Bennett Elementary School

Bennett Elementry is five star! I feel from the Principal to the Teachers each member of this school cares about each and every kid. I have two children that have attended from Preschool to fourth grade. This is a Great School. A Involved Parent
--Submitted by a parent

I have been a part of the Bennett community since 1982. The district has seen some definite ups and downs, but at the heart of education for families in the shadow of larger metro districts remains solid, hard working professionals with students' needs as their number one priority. Funding, staff turnover rate, and improvements have struggled as most small districts do. Over the last few years significant, positive changes have occured within the school board and core of each buildings' staff (Elem, Middle, & High). Competing with the significantly higher metro salaries will always be an issue for our district, which borders Aurora and Cherry Creek. Kudos to those staff members who have remained constant and committed to providing the best education possible to Bennett and Watkins children.
--Submitted by a parent

My review here only applies to the elementary school. I have 4 children in the district and the education they received in Elementary was all I could have hoped for. The turnover rate is high but I have always felt welcome whenever I have visited and never had any complaints about the education they received.
--Submitted by a parent

The material for this school are great even though it is out in the middle on nowwhere. The teachers try their hardest to make school fun and creat a school where children are learning a lot. Parent's seem to run the school, and teachers seems to need a boost in enjoyment but over all this school is great compared to the charter school in Bennett.
--Submitted by a teacher

It has been three years since my original posting on this site. I must say, although there is still room for improvement, Bennett Schools has; overall, 'stepped it up a bit'. Parent involvement is welcomed and appreciated and there are more extracurricular activities in this district for elementarty aged children than any other I've seen. Their consistency has improved tenfold and the quality of my child's education seems to have increased exponentially. A hint for parents looking to move into this area is to involve yourself in the school and your childs education and you will be confident that your child is receiving a 'personal' education in this district.
--Submitted by Trixie J Ferguson, a parent

My children have attended Bennett most of their lives, to my dismay. The teacher/administrator turnover rate is incredibly high, so there is a huge amount of inconsistency in their education. From the time my youngest started Kindergarten until fifth grade, there were 4 different full time Elementary principals, plus one interim one. I lost count of the Superintendents. Same story in the Middle and High Schools, as well. The only teacher's worth their pay, to my experience, were Ms. Piland, who is retiring, and a few others, who are no longer teaching at Bennett Elementary. I am also horrified at the high number of embarassing news stories about Bennett Schools, in general.
--Submitted by a parent

I have kids in High School and Middle School. A huge complain is that there are no real 'electives'. The classes offered are poor, and the kids, for the most part, are placed in them with little choice. My son was placed in choir, when he has no desire to sing or be a part of that class. Later, he was switched to something called Rap and Rock. There is no real foreign language studies. My son was signed up for Spanish, and it was a mix of all languages...2 weeks at a time studying different cultures. There are many opportunities for parental involvement at the Elementary Level, but it dissipates as the children move up to the Middle and High Schools. There do seem to be a select group of parents who stay involved in the kids sports and activities, and help with the children whose parents cannot volunteer.
--Submitted by a parent

Most children don't get enough one on one.Almost no music or art.Sports are very unorganized.School does very well with involving parents. If a child comes forward about being bullied, they are usually punished as well.
--Submitted by a parent

This school district has an incredible amount of inconsistency in dealing with day to day business. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing and I would recommend parents avoid this district AT ALL COSTS! The education the kids get is inferior and the trouble in dealing with the school and staff is not worth it!
--Submitted by Trixie Ferguson, a parent