Isabella Bird Community School

2701 N. LIMA ST.

School District

Denver County 1
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
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 November 12, 2024

We've had a great experience at Izzi B for our now 3rd grader (started in ECE4). It is such a warm and welcoming environment, with superb leadership, amazing teachers and staff, and highly engaged families. Would definitely recommend!
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2024

Our family has had a positive experience at Isabella Bird with our current fourth grader. The school’s focus on social and emotional learning is notable and the teachers and leadership are fantastic. There’s been an academic shift over the last three years with a leader vested in equity and academic excellence. Highly engaged and active PTA and outstanding teachers.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2024

We have a kindergarten currently at Izzi B and have been very impressed by the communication from the staff and PTCO on the events, activities and classroom learning. The teachers are caring and supportive, and create a wonderful learning atmosphere where our 5 year is excited to go on a daily basis. We'd highly recommend Isabella B!!
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2024

Our family has had an excellent experience with Izzi B. Yes, we have a HGT learner but also a kiddo who is not identified as GT but still wonderfully supported- both academically and emotionally. Wonderful and caring staff and fantastic family engagement.
Submitted by parent on September 05, 2023

Don’t believe the great schools ratings. This school is solid and continues to get better each year with great leadership, parent engagement and an amazing community all around.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2023

As a parent with two kids at the school the past 4 years, I can say that we have found our community. The school community (including staff, teachers, classmates, parents, volunteers, etc) is supportive, friendly, and top-notch! The GT services provided are unique in our area because the GT program is a dedicated classroom (or two) of GT identified kids, instead of pull out services, which is very helpful in meeting our kids' needs since they are being challenged all day, not just an hour a day. For kiddos who need extra support, the school has excellent math and reading interventionists to provide support and services. Lastly, Isabella Bird is focused on diversity and inclusion to meet all kids' needs and to celebrate all cultures, traditions, and religions.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2023

I have a 3rd grader who is thriving at Izzi B.
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2022

We have a first grader and second grader at Izzi B. This is a wonderful school that prioritizes providing high quality education to each student based on their individual needs and strengths. I also truly appreciate the focus on diversity in the faculty, students, and education topics!
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2022

We've been a Dragon family for 6 years, with two students enrolled. Our oldest is about to move on to middle school. Izzi B has set the bar high and I only hope we can find a MS that provides the same positive community energy, diversity, and 2E (twice-exceptional, GT + Special Ed) support that my kiddo needs and has greatly benefited from at Isabella Bird. Pandemic dynamics the past few years have done a number on all schools, but I love how our community - students, staff and families alike - really stepped up and supported one another through it all. We've never had such positive famly engagement as we are now seeing on the other side. I often feel odd giving all 5 stars on ratings, and found myself looking for something I'd rate lower, but truly - in these areas, our school really excels.
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2022

Our kiddo has been an Izzi B Dragon for 3 years now, and we couldn't be happier with the school.- The leadership and admin team are top notch. They make data-driven decisions, are communicative, and are responsive to parent input.- The teachers are amazing! There is no/very little turnover year-to-year. Teachers are able to provide effective differentiation in the classroom and are all specially trained in gifted/talented education. The school is really able to support learners of all kinds! If your kiddo is gifted, special ed, twice exceptional, etc. definitely look into this school.- The school prioritizes inclusivity, social-emotional learning, and academic excellence.- There is strong community involvement, with an active Parent-Teacher Community Organization and lots of events each year that bring the community together.- The building facility is beautiful, and the outdoor play spaces are spacious and well-maintained.Highly recommend!
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2022

Our son is thriving at IBCS. Love the diversity of the student body, high quality teachers and gifted and talented curriculum. There is a strong community here and we have felt very welcome participating in events at the school.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2022

I have 2 children at Isabella Bird and they have been thriving since their first day at the school! The teachers are simply incredible, so warm, supportive, and incredibly experienced. Teacher retention is exceptional. This is a diverse and inclusive community for families from all over the world, as well as children with varied needs including GT/gifted, special education, twice exceptional, and all sorts of learning differences. All the teachers have specialized GT training that enables them to differentiate their instruction to help all children thrive. We also have a committed and involved parent community working in collaboration with the principal who has been working at the school since the year it opened. We love being part of the Dragon Family!
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2022

Isabella bird has been such a great school for my kids. I have two children who attend the school and their individual academic needs are met and supported. The teaching staff is fantastic and the paras are incredibly supportive and knowledgeable. The administration has had turn over but I do recognize the successes of the current administration. They are at the doors of the school greeting families daily, they engage in conversations and are always available to help! It’s a great place to have young children grow their love of learning. They are constantly embracing different cultures, races and religions and educating our children about the importance of inclusivity!
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2022

I was asked to leave a review if I had positive things to say, but all reviews (even negative ones) are important when deciding where to send your child for 7 hours a day. I have been around to see each of the administration changes and I cannot say that the new administration has made any real improvements to the school. It seems like a student's experience at this school depends on who their parents are and if the child is GT. If you are looking for a school for your gifted student, this may be a good option for you. Each set of administrators had a different plan for this school (some more inclusive than others). Isabella Bird once celebrated diversity and the many languages spoken by students from around the world. The school now celebrates and priorities GT students and the typical middle/upper class Central Park families. Teachers at Izzy B are wonderful! The paraprofessionals are amazing! The behavioral challenges are intense. My child has had to evacuate the classroom multiple times due to a student's violent behavior. Innovation status will likely be removed from DPS, which may greatly benefit Izzy B because the school can't seem to get it together for the sake of all students. The principal lives in the community, which is nice since she responds to questions on facebook fairly quickly, however, things get awkward when members of the community speak on her behalf because there are things she is not allowed to say (such as asking parents to leave a review only if they have something positive to say and basically getting a draft of what to write). I would not recommend this school to a friend or family member. Izzy B never has a waitlist for the following year, but other schools in the neighborhood have waitlists of 100+ students, which should speak for itself.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2022

I have two children at Isabella Bird and have been through the changes in leadership and direction throughout the years. Our family loves the community, the teachers, the focus on social justice and the direction of the new leadership. Despite the challenges faced in the pandemic, the school continues to improve and has created a warm, welcoming experience for our family. The new Principal has a wealth of experience teaching and leading at the school. She's community and equity driven. The Assistant Principal has a School Psychologist background and brings that experience to support the whole child. Our teachers are phenomenal and my daughter and son are eager and excited to go to school everyday. The school values academic excellence, equity and the whole child and continues to make positive changes to meet the needs of all students at our school. Highly recommend Isabella Bird if you are looking for a place dedicated toward change.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2021

Really great community at this school. Leadership now great. Love our teacher! Have had kids at the school over the last 8 years, and the improvements are terrific. I’m impressed most by programmatic updates to allow for differentiated learning and the school now having seasoned faculty. Beautiful facility, nice outdoors spaces. Love having our youngest here!
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2021

We’ve sent three children to IzzyB and are so happy with the leadership and direction of the school. The older reviews do not reflect the current situation that is so positive and on the right track. We have never been more pleased than we are right now and we’ve been involved since the school opened in 2014.
Submitted by other on May 07, 2021

they think that they know what to d but they don't and they kicked y son out because he got upset because the kid were bullying him and they said he was out of control but he was just upset and teachers did nothing about the bullying
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2020

Terrible. We tried to make it work for our daughter for 2 years, to no avail. There is zero leadership, structure, or planning at this school. Constant i-station testing, trying to show some semblance of results in reading/writing, all while NOT teaching Math! If you want your child to learn about feelings and cry a lot- go here. If you want your child to receive an actual basic eduction, regardless of your socio-economic state, go somewhere else.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2019

Not good. I would honestly say it was my kids' worst year yet. If your concern is exposing your children to different cultures, this school will deliver. But that's about all they deliver. As far as education, development, structure, or a feeling of well-being; I would say you will probably be disappointed. It's rated a 5/10 for good reason.