Hulstrom Options K-8 School

The gifted and talented program is by the far among the top programs in the country. My kids recently transferred from Hulstrom to another regular but highly ranked school district in a different state. They are so far ahead in nearly every area of learning. They were challenged, encouraged and empowered in every possible way by Hulstrom's quietly intelligent teachers. It is a task to challenge them similarly now. To say that we miss this school is an understatement. I want to thank the school and the teachers for all they have done for my kids and wish them the best for the coming years.
—Submitted by a parent

Both of my children have attended Hulstrom since kindergarten and have been there for almost five years. I can not express enough how amazing our personal experiences have been and how pleased we ALL are with the school, teachers, parents, administrators, and staff. It's true, the academic pace is fast and best suited to children who pick up new information quickly, retain it well, and make use of that information readily and without much repetition. While there are many areas for a child to excel, this is a school for the academically gifted, highly intelligent, fast learner. Hulstrom does have wonderful "specials" opportunities in music, art, and Chinese; however, if one of these areas is the primary discipline your child is "gifted" in, they are going to drown in their classroom and possibly suffer with self-esteem issues due to the ever dreaded "peer comparisons." Some reviewers have complained about the amount of homework, but it's not overwhelming to kids who do it quickly. Bottom line, know both your child and what you are getting into before starting here.
—Submitted by a parent

I thank my lucky stars my child got into Hulstrom! The lottery process was a little unnerving, but now that he is a third grader I am thankful everyday that our "number was pulled." Being an advance learner, I was worried the neighborhood school would leave him bored and frustrated. Hulstrom has proven year after year, to not only challenge but to nurture him through learning and social steps. The teachers and administration are top-notch and honestly care about each and every child !I am looking forward to my youngest to start kindergarten here in the Fall. It's just an all around great school! I just wish it wasn't so hard to get into!
—Submitted by a parent

This is our 3rd year in the Hulstrom family. We have three children who all attend this fantastic school. Two of our children started here in Kindergarten and one transferred into Hulstrom. The school has gone above and beyond to meet the individual social, emotional and educational needs of each of our VERY different children. The prior administration did a great job with any discipline issues that arose. However, we felt something was lacking. The current administration has impressed us with their daily personal investment into the lives of our children. Their excitement for education is contagious. When you LOVE your job - it is evident! The faculty has gained our admiration for their genuine enthusiasm to teach our children. They challenge our children to be their best and to bring their best each and every day. New this year at Hulstrom, is the PBIS system. This positive behavior system has seen results that prove it is a great addition to our school. A little fine tuning after its pilot year will only increase its effectiveness. We look forward to many more excellent years at Hulstrom. We are ecstatic our children have an environment in which to thrive!!!
—Submitted by a parent

We are thankful for Hulstrom each and every day and cannot imagine our kids at any other school. Hulstrom teachers and staff care immensely about students and work hard to make students and the overall school very successful. They continue to meet the needs of our GT child and provide an educational experience that is unbeatable. The PBIS system is not new to the district, but is new to Hulstrom. It has provided consistency and positive rewards to students and staff. Parents are invested at Hulstrom and give generously with time and resources which helps the entire Hulstrom community.
—Submitted by a parent

Hulstrom Options is a great school because of its wonderful teachers and strong leadership. We have seen Hulstrom blossom in the last few years after they moved into the new building, and that will continue to be the case in the coming years. We are very proud to be part of this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been at Hulstrom since kindergarten and I really like it. The only problem now is discipline. Since they began the PBIS system, class attention is worse than ever. I'm in 8th grade, and the 8 GT class cannot be quiet for more than a minute. Since we got a new principal last year, the quality is starting to go down. I preferred our previous principal; she really made sure the kids stayed in line, but was really friendly. If there were any problems, they were stopped right away. She also was very involved, much more than our current principal. I am not happy about the future of this school based on what I am seeing this year.

When we first started at Hulstrom, we felt it was a fantastic school that understood gifted and talented children. Unfortunately, in the last couple of years, we feel the school's quality has declined and the administration has lost sight of the needs of the children. They are very driven by CSAP results and seem to be making decisions based on impacting scores versus the needs of the learners. The teachers are dedicated and truly care, but the direction of the school is concerning.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of a current full day kinder student, I am very pleased with Hulstrom. Everyone genuinely cares about these kids and their education. The new principal is fantastic. He is so personable and really listens to each and every concern that is put in front of him. My child has grown so much academically as well as socially and it is not even half way through the year! This family is proud to be a part of Hulstrom.
—Submitted by a parent

As a current student, i have been happy with all the information that i have gotten since preschool (when they still had preschool) and all the teachers are very wonderful. and i have only not liked my teacher once. that was this year, 7th grade. but other than that, i would recommend this school to any parent who has a bright child

Hulstrom is a great school not only because the teachers and facilty work hard to keep learning chanllenging but because the parents really care about the school and the quality of education and are willing to do what it takes to support the school. My daughter is doing very well in school thanks to her wonderful teachers! Test scores are not the only reason Hulstrom is a top rated school.
—Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school - IF it is a good fit for your child. A GT education at this school seems to mean 'accelerated,' with no accommodation to different learning styles or strengths. Parent input is not welcome by the principal, though teachers seem to do their best to listen to parents as far as their strict performance expectations will allow. There is lots of homework at all grade levels and minimal non-academic time. It seems that students who are highly verbal, highly linear, and OK with lots of structure do best at this school. I gave it three stars because I think the district's only magnet GT school should be more accomodating to all types of students rather than expecting diverse children to fit the school's predetermined mold. More attention should be paid to the students' needs rather than to the school's success.
—Submitted by a parent

My child attended hulstrom options for 2 years.This school has been a complete disappointment. The school's focus is to get high ratings on academic scores. Their mission is to have accelerated advanced education- which means your child will learn 3rd grade math and spelling when in 1st grade GT. I found that the school did not provide great teaching and gave a lot of homework which creates parents teaching the kids. Also, the school is so focused on moving fast, if your child has difficulty in one area, there is not time to help. The staff, students and parents seem very stressed out here. Also, the school principles do not handle bullying issues so well. From my experience, Hulstrom's main goal is to be the highest scored school in the area, with no regard to the students psychological, developmental or emotional needs.
—Submitted by a parent

Hulstrom is an EXCELLENT all-around school for gifted and talented children! Smaller classrooms and wonderful teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children in this school, both in different programs. This is an EXCELLENT school, with very committed teachers and staff. Both my children are challenged and thriving in this school. Not easy to get in but well worth it!
—Submitted by a parent

As a former student of hulstrom, I can honestly say that is an amazing school. The knowledge that I got their pails in comparison to the other schools in the district. But the best part is definitely the teachers. They are all extremely attentive and have greatly influenced my knowledge and understanding of the world. This school definitely has a lot to offer!
—Submitted by a student

This is a school where the teachers, the principal, and most importantly the parents all have the goal of giving the kids the best educational opportunities possible. We are impressed with the quality of teaching especially in the gifted talented program that our son is in. We recommend this school to everyone who takes his/her child's education seriously.
—Submitted by a parent

We are very please with this school! Love the Young Scholars program. I wish more schools could be like this!
—Submitted by a parent

Wow, this school has it all. There are programs for everyone. The gifted and talented program is excellent. Possibly the best school in the Denver area for above average learners. I would definitely recommend this school to anyone with a child with high academic needs. Excellent behavior and high expectations for all students are evident every day!
—Submitted by a parent

My sons just transitioned from private school to Hulstrom Options public school this year. They just love everything about the school including the students, faculty and facitities. Hulstrom seems to be a well run school. The teachers are caring and extremely responsive. I frequently email them my concerns and get a response way within 24 hours. Hulstrom has received funding to expand from being a k-6 to k-8 school. I am excited to see what this school offers for the middle school curriculum. Hulstrom offers a fantastic before and after school program. The boys have the opportunity to take enrichment classes or do homework or play in the gym or outside. They are never bored.
—Submitted by a parent