, and a business lab. There is a Technology Lab in which students work with various modules such as robotics, graphic arts, video production, CAD, and other technological applications. The school is a wireless environment, which allows students to use computers virtually any place in the building.

The library is beautiful. The many books and resources support learning. The cutting-edge Media Distribution Center housed in the library allows teachers to retrieve instructional media from their classroom computer. The instruction media is used to support their lessons. The Media Distribution Center's instructional tool allows teachers to create PowerPoint lessons that can be presented on the classroom monitor.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Unsatisfactory

11% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 7% in math, and 7% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Significant Decline

11% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 7% in math, and 7% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 42.4% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 66.8% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 7.0 years of experience, compared to 9.7 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 88.8%, compared to 92.7% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004
· Transitional Native Language Instruction program.

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 11 year(s) of experience overall and 2 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards: Bruce Randolph Middle School has a diverse population of 6th through 8th grade students. All students participate in the Reading and Writing Studio designed to provide students with extensive practice in these areas. The goal is to have students read a million words a year. Students develop their writing skills through their writer's notebook.

The school has an emphasis on science. Excellent instructional materials and equipment support the curriculum.

As a new school, several programs are in the developmental stages to support the academic and affective needs of students.

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for middle schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Cole College Prep A KIPP Transition School

Grades: 7-8

Enrollment: 110

Special Features:

About Cole College Prep A KIPP Transition School:

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Not available

In 2004-2005, this school did not test enough students to meet the minimum number required by Colorado for reporting more detailed CSAP test data.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Not available

In 2004-2005, this school did not test enough students to meet the minimum number required by Colorado for reporting more detailed CSAP test data.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· Teachers at this school have an average of 0.0 years of experience, compared to 6.4 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students:

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs:

Principal Experience:

Programs and Awards:

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for charter schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Columbine Elementary School

Grades: PK-6

Enrollment: 333

Special Features: All-day kindergarten offered; All-day early childhood education offered; uniforms

About Columbine Elementary School: Columbine is located in northeast Denver just a few blocks north of beautiful City Park. Columbine values cultural and ethnic diversity and is fortunate to be in a neighborhood that reflects the distinctive diversity of American society. Columbine is proud of its dedicated and compassionate teachers. All of our teachers are trained in the nationally acclaimed "Success For All" reading program. Our teachers have also been trained in the Houghton Mifflin Math Central program. Columbine has three instructional coaches who conduct our weekly professional staff development inservices in Reading, Writing, and Math. Our Character Education program allows us to foster the needs of the "whole child" by integrating positive character traits in our students' daily lives.

We believe that it is through our reading, writing, and math programs and our school wide efforts of teaming and intentional instruction that we were able to substantially increase our Spring 2002 CSAP scores. Our third and fourth graders combined reading scores increased a total of 20 percentage points over the previous year's scores. Our 4th graders improved by 14 percentage points in writing over the previous year. Math was another bright spot for Columbine: our 5th graders realized a 20-point leap over last year's CSAP scores. With the implementation of the district wide Literacy Initiative and by providing our students with longer blocks of instructional time, we hope to continue to increase our CSAP scores.

Columbine is honored to be a recipient of the CREA tutorial grant. Thanks to these grant monies, we are able to provide our students with before and after school tutoring, one-one-one tutoring, family literacy nights, and parent empowerment groups. Our staff remains positive, committed, and hopeful that our school will continue to meet the ever-changing needs of its student population.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Low

38% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 27% in math, and 27% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Significant Improvement

38% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 27% in math, and 27% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 50.0% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 67.7% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 7.0 years of experience, compared to 9.3 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 93.9%, compared to 94.8% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004
· Before or after school program (Community Programs)
· English as a Second Language Resource Classroom program.
· Special Education Center Program (2003-04).

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 8 year(s) of experience overall and 5 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards: ELA-E school; VOA(foster grandparent tutoring program); Colorado Uplift; Whiz Kids; Rocket Club; Denver Kids; Options Tutoring; Open Door; Say Yes; After school Arts and Sports; Chess Club, Morning Study Club; Gifted & Talented; Family Support Team; Vocal Music; Developmental Learning Center; Speech/Lang services; Technology teacher; Adult Literacy classes; Elementary School Counseling Grant, Adult Literacy classes; Time to Teach discipline program; weekly enrichment science & art; and area high and middle school tutoring/mentoring.

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for elementary schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Gilpin Elementary School

Grades: PK-6

Enrollment: 372

Special Features: All-day kindergarten offered; All-day early childhood education offered; uniforms

About Gilpin Elementary School: Gilpin is known throughout Denver as a welcoming yet demanding school distinguished by an award-winning before and after-school program, Extended Day. A new principal, assistant principal, and a score of new teachers have infused the school with energy and promise to improve student performance. A new, positive-reinforcement discipline plan has been effected, as has a commitment to encourage students to learn at one standard above their current skill levels. Promotional activities aimed at school pride for students and the community in 2002 have included visits and book give-aways by Governor Owens and the Denver Nuggets.

Gilpin’s new motto for students, “Active listening, treating people right, working hard,” is reinforced daily by enthusiastic teachers and highly visible administrators. Children are encouraged to say, “it’s about me and it’s my education,” so that they and their families will embrace active learning. A recipient of Yale University’s CSRD Comer grants, Gilpin subscribes to the Comer education reform model. We send teachers and administrators to Yale for further study, in addition to hosting Yale representatives here at Gilpin. This participation in a national study has lent significant recognition to Gilpin as a school working hard to reinvent itself and public education nationally.

Another nationally-recognized element of Gilpin is its Extended Day Care, which attracts families from throughout Denver. Extended Day promotes and practices a philosophy of arts, language learning, and computer skills as an integral part of every child’s day. These crucial activities serve not only to open children’s minds to their own creativity, but also to make the school day something to look forward to. Community members are encouraged to share their knowledge of arts and technology at Extended Day thus reinforcing the notion that learning is not restricted to school hours, school buildings, or even school teachers. Students must be enrolled at Gilpin to attend the Extended Day Center as the school is considered a district magnet school due to its unique extended day program.

Class sizes have been reduced, full-day kindergarten has been implemented, and nurse, family liaison, Spanish translation, and social services are offered on a full-time basis. A constant influx of new students inspires creative thinking on how best to serve them while maintaining high expectations. We at Gilpin are committed to helping students reach their potential, and to defining and acquiring their dreams.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Low

29% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 23% in math, and 12% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Stable

29% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 23% in math, and 12% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 50.0% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 67.7% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 9.0 years of experience, compared to 9.3 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 92.2%, compared to 94.8% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004 · Transitional Native Language Instruction program. · Special Education Center Program (2003-04).

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 3 year(s) of experience overall.

Programs and Awards: Programs:

•Extended Day Care: academically-based enrichment classes before and after school
•Early Childhood Education (34 students in 2002)
•Full-day Kindergarten
•English as a Second Language instruction
•Phono-Graphix
•Math Project
•Family Liaison
•Welcome Center
•Summer Scholars Literacy Initiative
•Summer Scholars Bridges
•DARE
•Whiz Kids tutorial program
•ESL parent classes
•New Teacher Academy
•Full-time nurse

Grants and Awards:

•Comer Comprehensive School Development Program
•Read to Achieve
•CREA (Comprehensive Reading Excellence Act)
•CRSD (Comprehensive School Reform Development grant)

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for elementary schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Harrington Elementary School

Grades: PK-6

Enrollment: 453

Special Features: All-day kindergarten offered; All-day early childhood education offered

About Harrington Elementary School: Harrington Elementary School is located in northeast Denver in the Cole-Clayton neighborhood. Currently our population is 460 students in grades ECE (Early Childhood Education) through fifth grade. However, next year (2005-2006) we will be adding 60 sixth graders and we are projected to add 60 seventh graders in 2006-2007. Harrington continues to increase staff knowledge of standards, literacy and math through our school-wide Title I Plan. Harrington has literacy and math coaches that support our staff in their teaching practices through coaching teachers in their classrooms in best practices that increase student learning. Staff development at our school is focused on continued increase of student achievement through participation in Public Education and Business Coalition literacy/math lab for teachers; literacy, math and science workshops/conferences; weekly staff development in literacy, math and science; weekly grade-level meetings to discuss student achievement; grants to support Harrington's literacy & math goals; study stacks to support literacy goals; and science workshops. Harrington’s CSAP (Colorado Student Assessment Program), standardized test scores and performance-based assessments have improved over the last few years. Individualized inventories (which are more sensitive to student learning) have shown significant growth in reading, writing and math over the last five years. Harrington has brought in additional resources by donations, volunteer work, and grant writing that support literacy and math.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Low

38% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 54% in math, and 30% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Decline

38% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 54% in math, and 30% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 67.7% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 67.7% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 9.0 years of experience, compared to 9.3 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 98.0%, compared to 94.8% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004
· Before or after school program (Community Programs)
· Transitional Native Language Instruction program.
· Special Education Center Program (2003-04).

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 16 year(s) of experience overall and 16 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards: Harrington continues to be awarded a variety of grants and donations that support higher levels of student achievement. The following is a list of some of the programs and grant awards that help to support our mission: “We will empower students to become lifelong learners in a safe, respectful environment.”

Early Excellence grant works with infants to 4-year-olds and their and parents

Visual/music full-time teachers including a violin program for kindergarten through first grade

Three full-day kindergarten programs

Read To Achieve to support second and third grade students in reading

Summer Scholars after-school program, intersession and summer program to support literacy

Looping: Teachers follow students for at least two years

Continuous-Year Calendar to support second language learners

Family Nights focusing on literacy and math

Character education programs

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for elementary schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Leadership Acadamy at Manual

Grades: 9-12

Enrollment: 262

Special Features:

About Leadership Acadamy at Manual: The Leadership High School is one of the three small schools located on the first floor of the Manual Educational Complex. LHS is organized around the theme of business and governmental studies. LHS is designed for students who plan on attending two or four year colleges, and also for those students who want to gain technical and pre-professional skills for a variety of career paths.

In addition to the core academic classes, accelerated (x-track) classes are available at all grade levels. At the ninth grade students are exposed to the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) success skills. Tenth through twelfth graders can take many computer classes, entrepreneurship classes, post secondary options classes, and an array of elective classes such as Spanish 1-4X, woodworking, art, Rotc, swimming, marketing, Colorado Uplift(mentoring to elementary students and character education) and dance. Our students display what they have learned in several different arenas. At the end 10th grade, our sophomores participate in our "Rites of Passage", and at the 12th grade, our seniors participate in "Graduation By Exhibition". This is where LHS students really "strut their stuff" by showing off their best work over a two or four year period, to business people, school board members, alumni, parents, teachers and friends. Service learning projects are also presented at ROP and GBE.

Our top-notched counselor and our project coordinator make sure that our students are exposed to groups such as the Daniel Foundation, College Summit, Post-secondary options, Colorado Uplift, The El Pomar Foundation, Leaders Challenge, and the Pre-Collegiate Program.

Our student surveys indicated that their main reason for liking the Leadership High School was because of the personalized attention their Leadership Block teachers(advisors)and the entire staff gave them. In order to produce the best qualified college bound students possible, LHS staff know and accept the challenge that they must be very involved in our students lives.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Low

25% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 6% in math, and 15% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Stable

25% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 6% in math, and 15% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 72.2% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 69.3% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 9.0 years of experience, compared to 9.8 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 86.5%, compared to 87.4% districtwide
· The graduation rate for this school (2003-04) is 78.3%, compared to 81.0% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004
· Foreign language program
· Transitional Native Language Instruction program.

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 3 year(s) of experience overall and 2 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards: LHS made a significant gain on the CSAP and ACT in all areas. Teachers and students are working very hard to close the gap that presently exist on our test scores. Forty -five of our 70 seniors are attending a two or four year college and three are serving their country in one of our military forces. Four seniors received full Daniels Scholarships, and 16 received partial scholarships from various sources. In 3 years LHS will be a fully implemented AVID school, and we expect our college rates and scholarships to improve and increase even more. Whether you are interested in the police academy, running a business or getting a degree, and being a moral, ethical and civic minded person, you'll learn what it takes to succeed at Manual Leadership High School.

Maria Mitchell Elementary School

Grades: PK-6

Enrollment: 326

Special Features: All-day kindergarten offered; All-day early childhood education offered

About Maria Mitchell Elementary School: Maria Mitchell School began inspiring generations of children when it opened in 1898. Ours is the only school in the United States named for the nineteenth century scientist, Maria Mitchell. Maria believed she could be anything she wanted to be and ultimately became the first recognized female astronomer in the US. Located just north of downtown Denver, Maria Mitchell Elementary School is unique for its creativity such as offering racially integrated classes from its inception, being Denver's first public Montessori school, and extending the school year in the 1990's. Several educators, politicians, business leaders and community leaders attended Maria Mitchell School. Held to high expectations within a nurturing and inspiring environment, each child under our care will continue to achieve. No alibis, no excuses, no exceptions!

Each staff member is hired because s/he believes in the probability of what our children can achieve! We work collaboratively in monthly Critical Friends Groups, which provide a safe environment for teachers to share challenges and expertise. Our instructional program includes native language instruction options, integrated technology, and multiple opportunities to learn. Full-time coaches in literacy and math assist our teachers with implementing a rich and varied academic program. During the school day, children at Maria Mitchell Elementary are exposed to arts, science, wellness, technology, and library classes taught by licensed teachers. A full-time licensed social worker counsels children and families on life issues that impact schooling.

Our children are becoming more academically competitive - more importantly, they show more problem solving skills and resiliency than ever before. We already see growth as measured by the CSAP and our English language learners continue to successfully transition into English. After the school day, children are active in Play for Peace, sports clubs, music, drama, book club, chess club, art club, science club, and student council.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Unsatisfactory

19% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 23% in math, and 11% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Stable

19% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 23% in math, and 11% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 47.6% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 67.7% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 4.0 years of experience, compared to 9.3 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 93.6%, compared to 94.8% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004
· Transitional Native Language Instruction program.

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 6 year(s) of experience overall and 4 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards: Maria Mitchell School received the 2002 Governor's Distinguished Improvement award for advancing from "unsatisfactory" in 1999 to "low" in 2002. Volunteers, parents, community members and staff annually provide about $25,000 to support school programs. About three dozen volunteers from our business and community partners faithfully mentor/tutor our children at school each week. We have made deliberate efforts to strengthen our community. Owing to limited constructive, organized after-school opportunities available to our children, we leverage volunteers, grants, donations, and school funds to offer our children enriching activities in school and after school. Almost all of our children are involved with some sort of school sponsored extra/co-curricular program. During 2002, we held a health fair, Halloween Night, and monthly math nights for children and adults of our community. Interestingly, incidents of vandalism decreased from eight times in 1999-2000 alone to just four incidents of vandalism since 2000.

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for elementary schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Millennium Quest High School

Grades: 9-12

Enrollment: 322

Special Features:

About Millennium Quest High School: Millennium Quest High School is in its second year of development as a member of the Colorado Small Schools Initiative. This reform is being made in response to our community’s need for a school that focuses on personalized relationships, respect and responsibility, equity and diversity, common and clear educational goals, high expectations for quality student work, a well-trained professional staff, family and community collaborations, and school autonomy.

We educate students both inside and outside the classroom. Field excursions typically focus on the sciences and humanities while classroom excursions focus on literacy and a well-rounded selection of core academic classes. Millennium Quest offers courses in all core areas to meet the needs of students with developing skills as well as students having advanced skills. Exceptional learning opportunities are also available through co-curricular studies that take students to places such as the Denver Center for Performing Arts, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the Children’s Hospital. Millennium Quest students can also be seen with their teachers biking through the mountains, interviewing famous local personalities, publishing magazines, and participating as school leaders in forums, staff workshops, and on decision-making teams.

Assessment of student progress is measured in many ways. Students participate in a Rites of Passage ceremony during their sophomore year by presenting evidence of their educational successes to a committee of peers and other stakeholders. Seniors are assessed similarly during Graduation by Exhibition. Both of these events are based on the knowledge that students learn in different ways. Each student demonstrates his or her strengths and gifts by developing a portfolio of his or her best work.

Through the combined efforts of students, staff and community members, Millennium Quest is hoping to increase CSAP scores in response to improving skills in literacy, science, and math. Additionally, student surveys given early in the school year indicate that most students feel the school is improving dramatically especially in the area of relationships. Future efforts will focus on providing a broader range of enrichment activities for students and on increasing parental involvement through informal community/staff gatherings.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Low

21% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 3% in math, and 10% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Significant Decline

21% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 3% in math, and 10% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 56.2% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 69.3% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 8.0 years of experience, compared to 9.8 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 79.9%, compared to 87.4% districtwide
· The graduation rate for this school (2003-04) is 84.7%, compared to 81.0% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004
· Foreign language program
· Transitional Native Language Instruction program.

Principal Experience:

Programs and Awards:

Pioneer Charter School

Grades: PK-6

Enrollment: 256

Special Features: charter school; All-day kindergarten offered; All-day early childhood education offered; uniforms

About Pioneer Charter School: Pioneer Charter School is a Denver Public School located in northeast Denver. The school opened its doors in 1997 and serves a large population of Hispanic English language learners. Pioneer is an English Language Acquisition (ELA) school with English instruction starting in early childhood education (ECE) through grade five. Pioneer is a uniformed school in all grades. Uniforms depict the school’s colors of navy blue and white for grades ECE through grade five. In the 2005-2006 school year, sixth graders will wear khaki and white.

To address the issues of literacy and the current socio-economic challenges of its community, Pioneer Charter adopted a school-wide reading reform program with several components. Success for All Reading (SFA) focuses on cooperative learning, writing, character education, family support and ongoing student assessment.

Pioneer believes that small class size allows for the development and implementation of personalized learning plans and student data collection designed to support the individual strengths and needs of the child. Teachers are supported in their professional growth by participating in quality ongoing training in the area of ESL strategies for English Language Learners.

Pioneer Charter offers students 179 days of instruction as well as additional classes that augment the curriculum, such as integrated arts, music, gifted and talented education, library resource media and technology, and physical education. Pioneer has acquired many valuable partnerships: the First Tee of Denver, Harmony Project, Rocky Mountain Children’s Choir, and the Denver Junior League and the Pioneer Advisory Council Team (PACT) comprised of the school’s parents. These increased partnerships support the school’s growth in student achievement.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Low

37% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 32% in math, and 29% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Significant Improvement

37% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 32% in math, and 29% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 5.6% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 9.7% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 4.0 years of experience, compared to 6.4 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 94.5%, compared to 92.2% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs:

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 13 year(s) of experience overall and 4 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards: Our belief is that school programs and community partnerships are invaluable resources to the success of a school. Our community partnerships continue to be a positive element in student achievement and teacher satisfaction. This is reflected in the many additional school activities and clubs such as:

Resource Night
Literacy Pancake Breakfast
Family Math Night
Second Cup of Coffee
Multicultural events
Art club
Teacher Yoga class
Student council
Basketball
Soccer

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for charter schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Polaris Program at Ebert Elementary

Grades: K-5

Enrollment: 295

Special Features: magnet school; All-day kindergarten offered

About Polaris Program at Ebert Elementary: The Polaris Program at Ebert Elementary is the first DPS school solely dedicated to meeting the academic and affective needs of highly gifted and high achieving students. The school is the designated northeast Denver site for highly gifted students. Integrated academic/arts curricula, block scheduling and flexible skill grouping support rigorous learning challenges and strong student achievement. The school’s mission is to nurture curiosity / growth of knowledge and to build the courage needed to imagine and achieve. Collaboration of students, parents and teachers creates an innovative, culturally rich learning environment.

An enriched and extended DPS curriculum forms the foundation for study, and extensive curricular materials and an outstanding library are available to assure continuous learning for each student. A tech lab of Dell laptops and classroom computers are used as learning tools and links to the world. Math tools are abundant and Digiblocks from Harvard are used to assure strong conceptual math understanding. Students may study languages before and after school or during Friday electives. Students with individual academic passions are offered the opportunity to explore those domains with the guidance of teachers and/or mentors. Artists-in-Residence are frequent visitors, in addition to regularly scheduled vocal and instrumental music, drama, art and PE classes.

The Polaris Program is a dynamic learning community preparing students to become enthusiastic, confident lifelong learners and thoughtful world citizens.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Excellent

96% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 95% in math, and 87% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Improvement

96% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 95% in math, and 87% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 66.7% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 67.7% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 8.0 years of experience, compared to 9.3 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 96.2%, compared to 94.8% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004
· Before or after school program (Kaleidoscope Corner-303/764-3761)

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 8 year(s) of experience overall and 4 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards: Programs
• Art Club
• Balarat Outdoor Education
• Basketball Club
• CDE 2005 Accomplished School Award
• Chess Club
• Colorado School of Excellence in the Arts

Awards
• Destination Imagination
• Fourth grade Crow Canyon trip
• Friday enrichment electives
• Geography Bee
• Honor Choir
• Instrumental (band and string) instruction and concerts
• John Irwin School of Excellence Award
• Jump Rope Team
• Junior Achievement
• Museum trips
• Opera creation
• Poetry Contests
• Science Fair
• Shakespeare Festival.

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for elementary schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Whittier Elementary School

Grades: PK-7

Enrollment: 210

Special Features: All-day kindergarten offered; All-day early childhood education offered

About Whittier Elementary School: Whittier Elementary School is located in central Denver near the Five Points neighborhood. There are two charter schools and a parochial school located near our attendance area. We are known for delivering curriculum through a structured, yet individualized, approach.

Whittier has a diverse population. We face such challenges as language differences, various learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, increasingly high mobility patterns, and poor school attendance. Yet, Whittier School remains steadfast in our commitment to continue to provide appropriate services to overcome these challenges. As a school, and as a district, this must be our continuing focus.

Our student achievement increased during the 2001-2002 school year over the 2000-2001 school year as determined by student performance on CSAP. Our third graders scored at/above partially proficiency from 81% in 2000-2001 to 85% in 2001-2002. 4th grade CSAP reading scores improved from 57% at/above partially proficient ranges to 95%. Twenty five (25)% of our fifth graders scored at/above proficiency for reading and 26% (up from 16%) for math. Fifty seven percent (57)% of our sixth grade class scored at/above proficiency in reading. Keep in mind that the comparisons in grades 3 through 5 are based on vastly different groups of students from year to year.

We are doing the following to improve student achievement in our school: implementation of a new approach to reading and writing from Denver Public School's New Literacy Plan; direct instruction in math concepts through Scott Foresman Math with an emphasis on the development of higher order thinking skills; and on-going staff development in instructional techniques in both literacy and math. Our staff is dedicated and works hard to provide a caring and productive learning environment.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Low

39% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 26% in math, and 27% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Significant Improvement

39% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 26% in math, and 27% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 78.6% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 66.8% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 7.0 years of experience, compared to 9.7 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 96.4%, compared to 92.7% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs: Special Programs 2003-2004
· English as a Second Language Resource program.

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 2 year(s) of experience overall and 2 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards: Full-day Headstart Early Childhood Education; Half-day Kindergarten; Summer Scholars Literacy Initiative; partnerships with Kaiser Permanente and various community study halls; and Denver Parks and Recreation After-school program. We have been awarded the Colorado Read-To-Achieve Grant and the Colorado Teacher Development Grant to help us implement changes in our instructional strategies to better meet the needs of our students.

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for middle schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Wyatt Edison Charter School

Grades: K-8

Enrollment: 668

Special Features: charter school; All-day kindergarten offered; uniforms

About Wyatt Edison Charter School: Wyatt Edison Charter School (K-8) opened in 1998 as a partnership between Denver Public Schools and Edison Schools, the nation’s leading private manager of public schools. Wyatt’s mission is to provide a world class education to all students – giving children the academic skills and strength of character to become successful citizens.

Wyatt is focused on providing a quality learning environment – using a research-proven curriculum delivered by skilled professional teachers. Students at Wyatt Edison receive a minimum of 90 minutes of reading, 60 minutes of math, and 45 minutes of writing every day, in addition to science, social studies, character education, and enrichment.

To address the individual needs of students, Wyatt employs full-time reading tutors. Students who are reading below grade level receive twenty minutes of one-on-one tutoring each day to guide them towards proficiency.

Students at Wyatt-Edison continue to improve academically each year, as evidenced by this snapshot of recent CSAP results:

• Wyatt students not only out-performed neighborhood schools, but 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade reading and fifth grade math scored above the district average. The number of Wyatt elementary students reading at proficient and above has climbed an average of 18% since 1999.

• Wyatt-Edison 5th grade math scores out-performed DPS average. The students in the proficient and advanced range grew from 29% to 35% from 2001 to 2002.

• Across the board, Wyatt students made gains and continued to move out of the unsatisfactory range.

While these gains are impressive, the reality is that we are still far from our goal of 100% proficiency. However, our school community is marshaling every resource to ensure academic success for all children.

2004-2005 CSAP Performance (SAR): Elem: Average, Mid: Low

44% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 40% in math, and 32% in writing.

2004-2005 Test Score Improvement: Elem: Significant Improvement, Mid: Improvement

44% of students scored at the proficient or advanced levels in reading, 40% in math, and 32% in writing.

Teachers: Teachers 2004-05
· 22.2% of teachers at this school have tenure, compared to 9.7% districtwide
· Teachers at this school have an average of 7.0 years of experience, compared to 6.4 districtwide
Click here for more information

Students: Students 2004-05
· The attendance rate for this school is 98.4%, compared to 92.2% districtwide
Click here for more information

Parent Satisfaction:

Special Programs:

Principal Experience: Principal Experience 2003-2004
· The principal at our school has 19 year(s) of experience overall and 2 year(s) at this school.

Programs and Awards: • Extended school day and year for all students;
• Success for All reading program;
• Rich and challenging, standards-based curriculum;
• Art/Music/Drama or PE classes daily;
• Spanish as a Second Language for all students;
• Free home computers for most families with students in grades three and above;
• Character Education;
• Extensive extracurricular activities, including Boys and Girls Club Satellite Branch; and
• Extensive professional development for teachers.

Source of Data: Information on this page comes from Denver Public Schools. Data is current as of the 2004-05 school year, unless otherwise noted. District averages on this page are for charter schools. For more information about this school, contact your school principal or contact the Public Information Office of Denver Public Schools. This profile was produced by GreatSchools.net, a non-profit organization at www.greatschools.net.

Please Note: The information on this page is beleived to be accurate, however consult directly with your Heart of Denver Properties Realtor or other professional to ensure that you have access to current and accurate data.