Area Preschools and School Districts?

My daughter is going to Montessori Academy in Lafayette, and she (and her dad and I) love it. I have heard good things about Douglass Elementary (75th St. between Baseline and Arapahoe) and Fireside Elementary in Louisville, and plan to explore those 2 options for my daughter when she is old enough.
WELCOME BACK TO COLORADO!! WOO HOO--BLUE SKIES!!
S.

Hi R.,
Welcome home!

There is an excellent resource for researching schools. It is the Colorado School Accountability Report, and it "grades" all Colorado schools, based on academics, disciplinary problems, etc. and best of all, it rates the schools progress from year to year. (Is it getting better, worse, staying the same?) Here is the link:

http://reportcard.cde.state.co.us/reportcard/CommandHandl...

You can look up any district, any school, and do a comparison. It's a really valuable tool for parents who care about their children's education.

I've raised my kids in Longmont, but I've not placed them at our neighborhood's schools, (because they're awful!) I put them in the Twin Peaks Charter Academy who's only requirement is that you live in the district (and even that could be negotiated.) The education is superlative, and both of my girls applied to and were accepted to the International Bacalaureate program, which is at Niwot HS. (In my opinion, Niwot has the best high school in the St. Vrain Valley district. (All of the schools in Niwot are excellent, but it's an expensive area to live in.)

I THINK Twin Peaks even has a pre-school program. Email me if I can be of any help. I did a TON of research, trying to find the best schools.

Hope this helps!
M.

I need to add something. Once you've chosen a school to explore, click on "See Detailed Report" which will give you everything you need to know. : - )

We moved here from WA 1 1/2 years ago and were adamant about being in the Boulder Valley district and that our kids would go to Fireside Elem. in Louisville. It ended up that we actually back up to Fireside. But it was hard finding a house in the area. Louisville (right out of Boulder) is a great family friendly town -- a great recreation center -- they have a great preschool (although I believe there is a waitlist for this upcoming year). Also, I am a co-coordinator for a Mops group (MOthers of Preschoolers) that meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays in Boulder - for more information, feel free to email me! It is a great group, with a good connection to moms! I guess I cannot say enough wonderful things about Louisville -- from their Friday Fairs for familys every friday in the summer, the parades and festivals for kids throughout the year. I am happy to report that kids still travel on bikes to their friends houses adn walk home from school. Very safe, family friendly town! Good luck with your search!

We live off airport and Nelson and love it. As my sister, who was visiting from Kansas, said; Everyone has outdoor equipment in their garage! The men all bike together. There is a great trail and tons of parks in walking distance. Your kids are the same age as mine. I have them going to Rocky mountain christian Academy in Niwot. I choose as it is a core base curriculum, very clean, friendly, had a 2 year old program, and has the other grades. I plan to possible have my oldest stay for Kindergarten while her brother is in 4 year old preschool then we might do the public Prek-K (also September birthday so may ned another year) and first grade. I would do this as I don't think my 4 year old will thrive n the full day/every other day kindergarten program of the public schools. I hink she would do much better in every day inthe morning. I don't think my son will have such an issue...we shall see. I heard life Bridge has a good program up north Longmont too (friends live in Berthoud.) We like that this area ia a bit older (15 years) so we have trees.

I just moved to Boulder two years ago and think it is a fantastic place to raise kids. I have a 3 year old and a five year old. I am a teacher and researched preschools a lot! There are many great options. I can't recommend one specifically because that depends a great deal on 1.what part of Boulder you will be in, and 2.What exactly are you looking for in a preschool. Some have different time/day options, some are full time only and some are part time only. There are good Montessori and good play based schools. I hear good things about the Naropa connected preschool as well as a couple of co-ops. You can contact me via email and I can try to help some more if you want. The Boulder Valley School District is great. I am teaching there and very impressed with them. I have taught at great districts in California and think Boulder is very progressive in many ways.
____@____.com

Hi R.,

I was a teacher at Boulder Valley and I couldn't say enough great things about the schools. What is your child like? I taught at Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies....it's amazing. The classes loop. Kindergarten is play-based, very fun, the teachers are so warm and mama-like that you'll never have to worry that your little one isn't getting nurtured as well as educated. 1st-3rd grades loop. So your child would stay with the same teacher, same class for three years. 4-5 grades also loop. It's Waldorf based, which is excellent because the kids stay innocent. They really focus on imagination play, and the arts.

We moved from Michigan to Boulder when my son was in 4th grade. He had a really hard time in Michigan schools. When we arrived here, he was welcomed with love and acceptance by his classmates and teachers. He made so many friends his first day.

http://www.informedfamilylife.org/rainbow_bridge.html

Check out this pre-school. Pretty sweet stuff.

Good luck! You'll be soooooo glad you came home. There is nothing like raising your child in Boulder, CO.