I have seen Rivendell School almost every week when I drive by to deposit my recycling. They have a…read morebrightly colored playground and a huge peacock statue that was once was covered in CD's which was very very creative! It reminded me of a real peacock! It has since lost the CD's and is now dressed Hawaiian style. About a week ago I saw that Rivendell has signs up for a book sale. The prices looked very reasonable. About 50 cents to 2 dollars, depending upon what type of book. I went in and looked around the place. I was very impressed! The school is fairly small and the main room is covered in books. A very impressive library! I bought about four or five books all for a very good price and the ladies that were working there were all very nice and sweet. After going to the book sale I decided to investigate more about what Rivendell School was about. I saw that they have been around Fort Collins since 1976. They are a nonprofit, secular private school. They have a huge emphasis on respect. They teach children how to respect the teachers and each other no matter how different you may be. In other words they don't let the cliche's run wild like at regular public schools. Their curriculum is less 'goal oriented' meaning they don't primarily focus on test scores and make things so directional. If a child needs a little extra attention then they can get that extra attention because of the small class size. Wow! How I wish I could have gone to a school like Rivendell! I was not impressed or amused overall with my public school experience and think I would have done much better in a place like this. While I don't have children I would highly recommend this place to friends that have children that are about to start school. I think they could greatly benefit from it. I also will be keeping tabs on the school's events and would love to continue to support this place! There really, really needs to be more schools like this!

Both of my children attend or attend here. The teachers are wonderful, caring, and highly…read morequalified. The curriculum allows students to progress at their own pace. The low teacher/student ratio provides a wealth of time for individual instruction in literacy, math, foreign language, science, and social studies. The school has a tight-knit community that fosters a life-long love of learning,, a trait that is more than worth the cost of tuition.

My family has been with NVCS since it first opened 10 years ago! We have been very happy with the…read moreeducation our 3 children have received. The Core Knowledge curriculum has really exposed them to a lot of content on world history, art, music, and literature that I don't think they would have learned at a typical elementary/middle school. We love the Spanish instruction starting in Kindergarten, the technology classes, and the strong focus on literacy and math. My oldest son was well prepared for high school, posting a 3.9 GPA in mostly pre-AP classes. We also like the smaller school environment. You really do feel like part of a family where most of the teachers, parents, and other students know and support your kids. There are many ways that I can volunteer to improve the school and enhance my kids' experience. Overall, NVCS has been an amazing place for my kids to grow their character, social skills and commitment to their community. I always recommend NVCS to friends with elementary and middle school aged children!

Just found out my kid fell off the playground equipment hit their head on the hard ground and they…read moretold my kid that they called me but they didn't call me or the other parent. This is negligence and this is dangerous to kids. So not only does New vision teach information that is blatantly wrong, for example where certain bones are in the body, they allow kids to get injured on the playground and don't notify the parents. Do yourself a favor, stay away from this school they make promises that they've never been able to keep, they teach kids information that is wrong, and they don't care about the safety of the kids.

Sounds like that lady that gave BC 1 star doesn't even have kids that go there. Bitter because Bear…read moreCreek doesn't accept open enrollment. Sounds like that person is the only one working off their entitlement. I'm a single mom with 5 kids and rent in the neighborhood. The staff at this school is phenomenal. The support that my kids (and I) have received the past 6 school years has been amazing. I am sad to be leaving next year. The principal, Kent Cruger, knows every kid by name. The things the other reviewer had to say were flat out lies. He absolutely puts every child in that school first. BOULDER is not diverse... that is not his fault. I'm not white, and neither are my kids. I am not rich. We are treated the same as any other family. Mr. Soole (PE) is loved by all the kids, because he is a big kid! Mrs. James (Music) keeps the kids engaged with productions that are also meaningful. Every teacher we have had has been compassionate and kind, teaching to the needs of the individual child. I am a HUGE proponent of neighborhood schools, and quite frankly, dislike the open enrollment concept. It overcrowds some schools and leaves gaps in others. People should focus on putting energy and time into their neighborhood schools, where their children can have friends they can walk/bike to. I have lived in several states, and have passed through 8 elementary schools over the past 20 years of being a parent. Bear Creek will always hold a very special place in my heart, and those of my children who were lucky enough to attend.

My 4 kids are thriving at DCA! They have true community and great academics and sports, I could not…read morebe happier!

Our children have been going to Dayspring for 8 years- since kindergarten. We love this school so…read moremuch. We value the opportunity to have our children in a Christian environment where the teachers provide a Biblical perspective, and the academics are excellent.

Flagstaff Academy is a charter school that I see as problematic. The math program in particular has…read morebeen an issue from the beginning and everyone in the administration knows this is true. A simple Google search will turn up research that proves that their various levels of mathematics for every grade level, discourages children in learning and creates math anxiety. When shown this research, the administration says there is nothing they can do about it because it's part of the charter. If your child is in a accelerated math group and then gets dropped to the next level down for the next year because of enrollment, etc. they will be learning the same math over again and will be bored and discouraged. When I transferred my children to public school after being years at Flagstaff Academy, my oldest, who was in accelerated math, had giant gaps missing in their math education. The teachers in the public school were not surprised they had seen this happen repeatedly from Flagstaff. My youngest child could not write more than a paragraph summation. I had to get my child extra summer writing lessons to catch up with their public school peers (who standard was riding five paragraphs). Also when we were there, not every teacher was teaching the same curriculum. The elementary had changed math curriculums so often that two of the teachers refused to switch. My kid wrote their college essay on the shock they received being moved from accelerated math at Flagstaff to public school math. I will never forgive myself. There are protections and standards in public schools that you will not find in a charter. Consider carefully your choice. My favorite part of their reply below is where they call me a liar. I would strongly suggest that you send your children to a public school that doesn't consider themselves a "business"

Great teachers, staff, community and resources. The PTO does a ton to support the classrooms and…read morethe variety of class offerings, especially at the middle school level, is exceptional. The school focus on safety and DRAGON PRIDE makes us feel comfortable as well.

Sandoval Elementary seems to be one of the best elementary school choices in the Highlands area…read more The DPS system does not have an excellent reputation. My son has been attending Sandoval a few years now. Sandoval is a little strange. The classes are grouped so for example 1,2 and 3rd graders are all lumped together for 3 years. I did question this method, but the bright side is that it creates some stability in class mates and teachers. It's half Spanish speaking which I feel is a mixed blessing as well. My son is learning two languages but I am afraid he may end up a "jack of all trades master of none" but the verdict is still out. The school is kind of hard to get into, so I think the parents and kids seem to take learning a little more seriously at this school.

best school in the world! met the greatest people in the world here and will miss everyone next…read moreyear. :( i owe to being the person i am today to joann trujillo hays. i hope she has a great retirement.

We are in our 7th year at BCD - my daughter is in 6th grade, and my son is in 7th. We are thrilled…read morewith our kids' academic performance, and how BCD drives excellence and global awareness, as well as community involvement, inclusion, and kindness. My kids enjoy the variety of music, art, science, innovation, and explore classes, as well as special projects like Model UN and outdoor education trips. BCD does an incredible job facilitating communication with parents, and I am so thankful that my kids have the opportunity to attend this school.

My son started in January and the difference in his demeanor is remarkable. No more tears and drop…read moreoff. He's connected with both the lead and assistant teachers. He enjoys all the Friday assemblies. and I've enjoyed a closer sense community.

Our older son (now 14) graduated from BVWS last year, having been here since his early years…read more Looking back, we're amazed at how the school shaped him -- not just academically, but as a whole person. He left with a strong foundation in math, science, and writing, but also with creativity, confidence, and a deep sense of compassion. The combination of academics, arts, music, and hands-on learning really gave him a well-rounded education that will serve him for life. Our younger son is now in middle school at BVWS, and he is thriving. Middle school can be a tough transition, but the small class sizes and dedicated teachers make such a difference. He feels seen, supported, and challenged in ways that bring out his best. The curriculum balances academic rigor with opportunities for growth through orchestra, theater, outdoor education, and practical projects -- things that keep him engaged and excited about learning. What stands out most is the sense of community. BVWS feels like an extended family where teachers, parents, and students truly know and support one another. It's a nurturing, values-based environment that helps children grow into capable, compassionate young people. We're grateful to have found a school that educates the head, heart, and hands -- and we would highly recommend BVWS to any family looking for something more meaningful than a traditional school experience.

This is not a review disparaging BVWS. It is about the lack of transparency and consideration my…read morefamily and I were given through the application and enrollment process. My daughter is no stranger to BVWS: she attended in early childhood and has spent a couple of summers there and loved it. When I reached out to the admissions director, (s)he expressed that my daughter would be welcome back and that there was space for her, so I submitted an application and she did a 3-day shadowing. To my surprise, my daughter's application was rejected. I spent several months trying to get a clear answer as to why, unsuccessfully. The following is a summary of events post-shadowing. My husband and I met with the teacher who discussed my daughter's shadowing experience and stated multiple times that (s)he "saw no red flags". I then asked questions about the founder's philosophy including topics that touched upon racism and how they have evolved, as my husband and I come from diverse backgrounds. The teacher answered them with openness and transparency, which further solidified my decision to send my daughter there. A week later, I receive an email, "after careful consideration...we do not feel that (student) is a good fit for our program." I requested a meeting to better understand the decision and sent numerous follow-up emails over the next 2 months to which I received no response, or the admissions director was sick, out of town, or catching up on work. Upon finally setting a meeting, I mentioned that I had emailed the teacher to get more specific feedback regarding my daughter's experience and if (s)he could be encouraged to respond. The response from the admissions director: "to be clear, I will be talking you through the application process...but not discussing re-opening the process". I thanked them and wrote, to "make sure I'm understanding correctly - you will not ask (teacher) to give me information about my daughter, nor will you speak about her experience at BVWS," to which I received no reply. On the call, the admissions director explained that the enrollment process was a collaborative, complicated and nuanced process. It included not just the teacher's opinion, but also input from ALL the Grade teachers, consideration on the age and maturity of the class, and the fact that the teacher is new to Waldorf teaching. If that were the case, then the shadowing, which caused disruption for everyone involved, was pointless and in fact, no new student could join. My insistence on following up was to have an opportunity for an open and transparent discussion regarding my daughter's application. If the teacher had told me during our debrief that (s)he felt the class dynamic with my daughter was not right, I would have respected the opinion. Funny that while my daughter attended BVWS there had never been any concerns raised. I can only deduce from the lack of response and transparency that this decision had less to do with my daughter and more about the questions I raised during our meeting with the teacher. In my last email after our final call, I expressed my hope that this experience be shared with the faculty and board as a learning experience and that I would always be open to dialogue. Since I never received a reply, I assume this issue had been swept under the rug. Though I know no big change will come of this, this experience will serve as a lesson when my daughter is older so that she may learn to advocate for herself with awareness and discernment. BVWS states they support DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and boasts that it cultivates a welcoming, inclusive community. A few qualities of inclusive leadership include fairness and respect, collaboration, empowerment and growth, and emotional and cultural intelligence, none of which I received. It is a shame that fear and avoidance of tough questions will now directly impact a 7-year-old's education. DEI has become very trendy in the past few years but simply taking a training without putting the principles into practice is not enough. Let's do better for our children and set the examples we want to teach them, not just have empty words on a website. That is when you muster the courage to step forward, not back.