Denver Green School

I am a student at DGS and by far I hate it! I am in 6th grade and my teachers are the worst! I mainly have 3 teachers depending on that specific day. there is Mrs. ****** which is probably the worst. She sometimes gives refocus to the kids that actually do their homework! Second is Mr. ******, he isn't that bad but as the school year passes by he starts getting even more strict. Mr. ********* is the third and I have got to say he needs to keep his hands to himself! He grabs kids from the shoulders and pushes them so that he can get their attention. I think they need better teachers for the 6th grade. for 7th and 8th grade, I think the teachers a very nice. I am making this review mainly for those 5th graders that are heading the 6th grade! I am saying this from experience so I do not recommend this school for your child, especially if he/she is in 6th grade.

We don't bring this criticism lightly. We admire aspects of this school & the teachers. Our child loves his teachers & they encourage him to incorporate his specific skill set into his learning as often as possible. You can pay 250$ a week over summer to come work a portion of the garden. We can't afford it. Bummer because we live in an apartment, but here is our biggest issue: American history, basic economics & foreign languages are not taught. We find this to be an ongoing & troubling issue. Their priorities are kind of out of whack: Last Fall, funds raised for patio stones @ 50$ ea. could have been used to buy books for the Literature teacher who didn't have enough for her students. We don't feel our child is being prepared for the rigors of high school academia. Not laying this entirely at the feet of his current school, but important pieces are missing there & resolution seems to come slowly if at all. We feel our son @ times is a proverbial guinea pig immersed in an experimental education, the results of which are questionable & may only be revealed long after he's departed DGS.
—Submitted by a parent

THIS SCHOOL IS HANDS DOWN - THE BEST THAT DPS HAS TO OFFER!!! My son opted out of Hill to go to DGS and it's a good thing he did. He is doing so well that he doesn't even have to take HS algebra next year. The teachers are amazing and there is none of the dreaded "middle school drama" going on. Cannot recommend it enough.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is awesome. My daughter is in 3rd grade, her teachers are great, supportive and very attentive.
—Submitted by a parent

I must say this school is by far one of the best in SE Denver. My daughter began kindergarten with Ms. Pattishaw and has excelled all school year. She is now reading at the 3rd grade level and is advanced in over half of her course work The teachers are extremely involved, kids are great and the concept is unique. She especially enjoys the ski club, demonstration nights and family events. Three cheers for Denver Green School... Hip Hip Hooray!
—Submitted by a parent

The best school in DPS, I am convinced. Both my son and daughter attend DGS, and have since it opened last year, and we have been continually impressed by both the teaching staff and the parenting community. I am very comfortable leaving my children here every morning, I know that they are in great hands. My daughter attended another DPS school prior to coming to DGS, and the difference is amazing. Both my children are excited to go to school. Another perk is the farm attached to the school, what a fantastic thing to have the kids know and see where food comes from! DGS fosters and really cares about the community around it, and the community of the families and students, and it shows.
—Submitted by a parent

While searching for a middle school, we discovered Denver Green School. After talking to the Partners that started and run the school, we not only sent our middle school aged child, but our elementary school age child as well. We live in district at a top rated DPS school, but choiced both of our children to attend DGS. They are both in their second year at DGS and our family couldn't be happier. What stands out at DGS are the amazing teachers and staff. We are so impressed with how much our children are learning and thriving. It's also telling when your children never want to miss school. The sustainability focus and hands on learning keep the kids engaged and enables them to work together and individually when appropriate. I'm impressed with how well the teachers can handle students at different levels yet keep them all engaged and focused. I volunteer for the school and am constantly amazed with what is being accomplished. Keep in mind we only have one year of test scores and just one class that tested - I'm confident we'll improve in this area as more accurate data is available.
—Submitted by a parent

DGS has changed our family s life! Although that may seem a little dramatic, it is absolutely the case on so many levels. After attending a top ranked DPS school for K-1, we found our daughter misunderstood, defeated and uninterested in school. To be so young and have feelings of extreme diminished self-worth created by her academic performance, left us feeling scared, confused, angry and helpless as parents. No one ever wants to hear, I m stupid and dumb from your five year old child repeatedly. Enter DGS! The reasons why we chose DGS pale in comparison to the actual actions, love, care, dedication and commitment to our child. I could go on for days about the daily activities that have transformed our little one into someone who actually loves school and is loving herself. I am in awe of the Lead Partners and the group of amazing teachers that fill the halls of DGS. As parents, we are not alone, finally, in our advocacy for our daughter. Our daughter is getting an amazing education, becoming a well-rounded lifelong learner and now speaks to us about her importance within her community at DGS. Wow! Thanks DGS.
—Submitted by a parent

You can tell just by walking in the door of a school whether it gives off a good vibe or not. Walking in the door of Denver Green School, you can tell that it is a great place to be. This is my daughter's second year here, she started in kindergarten when the school opened last year. I am consistently amazed by the enthusiastic, caring teachers and administration, and their passion not only for the green school concept, but for the overall wellbeing of the students. I have found the parent community to be involved and interested in the school's success. No school is perfect. This is a neighborhood school in a neighborhood that used to be mainly older people but is seeing an influx of families. It has also become popular with parents seeking to choice in. The result of this is, as another poster mentioned, growing pains. However, the school remedied the problem of class size in the first grade classes, and there is now an assistant. While unfortunate, the delay in getting the assistant had nothing to do with fundraising being used for a garden, but was a result of internal DPS hiring processes. DGS shouldn't be faulted for that, especially given its other great qualities.
—Submitted by a parent

The Denver Green School (DGS) is a wonderful school. And I mean that in the sense that it is a place full of wonder. My daughter was in the school's very very first Kindergarten class last year and is now enjoying a very rich and rewarding First grade class. The curriculum is based on educating for sustainability. Learning takes place in the context of understanding ones place as a member of a community-How we treat ourselves, our friends and our planet. Our family could not be happier with this school. The entire faculty and staff- from the teachers to administrators to the office, maintenance and lunch staff ALL consistently exhibit the utmost level of professional excellence. As we are only in our second year, perhaps the test scores mentioned here are not as high as they should be. Yet, if you could see the quality and feel the enthusiasm of the learning happening there you would see why I am confident DGS will soon have a national reputation for academic excellence and student excitement.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is only in its second year and it is having growing pains. I love the concept of the school. They are the only school in Colorado at this time that grows food for its cafeteria. I just wish they would have raised over $10K for teacher assistants rather than the garden. My child's first grade has 29 enrolled students and one lone teacher. Unfortunately we only have a couple of parent volunteers for the classroom as well. We are definitely looking for another school.
—Submitted by a parent