Gilpin County Elementary School

The teachers, staff, and administration at this school are top notch! We hand-picked this school, and we could not be any happier with the outstanding education and services for which my child has participated. There is a lot of work and homework and my child, who was "behind", has been able to start catching-up to her classmates. This is due to a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of my child, myself, her teacher(s), and the school staff. I can't so much speak to the "parent involvement" as I currently am not able to be as involved as I would like.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a bad school. The main problem with this school is the absence of a supportive, student-focused administration. The principal is inept and completely lacks resolution when it comes to handling problems with teachers, and will always side with the teacher despite student welfare. Additionally, there is no sense that this school is poised to make any positive changes for the future. There's no conscious decision to be progressive or proactive on the part of the administration. Yes, they implemented a Montessori program several years ago, but it has stayed afloat by parental involvment, not the administration's own initiative. Additionally, the administration has a history of hiring teachers that have no experience teaching in a Montessori environment. The program is mediocre in comparison; definately not noteworthy yet. We removed our children from this school, like many others before us, and placed them in a school with lower test scores. An evaluation upon entering their new school, put them at over a full grade level behind! You owe it to your child to avoid this school.
--Submitted by a parent

My children have been in the Montessori program within this public school for 4 years and we love it!!! Great teachers, individualized learning and great testing scores!
--Submitted by a parent

My Review it's on 5th grade. Not happy with the attention in the overall of my kids behavior and grades from the teacher, there is not communication in between teacher and parents. Not all the parents can go to school every week. I found out everything from my kid. My 3rd grader it
--Submitted by a parent

I believe Gilpin County School is a school with great ideas and intentions. As a community we can work together to make our school stronger in all aspects, to insure the greatness our children diserve. Just like every school and district, we have political issues that can hinder parents in their movements, but I believe as parents we must persevere beyond these issues. To many people leave it up to the board and staff to run a school when we as parents should be more involved and educated. Gilpin County School is a good school, and I believe with more parent/community involvement, we can be a part of an amazing future for our children!
--Submitted by a parent

It saddens me to have had to remove my 5th grader from Gilpin County School but we gave the school many chances to perform to excellence and they fought our efforts every step of the way. The school board (face to face) laughed at parents concerns, requests, and complaints to the point that these parents also removed their children and placed them in other nearby districts. The sad part of all of this is that the teaching staff is highly qualified to do an excellent job but understands that accountability is not something that will be consistent, the teachers, and principals fall short of their potential about midyear. We have actually moved to a district where the CSAP scores are lower than Gilpin s, however, the district we have moved to listened to the parents and immediately started reorganizing to better the quality of education provided to their students.. The only problem with Gilpin County School is that they are too small and have a God Like complex with not enough people to hold those in charge accountable.
--Submitted by a parent