Coyote Creek Elementary School

I would rate this school mediocre. I don't feel the quality of instruction is high based on the amount of worksheets (busy work) that come home. There needs to be an effective teacher in EVERY classroom. Giving students worksheets to complete when they finish their initial task isn't pushing them to go deeper with their thinking.

CCE is an amazing school! The parent involvement is high and the community outreach is great. This year the school started teaching Leader In Me which is 7 Habits for children. It s a life changing program and will only make the school and students better year after year. The new principle has really improved the school. She has initiated many wonderful programs like Outdoor Ed, student garden, and Spanish as part of the daily curriculum. She has also prioritized learned by keeping the teacher/student ratio down. The teachers really care about the students and you can tell by how happy they are when they return home each day. CCE has improved tremendously over the past two years. We are proud to be a part of this school!
—Submitted by a parent

Great things are happening at Coyote Creek. The leadership at this school is wonderful. The principal, Mrs. Whalen, has already brought so much to this school in the short time she has been there. The school is in the process of becoming a Leader in Me school which follows the Covey's 7 habits. Great school, great leadership, great teachers, great families.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been so pleased with the direction this school is heading under the new leadership of Principal Whalen. She is approachable, willing to listen, and appears to have greatly improved the morale in the building. I am excited to see where she takes this school in the coming years. Don't hesitate to send your child to CCE. This school is just beginning to reach it's full potential. Great things are happening here and it will only get better as more and more parents get involved.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 girls that have attended Coyote Creek from K thru 5th grade. I couldn't be more pleased with the quality of education and especially the quality of teachers. With the unfavorable economic turn that has impacted all schools, we have been forced to come up with alternative funding solutions. This is where the PTO, and SAC committee's have been great simply brilliant. The parent involvement in their kid s education has been key to success in this school that has seen it's fair share of cutbacks and teacher reductions. Administration has changed twice, but for the better each time. We have awesome leadership, and a safe environment. I highly recommend this school to any parents considering an open enrollment or relocation to the 80129. These kids are well prepared. The CSAP scores are well above average. Also, CCE is one of very few nut free schools. Children with severe nut allergies can be assured that their health and safety free from nuts in the environment is protected. Some of the previous negative comments regarding the principal / administration are based on a previous principal that was replaced due to philosophical indifference. Today all is well!
—Submitted by a parent

Coyote Creek Elementary is a resource rich school to teach in. We have an excellent library, rich technology resources for every classroom and a professional staff dedicated to staying up on the latest 21st century teaching and learning protocol along with continuing to best meet the academic and social/emotional needs of our students. Coyote Creek supports teachers visions for teaching better and growing professionally.
—Submitted by a teacher

We have enjoyed being a part of CCE! It's a great environment with wonderful caring teachers!
—Submitted by a parent

We moved in at mid-year. We have found the school and surrounding community both welcoming and engaged. When we enrolled our child the principal was very interested in meeting us and our child. The school also provides many opportunities to get involved with the staff and teachers, this does require you to volunteer your time. (Watch Dogs or PTO) However the investment of time is worth the return when thinking about your child's education. The teachers communicate well with parents about how well your child is doing or where there may be opportunity. They offer advice (when asked) for ways to help your child improve. There are no buses for this school but given it's proximity to the surrounding neighborhood it simply is not necessary. What makes a great school is: Parent and community involvement.
—Submitted by a parent

I have found the administration at Coyote Creek to be extremely disappointing. I feel a principal should not only be present in the building but should make an effort to meet parents, attend pre-scheduled meetings with concerned parents (rather than just not show without explanation), and at the very least, attend kindergarten graduation. I recognize that the district cuts have resulted in staff reduction. As a parent it would be somewhat reassuring to know what the situation is going to look like this school year to adequately prepare my child. I think the administration is very poor at relaying information to parents resulting in the appearance of laziness or fear on their behalf.
—Submitted by a parent

My children had the best year ever there. We are moving due to my husbands job and are so sad to be leaving Coyote Creek. The teachers my children had were so caring. Academically they were very good and helped my 3 kids so much. I wish i could take this school and the teachers with us. I highly recommend it.
—Submitted by a parent

All of Douglas County public schools are struggling to cut costs. It is illogical to us why principal Brill is choosing the route of cutting staff and increasing class sizes as a means to deal with the problem. All this while a multi million dollar addition has broken ground. The teachers are fantastic so we are very saddened by the poor management of the administration.
—Submitted by a parent

Personal experience with some administrative office staff was extremely unprofessional. They genuinely made me feel uncomfortable when I came into the office and seemed to do so knowingly.
—Submitted by a parent

The leadership at CCE is currently chaniging. Tragically, the old leadership allowed a level of education that is pathetic. Teachers do not communicate with parents, there is no enthusiasm for teaching and no excitement for the students. The curriculum may have been determined outside of the school but the execution has been nothing short of inadequate. I am pulling my daughter and placing her in another school after 2 years of frustration. My child's opinion of school has been damaged by her time at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

The leadership at CCE is sadly, lacking. There is no vision, enthusiasm, or creative thinking. The current administration doesn't value parent input, feedback, or suggestions. I would heavily caution anyone thinking of sending their children to CCE.
—Submitted by a parent

My experience has been that Coyote Creek has great teachers. My children experienced a great learning environment
—Submitted by a parent

This school has been terrible since the arrival of the current principal. We left the school because of the extremely poor leadership of this principal. Some teachers at the school are still conscientious, but we were stuck with a poor quality teacher the year before we escaped the school. What a nightmare!
—Submitted by a parent

Coyote Creek was great until the current principal came along. It went down fast after she arrived. I am now homeschooling my sons. I agree with the parent who said that teachers were too strict in some areas and not strict enough in others. Not every infraction needs a trip to the office; most things can and should be handled in the classroom.
—Submitted by a parent

Two of my children attended Coyote Creek from 2003-2005. Both of their teachers for both years were excellent. My daughters 3rd grade teacher, Mr. Kollar, was one of those teachers she will remember her whole life...truly wonderful! The parents are very involved. The only thing I didn't always like was the track system. The only drawback to it, as far as I was concerned, was that the same kids were in class together from K-6.
—Submitted by a parent

I had two kids who attended this school until I moved out of area. Our experience overall was not good. As an engineer with an MSEE from one of the top schools in the country I felt that math was not taught adequately early on. Some of the teachers are too strict in areas they should not be but not good in other areas; not enough focus on basics. Principal is not very attentive to all the needs of all the students. Some preferential treatment given to some students. The area for dropping and picking up students is particularly dangerous. I would strongly advice others to think carefully before enrolling kids in this school.
—Submitted by Juan Rodriguez, a parent