Skinner Middle School

At the beginning of the year I had my doubts about this school...not anymore! I can tell you this is a GREAT school! The Principal is always at the top of every single thing at school, she is a true leader. The teachers are caring and they really worry about the success of each student. My daughter was used to very heavy loads of homework and she always did her best and she was kinf of hating school, but now, with so many support from her teachers, she is actually ENJOYING school and LEARNING at the same time and THRIVING!. The staff really has brought the best of her and she absolutelly LOVES her school. The after school programs offered are incredible. The students have a lot to choose from. The parent involvement still got a litle work to do but we are trying, for example there is this group called The Grants and they are amazing...caring for the school and the neighborhood. So come take a look, you wont regret it!
—Submitted by a parent

Do not send your kid here, the majority of the teachers only care about their paychecks, not children's educations. The principle disrespects students, so do multiple teachers. Me and many other students have been called ignorant for common mistakes. It is not good. They overload you with work and blame you for being behind. All of my stress is because of Skinner Middle School.

Our 6th grader is thriving at Skinner this year. Classes are interesting and challenging, the sports team experience was wonderful and the drama club is a big hit. Our child is finding a great balance of support and independence, at least so far. This is the well-rounded, neighborhood middle school experience we had hoped for and we are so pleased we made this decision. We recommend Skinner without reservation!
—Submitted by a parent

We have been very happy at Skinner for the past two years. After school opportunities continue to grow. Skinner offers all the opportunities you might remember from your own school experience; sports, art, music including band and Spanish classes. Skinner Middle School offers a friendly and supportive environment for students to grow and challenge themselves during the sometimes challenging tween/beginning teen years. The school offers a very effective restorative justice program for any bullying behavior issues that might arise. I highly recommend Skinner. It is a great neighborhood school choice!
—Submitted by a parent

I am currently a 7th Grade student attending the 2010-2011 school year. I think Skinner is a great school. I LOVE going to school each day. All the teachers are very nice and they motivate you to get the work done. I'm in all the honors classes. They have great expectations and expect you to meet them. Our honors classes are overflowing with students. I have fun in every class and I just love it!!!!!!!!!!!

i dont know just that the girls in skinner want to fight, their parents might not know that but i a teen im suffering it and skinner is not good for some students

Skinner offers great arts and sports, community involement, and a well rounded academic experience.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended Skinner for 8th grader during the 07-08 school year and I was really impressed with the high expectations of academic excellence at this school. The principal is very demanding in regard to academics but also has excellent rapport with the students. The students seem to like it that someone there are high expectations as it gives them the message that they are capable. The Skinner Neighborhood Center which is housed at Skinner and offers enrichment programs for the students after school is a real gift to the youth in the neighborhood. My son participated in the pre-collegiate program and got to visit a college campus at least one Saturday every month during the school year. This has really motivated him now that he is in high school. Skinner did an excellent job of preparing my son for the college prep high school that he now attends.
—Submitted by a parent

Skinner Middle School is a great place to work and learn. The school currently has very strong and positive leadership. The school has a low enrollment which helps to create a family atmosphere. The staff really are able to get to know their students. You can walk into any classroom and by looking at the white or black board know exactly what the students will be learning on any given day. Our northwest Denver schools get a bad rap but I believe that if someone spends meaningful time visiting Skinner they will find a school where students are learning and moving toward reaching their full potential. An earlier posting described a school that was quite segregated. Whatever elements existed at the time of that posting are not a part of the current Skinner Middle School.
—Submitted by a teacher

I am a student at Skinner Middle School..I believe that Skinner is a Great school! i love being at school everyday.. The teachers are so kind,smart, and helpful! Send your child(ren) to Skinner Middle School!
—Submitted by a student

Skinner to be honest is a very good school, but the reason I rated it the way I did is, because the new princple is very strict! And well maybe that may be good quality for the parents of many students, for various reasons of course, but if you want your kid to enjoy school. then if I was you I wouldnt send them to Skinner Middle School. Why? because we have no socials, no field trips, practiclly no nothing! Now I as a student also know that grades come first then fun, but really students need a break too! Especially on festivities, not only because of too much work but also because of other reasons. So this school has gone from B to a D through the past year, and all because the princple is way to obsessed with the idea that every minute should be spent 'learning?'
—Submitted by a former student

I attended Skinner Middle School from 2001-2004 and it was a great experience. The teachers there, though it may not be apparent, work harder then any I've seen in my academic career. While attending I was able to travel to San Diego, California for Sea Camp in the spring. It was great to get out of Colorado and it taught me many life skills. The school totally prepared me for my current school Denver School of Science and Technology, which right now is the best school in DPS for Math and second best in reading/writing only to DSA. Parents, though some may disagree, were always apart of events that went on and were a constant help to the school. It was a great school and i encourage all prospective students to go there
—Submitted by chris, a former student

Skinner is a bi-lingual school, but that only means that it's a nearly completely segregated learning experience. It is also home to a program for the severely emotionally handicapped and physically handicapped. Because the Spanish speaking students and the handicapped are pulled for their individual classes, the electives are a chaotic blend of overstimulated children and grossly underprepared teachers. The few teachers that are good are fabulous; unfortunately there are far too many uninvolved, lacidasical. Additionally, because of the transient nature of the neighborhood, and the fact that many children are being raised by grandparents or non-English speaking parents, Skinner parent involvement is nearly exclusively white and woefully under-represented.
—Submitted by a teacher

I have one daughter that left Skinner 3.0 GPA and one attending Skinner. My oldest enjoyed and learn at a steady pace. My youngest is already advanced so I will be watching closely and with the confidence that I have in the teachers I will be proud. The people who answer the phone and take care of the office need help but as far as the teachers go....No problems there! May I suggest a communications and conflict class for the office personnel?
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter was in 6th grade during the 2003-2004 year, during the first couple of months we encountered numerous problems. The teachers and staff appeared to have little control of the students. It became very obvious in a short amount of time that Skinner was a bad choice for middle school. My daughter had decent grades in Elementary and quickly they declined at Skinner. The change in attitude and respect for others became totally unacceptable. Our decision was made to enroll her into a private school where she would be given the opportunity for a positive learning experience and teachers who cared. Skinner has a long way to come to give children a decent learning environment.
—Submitted by a parent