It’s that time of year again! DPS School of Choice forms are available for 2011.

By now, your homework is done and the research these past few months (may seem more like years) which included touring schools of interest, garnering information off school websites, taking advice from friends and your child’s current teacher(s) and learning about a school’s curriculum and culture is complete. Now it’s time to make a decision, wait and hope for the best.

This brings me to the last couple of Early Education Scoop events where many parents were frustrated about not knowing the answer to some of these questions. What schools are the most popular in Denver?  What makes them popular? Which schools do I have a better chance of getting my child in to, School X or School Y?

You see, even though we have School Choice in Colorado, sometimes it doesn’t seem like much of a choice at all. Parents are learning that it’s not that easy to choice in to some schools because of the school’s popularity. Perhaps, they are popular because of their innovation status, or their school is rated “Excellent” according to CSAP scores, or maybe they offer a unique school-wide curriculum. Whatever it may be, choicing in to schools such as these is quite difficult.

It would be reassuring for parents to get a feel about their chances of getting in to a school before they apply. Since you apply to just two schools in the first round, it would make sense not to waste one of your choices on a school where your chances of getting in are slim to none. You can take a look at the DPS Capping Report. This report is for the current school year. It’s a somewhat current report that lists schools open for choice applicants by grade and those that are capped for choice. Schools that are capped can accept applications but students will be placed on a waiting list by grade level until space becomes available. However, after speaking to someone in the DPS School of Choice office, this report should have no bearing for the following school year and should not be used as an indicator of your likelihood of getting in to a school.

It’s wise for parents to have at least a handful of schools (or more) they’d be willing to choice in to. If your child is placed on a wait list for the first round, you are allowed to apply to as many schools as you want in the second round. It’s important to do your research and have a variety of options since you may not get in to the school of your choice in the first round. Visit DPS’s School of Choice to learn more.

Be sure to register for next week’s Early Education Scoop. Read details below.

School: Carson Elementary

Website: http://carson.dpsk12.org

Type: Public – DPS

Tours: Tours are scheduled beginning October and are usually listed on the front page of the school Website.  Call the main office to schedule.

Main Phone: (303) 355-7316

Principal: Tamara Acevedo

Location: 5420 E. 1^st Avenue, Denver, CO, 80220 – Crestmoor neighborhood

Hours: 8:55 AM-3:45 PM

Grades: ECE-5^th Grade

Average Class Size: There are approximately 400 students at Carson Elementary including 71 Highly Gifted/High Achieving students and 39 Deaf/Hard of Hearing students.  In the two Kindergarten classrooms, student capacity is set at 25 students for the full-day program.  The average in the rest of the classrooms is 26 students.

Before/After Care: Carson does offer aftercare (Kaleidoscope Corner) as well as some after school enrichment programs that vary throughout the year.

Facilities/Playground: The 1950’s style building reflects many of the ranch-style homes in the area.  The inside of building is impeccably clean and orderly.  The traditional classrooms are average in size with a few smaller classrooms assigned to the deaf and hard of hearing students.  The Kindergarten classrooms are in an entirely separate wing of the building and a separate playground directly outside the rooms.  The outside area/playground is enormous and includes a giant grass playing field, large blacktop and several fairly modern play structures (the colorful plastic and metal kind).

Special & Core Programs: Carson is extremely proud of their special programs and facilities for deaf and hard of hearing students.  There are currently 39 students in this category.  Some hard of hearing students are fully integrated into the classrooms while others (deaf students) have their own teaching staff and classrooms.  Teachers wear personal microphones in each of the classes so those with hearing issues can follow along just as any other student would do.

Carson is also one of eight DPS elementary schools that host the Highly Gifted and Talented Magnet program.  There are currently 71 students in this program with specialized instruction for high achievers/highly gifted. These students come from across the district.

The Character Trait program is also very strong at Carson.  The entire community is educated on using Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, Tolerance, Perseverance, Integrity and Courage as key elements of learning.  This isn’t just a program that is posted and forgotten. They truly educate these traits.

Impressions: I was greeted with a very warm welcome from the tour guide who has two children at Carson and lives in the neighborhood. She directed me into the main office where I signed in and received a nicely put together folder of information on Carson, including an evaluation form for the open house/tour.  It seems that they really want to know the impressions of those taking the tour!  After our group gathered and was ready for the tour, the Principal, Tamara Acevedo, shared her feelings about the school.  She told us that Carson chose her as much as she chose the school.  The “fit” was right for her, just as the “fit” must be right for our families, she explained.  It is her first year at Carson as principal and she was very clear that education is her passion.  Principal Acevedo feels that Carson Elementary is a “very unique” place and a “school unlike any other”.  You could see it in her eyes that she meant it.  She invited us to contact her with further questions and then went on her way.

Our tour guide then introduced us to two other Carson parents also part of the tour.  I didn’t notice them at first but they were standing among us with nametags on.  One of the parents had three children who went through the school and one that was about to start ECE next year.  The other had two children in the school, both in the HGT program.  I thought it was a great idea to have multiple parents give the tours and offer different perspectives on the programs as well as tag-team any questions that were asked.  All three parent tour guides were very knowledgeable and passionate about the school.  We were asked to introduce ourselves as well and I came to find that there were a mix of parents from the Crestmoor, Hilltop, Stapleton, Palmer and Teller neighborhoods.

One thing I thought was interesting was that the very active PTA plans their annual fundraiser in the fall instead of the spring.  This is very clever given almost every other school solicits auction items and donations in the spring and wear out businesses in these efforts.  Also, the funds raised by the PTA fundraisers go to school-wide improvement as opposed to specific classrooms, staff or single programs.  I really liked this concept.

As we walked down the long hallway toward the Kindergarten wing, I couldn’t help but notice the impeccable cleanliness of the halls.  It’s almost as if they knew we were coming and had a school wide cleanup session!  The floors were spotless and while there were endless rows of hooks for student’s jackets and lunchboxes, not one thing lay on the floor.  The walls were adorned with student artwork, poster boards to vote for class officers, and a variety of unique student projects.  I noticed projects on symmetry as well as positive and negative battery power.  I thought this was surprisingly different that the typical elementary school projects I’ve seen on walls.  Some classrooms were being led down the hall quietly by their teachers and were expected to use their “quiet voices” and keep their hands to themselves.  This was very reminiscent of my experience with Montessori environments where children were encouraged to be peaceful and respectful during their transitions.

The Kindergarteners have their own separate wing with two classrooms, a common room, a bathroom and an outside play-area all to themselves.  The classrooms were quite large and filled with all the things you’d expect to see in a Kindergarten classroom.  The playground is large but offers very little shade.  I imagine this can be quite hot during summer months and is cause for limited outside playtime.

The playground for the rest of the students was absolutely enormous.  There were several play structures, a gigantic blacktop as well as a grassy area as large as a football field.  Some of the students were being led outside for gym class with the full time Gym Teacher.  The inside gym room is tiny so this must be a welcome respite for the twice a week gym class when the weather is nice.

The library is also small but equally as pristine as the rest of the school.  Each class has the opportunity to use the mobile technology lab with laptops right in their classroom and some rooms have been outfitted with Promethean Boards (electronic interactive white boards) in the rooms.  With incoming technology grant funding from the Federal Government to DPS, the school expects to install these Boards in each of the rooms in the near future.

When the tour was over, the three parent guides expressed their very heartfelt feelings on the new Principal when asked how she compares to the beloved former Principal.  They said that Ms. Acevedo was warm, responsive and approachable to both kids and parents.  In her first year she is observing a school that has had a successful past.  She will wait to make any changes in following years only if necessary.  This seems to be a very intelligent move for a first time Principal.  I walked out of this tour thinking “that is a great school” and wishing it were my neighborhood.  Bravo Carson!

We welcome your comments and impressions on your experience with Carson Elementary.

Choice application-check….favorite glass of wine-check…advil for the headache-check…the headache is not from the wine but from trying to make sense of this whole process!

You are choicing into a school only if you have chosen not to send your child to your neighborhood school or chose private school instead. The choice in process can be a bit overwhelming but hopefully, we can make it a little easier for you to understand. I think the most difficult part of the process is the waiting! I remember becoming quite stressed and trying to remain patient until I heard the news. Will they get their first choice? What about second choice? What happens if they get wait listed? In the end, hopefully it’ll all work out for the best.

Here’s how the process works:

1. You can pick up a school choice form at any DPS school (usually in early January) or you can download it on-line. After completion, it can be returned to any DPS. Be sure to make a copy of it (for your records) after the application is stamped and dated.

2. First Round happens in January…this is when you choose your top two schools! Complete the application. By early March, you should get some answers….if you get into your first choice school-congrats! If you did not, there’s still your  second choice school. DPS tries very hard to accommodate this if the slots are available at the designated school.

3. Again, if you did not get into your second choice school, you will now take part in the Second Round. This usually takes place in March. Here you are able to choose an unlimited amount of schools so you’ll have more options. Again, forms for this round may be picked up at any DPS school.

4. If you get wait listed at one of your schools of choice, you may still want to participate in the second round just to be safe!

5. Remember, if you are choicing into a school, you are responsible for providing transportation for your child to and from school.

6. For more information contact the School of Choice Office at http://soco.dpsk12.org.

• Note: If your child is entering Kindergarten and you want him/her to attend a full-day Kindergarten program, you must complete a separate application for this. You can pick up this form at any DPS. This is a Tuition Based program. The annual tuition was $2,430 for 2008-2009.
• Note: Charter Schools and Magnet Schools have their own applications. Be sure to contact each individual school to inquire about applications and deadlines.
• Note: Advanced Kindergarten applications & Highly Gifted Magnet Programs 1^st-8^th grade applications, are due earlier than choice forms. Be sure to contact the individual schools in regards to this or the Gifted and Talented Education Department at 720-423-8272.

Today, the choicing in process is getting that much more competitive. Since so many public schools are making positive changes and improving their standards, more and more people are choosing their neighborhood schools. And as more schools grow in popularity, it makes it that much harder to choice in. The problem is, only so many slots are left open after the number of spots for neighborhood children are filled. An example of this is in the Stapleton community. They are no longer allowing  “choice in’s” at their schools and instead, allowing Stapleton residents only to enroll. In the future, it looks like some schools may have to do this and take neighborhood children only. I recently spoke to someone at DPS who said that School Choice has been in place for about nine years and it will continue because of its success. However, many of these schools that are becoming more popular are seeing their wait lists grow and choicing in, may not be an option for them in the future. How can you be guaranteed the school of your choice? Good question! I guess the answer is to move to that neighborhood like some people do, so your child is guaranteed a spot! You just have to ask yourself, is it worth it?

“Private Schools-EXPENSIVE….Moving to a new home to be closer to a school you love and a guaranteed spot for your child-VERY EXPENSIVE….Getting into your choice school-PRICELESS!!!”

Age Eligibility

• Your child must be 4 years old on or before Oct. 1st for ECE.
• Your child must be 5 years old on or before Oct. 1st for Kindergarten.
• Your child must be 6 years old on or before Oct. 1st for First Grade.

We wanted to provide you with something we wish we had when we were getting started in our school search.  This isn’t exactly a step by step process, as there are so many paths each family could go down together, rather we are sharing our loose guideline for this process.  Depending on whether you ultimately decide to send your child to a public, private, charter, magnet or catholic school there are different steps one must follow in order to maintain sanity during this quest.  Here is what we suggest:

Check Out Your DPS Neighborhood School

One of the first things to do in your search of the “right school” is take a look at your neighborhood school and see what it is all about. If you are unsure of your neighborhood school, you can find it at this site: what’s my neighborhood school? If you fall in love with all that it has to offer, you’re lucky, and you might stop the search altogether!  I know some parents who never did an ounce of research because they felt strongly about sending their child to their neighborhood school.  For any of a variety of reasons, it worked for them.  I also know a lot of parents who liked their neighborhood school but wanted to see what else was out there.  Just like when we go shopping for groceries or shoes, it’s always smart to do some comparison shopping….why not with schools?  Here in Denver, we are lucky enough to have a program through the Denver Public School system called School of Choice.  This allows our children the opportunity to be educated at a school outside of our neighborhood if need be. It’s our choice and it’s a great option to have!

Determine Your Interest in the Private School Option

If you are interested in the possibility of sending your child to private school, there are a different set of steps to follow.  You will find a comprehensive list and links to those schools at the right of this page.  The majority of these schools post their tuition and financial aid programs directly on their Websites.  Each of these schools generally have open houses and tour dates as well.  You will probably need to call each school where you have interest and sign up for a tour date or open house.  Once this is complete and you choose to apply, the application process can be quite tedious.  The Logan School, Graland Academy, and Colorado Academy require intelligence testing by a certified Child Psychiatrist.  Additionally, most of the private schools require an observation of your child, and on a separate occasion, the parents.  Lastly, keep in mind that many private schools also require a teacher recommendation or two.  Yes, it’s like college so get organized!

Advanced Kindergarten Testing

If you feel your child is a more advanced learner and is also socially ready for Kindergarten, you may choose to apply for the Advanced Kindergarten testing. Applications are accepted in December for the following school year, and testing generally takes place in January and February (Update: applications due in late October or early November for the following school year). There is a fee of $50.00 and your child is tested on basic concepts in reading and math. A recommendation from your child’s preschool teacher is not mandated but is a plus. If your child scores in the top 10% (Polaris, the top 5%), then you are able to apply for the Advanced Kindergarten program. Note, the Bill Roberts Elementary School in Stapleton is now only accepting applications from Stapleton residents. You will then be given a choice of two schools in your area that offers this program (ex: if your neighborhood school is Park Hill, your two options in north east Denver for Advanced Kindergarten are Polaris or Stedman, if slots are available). UPDATE: Not every neighborhood is given two choices to select from for the Advanced Kindergarten program. If you are not interested in sending your child to the AK program in your neighborhood or area, you can contact the AK office directly, to see what other choice(s) may be available (if any) for your child. Currently, there are eight elementary schools throughout Denver offering Advanced Kindergarten classrooms. These classrooms differ from traditional Kindergarten classrooms due to an accelerated curriculum, looking at where the individual child is now and where he/she needs to go, and more small group instruction versus whole group instruction. The Advanced Kindergarten Program is part of the full-day Tuition Based Kindergarten Program (click here to learn more about the program). If you get into a school  that offers the Advanced Kindergarten, be sure to ask what is offered in the next grade level to challenge your child. If you would like further information re: Advanced Kindergarten testing you can contact Terri Freund (DPS) at 720.423.8277 and check out our post on Testing, Who Needs It? If you’d like more information on gifted and talented programs, feel free to contact the individual school.

School Tours and Open Houses

By this time, you will have heard about certain schools that are being discussed by friends, acquaintances, and neighbors. You have discovered some on your own. You have explored our site to get the Scoop and checked out school Websites ahead of time (most schools have updated sites with plenty of useful info). Now it’s time to start calling these schools to see when their school tours are scheduled, along with dates of their Open Houses. You may even want to make an appointment directly with the Principal or Executive Director.  Feel free to use this School Comparison Spreadsheet to keep track of the schools you visit.  This will help you visualize this process and what is the best fit for your child and family.

What To Ask

While visiting the schools, it’s helpful to have a list of questions prepared to help you differentiate between them.  We have put together the list below to get you started:

• How many children attend the school?
• How many classes per grade level?
• What is the percentage of neighborhood children attending vs. the percentage of children choicing in?
• What is class size like?
• Are there Paras or Assistants in each classroom?
• Is there an active PTA or Parent Association?
• Where are the fundraising dollars typically allocated?
• What is the teacher turnover like? And what percentage of teachers have advanced degress?
• How long has the Principal or Executive Director been there?
• Is there a support staff available for the children with special needs?
• What advanced or accelerated programs do you have?
• Do children in each grade level interact with each other or with children in other grade levels?
• What other special programs are offered (language, arts, extra curriculars)?
• What makes this school unique to other schools?

Keep in mind how you feel walking through the halls. Is the person giving the tour enthusiastic about the school and what it has to offer? Do the children look happy and engaged? Is it cramped, institutional, chaotic, pretentious?  What do the classrooms look like? Is there a computer lab and a decent library? Could you picture your child in this school or yourself volunteering your time here? Do you feel that vibe?

Guidance From Professionals

Once you have decided on some schools, you may want to ask your child’s preschool teacher for a bit of guidance. You may want to ask out of school A, B, C, what do you think would be the best fit for my child?  They should have a good sense of the type of learner your child has become and the environment where he/she might thrive best.  Of course, you know your child best but additional opinions can be helpful in solidifying your choices.  Child Psychiatrists can also observe your child and give you guidance on how they learn best.  Additionally, there are “Educational Consultants” who can work with you as well.  Certainly, you will have to pay for the latter two options.

In Conclusion

We plan to offer a series of posts that break down the majority of the subjects mentioned above and a lot more.  Have no fear; you will find the answers (we hope) to all of your questions here!