Inspire Elementary

5677 North Galena Street

School District

Denver County 1
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Denver County 1 School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 20, 2023

Inspire has been a wonderful school for my two kiddos. Wonderful teachers and great leadership!
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2023

We selected this school based on a curriculum that then switched without much (if any) communication to the community. Since then, the watered down curriculum does not feel engaging. We've been disappointed in the overall leadership of the school. Every concern raised whether curriculum wonders or equity or safety- is met with apathetic replies. We don't feel a sense of community or belonging, which I understand comes with the territory when it's a big school. The school calendar involves a ton of days off. I wouldn't mind all these PD and teacher planning days if I felt our students were benefiting in the form of rich and layered learning versus worksheets, computer time, and celebrations of learning that seem to just be celebrating worksheets versus multi-step projects. The kids don't seem encouraged to take any pieces of work through multiple drafting stages and when we ask our kids what their learning objectives were, they aren't often clear on the objective. It doesn't seem like kids fully understand or have been taught how to know if their work is high quality or if its their best work. So much of the experience is dependent on what teacher you have. We've been grateful for some really caring, thoughtful and organized ones that try to take aspects of the curriculum and keep them fresh or special. The specials teachers are amazing and a highlight of our kids days. The ECE program is phenomenal. Can't speak highly enough about the child centered approach to the ECE, the beauty of the classrooms, and the social emotional support in ECE. It's also nice that the ECE has its own separate drop off and pick up routine along with a private playground. The school building is fresh and new. It' airy and bright and the classrooms are well designed and beautiful. The class sizes seem typical to what a student would get at any other public schools.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2022

My son has been going to Inspire for 2 years total. 1st grade remotely during pandemic. 2nd grade in person.The first year was okay, but different from his previous school in the city, where he went to Kindergarten.We were excited this year to go in person, and even moved across town to do so.Since then, it has been an absolute nightmare.My son has changed since going to this school. He has become more reclusive, and difficult to talk to.I believe he is bullied/ostracized at school, but may not fully realize it.I cannot seem to get a clear picture of what goes on during the school day, or what my child is even learning.I don't believe his teacher has enough experience, or is qualified. When we schedule a parent-teacher conference, the teacher is aloof, and does not seem to be prepared, or have any agenda. Just a blank stare, asking if we have any questions.It concerns me that there does not seem to be any kind of science curriculum. It concerns me that the only knowledge I get about what happens in the classroom are charts and numbers on a standardized report. It concerns me that my child has a difficult time articulating what happens at school.There's a complete lack of communication and leadership from both the faculty and the administration, on multiple fronts.The communication around mask-wearing was incredibly vague, and lacking clear direction. As a result, everyone ended up taking masks off, and seemed to be very smug about it. Within a few weeks, positive test cases, and a few weeks later, COVID-19 was brought into our home for the first time. My son, who suffered intubation scars at birth, was very sick for over a week. For months, he has been the only kid wearing a mask, and every day I see kids around him yelling, invading personal space, and coughing without covering their mouths.I don't know what they are teaching kids, or how much of this irresponsible behavior comes from home. I am also concerned about other parents at this school. There is an air of hostility, aggression, and impatience. People drive erratically, carelessly, and recklessly in the parking lots and surrounding residential roads, often deliberately disobeying traffic signs. Repeated requests for police presence have been ignored.Today a Tesla drove into oncoming traffic, trying to hit me on purpose, yelling obscenities, all with my son in the car.That was it for me. He will be attending a different school next year. We've had enough.Shame on all of you.
Submitted by other on December 05, 2019

The teachers at this school are AMAZING. The school has a leadership team that includes teachers in decision making and builds the staff and student culture.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2019

There is nothing special about this school. It is a public school that has some good teachers, but those teachers have horrible leadership. Everything about this school is a "work in progress" which doesn't instill a high level of confidence in the community.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2019

This is our third year at Inspire and we love it. The staff, the culture, the families, all of it. I'm so glad we chose this school.
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2019

This school has been a game changer for my son and I highly recommend it. For those parents who criticise the school for having a red SPF rating (after their first year in operation) have no idea what they are talking about. The school was not rated the same as other schools in the enrollment zone because of their size. A lot of the metrics needed a minimum threshold in order to be rated. DPS arbitrarily put a lot of weight on parent surveys, which had low participation. Inspire's growth category was rated green. If Inspire were to be rated in line of the rest of the enrollment zone then their rating would have been green. Look to the 18/19 SPF for a more realistic rating (out 10/12/19)
Submitted by parent on March 23, 2019

The experience was so exhausting. Avoid if possible.
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2019

Wonderful! Our child is thriving and happy to go to school. She has grown academically, emotionally and socially.