Highland Ranch Elementary School

If I could give this school a 10 star review I would!! We felt blessed to have found a place for both our 6 year old son and 3 year old daughter, that teaches both the Montessori method as well as Christian values. The teachers and staff were amazing in both classrooms. Each day my kids couldn't wait to go to school! Our son was in 1st Grade in the Elementary program which exceeded all of our expectations. His reading and writing were average in public school and at Legacy he learned to master these skills! We even noticed he spoke more slowly, clearly and confidently due to the public speaking encouraged in class. The Montessori Method taught him lots of visual ways to learn math skills which reinforced key concepts. He made lots of friends at school and looked forward to playing soccer with them daily. Our daughter was in the 3 year old class and also improved in her speech as well as fine motor schools. She because much calmer and focused (which is tough for a 3 year old!). We watched her flourish in learning letters, songs, and social skills. The teachers did an amazing job in communicating with us how our daughter's day was going.

I enrolled my 4 kids into St. Michael's thinking that it would have a better benefit for their faith and education than public schools, but I was sadly mistaken. I expected my kids to be able to excel in their education but I feel as if they were held back. The teaching there was not up to my standards. The teachers lacked critical teaching skills proved to benefit the students during this vulnerable stage where it is very important to prioritize the students health and not overwork them with meaningless activities or busy work. With one of my 4 children being special needs I had high hopes that the teachers at St. Michaels would understand that she would need a little more help than some of the other students in her grade, but I was disappointed to learn that the teachers did not help my child when it was obvious that she was struggling. In addition to that my eldest child who identifies as non-binary was discriminated against by students and staff because they banned the usage of they/them pronouns. As for family engagement I would say that the only way you would feel welcomed by the school is if you are from the upper middle class and are able to provide hefty donations to the school. Overall I would not recommend this school to parents looking to provide the best education possible for their children.