Mackintosh Academy

This is an outstanding school. We have had our son here for 4 years, and it has been wonderful watching him grow and learn from the caring and sensitive teachers. All the kids are smart, whether or not they are twice exceptional. Parents should know that really what they are paying for is great teachers, small classes, and a school philosophy of respect and openess that evident in the classroom and elsewhere. We were lucky to find this school, after years in the Jeffco school system, where kids were expressly taught to score well on the CSAP and classes were focused on making sure most kids were essentially performing at an average level. The only negative is that Mac ends at 8th grade, and finding a follow up school for your child of similar quality can be a challenge.
--Submitted by a parent

My son has met challenges in other schools and thankfully, we have found in Mack a school that he LOVES! This is his 2nd year and the thought of having to consider any other option scares me. I didn't think there was any program out there for him, however, he is truly thriving in this program. My son works very hard loving every minute of it, learning amazing skills and practicing skills that help develop a character that complements what we try to teach him at home. How wonderful that the administration has worked hard to expand the program to kids like my son in the Boulder area! As the head master sets the stage for the beautiful Mackintosh program and philosophy in Boulder, she has left the extremely capable and warm Mrs. Anderson in charge at the Littleton campus. Although there has been teacher turnover, the teachers who are there clearly want to be there evidenced by their enthusiasm. We have not ever experienced less than excellence from any staff member on the campus. My son will be at this school for as long as they will have him. I, for one, am glad they have expanded to allow others the same opportunity for an exciting gifted education!
--Submitted by a parent

This my child's second year at Mackintosh Academy and we are delighted with the results! Learning gains have been tremendous as a direct result of the academically rigorous and thoughtfully implemented IB curriculum--adapted to the needs of gifted and talented students and students who are twice exceptional. It is an environment where children are treated as individuals and their learning styles are addressed accordingly. We looked throughout the metro area for a school that would meet the social and emotional needs of our child as well as a demanding academic environment. The IB Curriculum at Mackintosh and the language program met our goals for globally competitive education. Focus on performing and visual arts provided opportunity for self-expression and comprehensive exposure to the arts. Focus on physical fitness, PE is offered everyday, allowed for awareness of well-being. To this, we have found that the administration, staff, and parent body exhibit genuine interest in and kindness to our family. We look forward to many years at this school and are grateful that the model is being shared with others.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is a Godsend. We have 2 kids at Mack, one who is "twice exceptional", and one who is "just gifted". Both are intellectually challenged, supported in both their strenghs and challenges, and are developing fantastic awareness of themselves, their community in and outside of school. School leadership is compassionate, professional, and visionary- setting an example of world citizenship and scholarly and creative excellence that will serve my kids well throughout their lives. Our family is proud to be part of the Mackintosh community and I am grateful for the partnership of the teachers and leadership in giving my kids a remarkable education.
--Submitted by a parent

(CONTINUED FROM ABOVE) I have worked in educational research for over 10 years and have never encountered a more wonderful and effective school, set of faculty, and administrators. The Head of School is an outstanding leader and visionary, who has always extended such warmth, compassion, and commitment. We appreciate how she consistently makes herself accessible and available to us despite her numerous responsibilities. Our daughters teacher is the very best educator I have encountered in my ten years experience working in education. She is nothing short of amazing to us as parents and our children. We are thrilled that these same opportunities are being extended to other students and families at our second campus in Boulder.
--Submitted by a parent

We absolutely love Mackintosh Academy and feel so blessed that our children have the opportunity to attend. As a parent with a Ph.D. background in education and child development with three gifted children, I am amazed by the individualized instruction, curriculum supported by strong research, depth of understanding of cognition and learning theories, outcomes based approach, IB philosophy, emphasis on developing the whole gifted child (i.e. academically, emotionally, creatively) and most of all, the exceptional teachers and administration. Words cannot express how grateful we are to see our children thrive, grow, explore, and embrace a pure love of learning and passion for life because of their experiences at Mackintosh. It is a true gift as a parent to see your children fit so perfectly and be so happy at school and with themselves. All three of our children have attended the past two years. They LOVE school and have maintained such a high level of intrinsic motivation and academic growth. (CONTINUED BELOW)
--Submitted by a parent

The IB curriculum with gifted focus has worked extremely well for our children. We have overall had excellent teachers, however, only 50% of the teachers that where here last year are still here. Only 3 of the 15 teachers went to the Boulder Campus. Four teachers left this last month. Our teacher, whom had over 12 years of experience, has been replaced with a new grad whose bio includes "camp counselor". I expect more for the $15,000 per child price tag. The assistant pricipal is wonderful, however. Do your homework carefully. I am sad to say, if the trend of quality teachers leaving continues, we will be leaving as well. Hopefully this review will not be removed by Great School administrators as many other insightfull reviews by parents and teachers
--Submitted by a parent

Although I agree with the previous parent that Mackintosh has been a great place for my kids, adding the Boulder campus has distracted the Director badly from the Littleton campus, and the emphasis is clearly on the new Boulder school. Case in point- when grandparents (read: donors) were recently invited to the Littleton campus, the Director spent her time talking to them about the Boulder campus, not the campus where thier grandchildren (and money) are going- Littleton. The Asst.Head of School at Littleton is a fantastic lady who is providing great leadership, but the opening of a second campus has further taxed what was already a "thin bench"- if a teacher is sick or someone leaves, there is a mad scramble to staff classes, and student learning suffers. This academic year there have already been 4 abrupt "transitions" (read: teachers leaving suddenly or being let go), and as a result, kids are only taking Spanish 1 day per week due to staffing problems. This is no way to learn a language, and for nearly 15K, parents and families should expect more. Mack is stll a great school in many ways, but we (and many other familes) no longer feel we are getting our $s worth.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of two children who attend the wonderful Littleton campus. They are both happy and well adjusted, love their teachers, and are receiving a high quality education. As a parent of gifted children who understands the social and emotional needs of this population, I am thrilled that the parents of Boulder will now have a school like this one to send their children to. It saddens me to read postings from other parents who are questioning the wisdom and priorities of the director of this school for opening a Boulder campus. Unfortunately for some, change is a threatening element, but for others it signifies the opening of new horizons and opportunities. This campus is solid and the teachers are highly qualified and dedicated.
--Submitted by a parent

My children are getting ready to go back to school, and I'm very concerned that so many of the fine Mackintosh teachers (10+) are not returning to the school. How much our sweet Littleton campus is going to change now that the Boulder sister school is up and running? Where is the headmaster's priorities? Our children have been very, very happy at Mack -- and they love the school. But as the previous reviewer said, things are changing. I hope the administration doesn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
--Submitted by a parent