Douglass Elementary School

We’re so grateful our kiddo is open enrolled at LES. It’s a true community school—welcoming, inclusive, and deeply connected. The teachers are outstanding, the students are kind, and we’ve had so many chances to be involved in our child’s education. It’s a place where families feel valued and kids thrive.

My children have attended Coal Creek Elementary for several years and they thrive in terms of learning and social-emotional engagement. The teachers are all very involved, intelligent, and nurturing. We’ve been impressed with our children’s progress in reading, math, and their ability to make friends and engage positively with other adults as well as grow empathy for others with disabilities. Coal Creek is a wonderful neighborhood school and we’ve made friends with fun and kind parents.

We moved from Los Angeles back to Colorado after 16 years and we could not be happier with Fireside. Our son needed help with reading, writing and speech therapy. The support he has been given is amazing. Most teachers have 1-2 Masters degrees and love what they do. Fireside is highly recommended.

While the teachers and support staff at this school are truly dedicated, compassionate, and committed to the well-being of the students, my experience with the administration has been deeply concerning. Over the years, with three of my children attending, I’ve witnessed a notable decline in transparency, communication, and responsiveness from those in leadership roles.There have been repeated instances where parent concerns, particularly regarding student safety, were dismissed or downplayed, often without meaningful resolution or follow-up. Despite the school’s emphasis on being SEL-focused, implementation has felt inconsistent and, at times, performative rather than genuine.Significant structural and policy changes have been made without prior input or adequate notice to families, often after enrollment commitments were already finalized. In many cases, families who felt these changes no longer aligned with their values or needs were denied the option for withdrawal or refunds. When concerns are brought up constructively, the response from leadership has not always felt open or collaborative, leaving some families feeling alienated or even penalized for speaking up.It is disappointing to share this, especially because so many of the educators here are doing their absolute best. My hope is that more transparency and accountability can lead to improvements that benefit both the staff and the families who care so deeply about this community.

I have been apart of this school for 30+ years! Going to this school as a child and now sending my two older children here have been a dream. We love the teachers here. You also get friendships, family and faith. Having support of eachother has been very comforting and a safe environment. My kids love this school and can't wait for the next day to come!! We a small school with big hearts