McKinley-Thatcher Elementary School

1230 South Grant Street

School District

Denver County 1
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
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 other on May 17, 2023

One of the “female” Paras talks about employees to other employees and parents. I have witnessed her getting loud with one of the male paras in the hallway. I saw this picking up my little brother from school. I consider this unprofessional and very disturbing behavior to treat colleagues like this. Next year i will be suggesting to pull my brother out because of this para. This is not how you treat fellow employees!
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2019

Love this school! So grateful it is our neighborhood school. My kids are thriving and never want to leave!
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2019

We choiced in to McT and are very happy with our decision. The communication between the school and families is outstanding and we love the small, welcoming community environment. There are many events and opportunities for families to get involved and to get to know each other. My children and learning and growing in new ways because of their experiences at McT.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2019

We absolutely love this school! We feel so lucky to be a part of it. We love that the teachers - energetic, motivated - have high expectations for kids. It is a welcoming, warm place that values academics, kindness, cooperation, exploration, and self-confidence.
Submitted by parent on July 14, 2018

Great. The small community makes everyone feel welcome.
Submitted by parent on December 12, 2017

We love Mckinley-Thatcher! We have had a wonderful experience during both years of ECE. The teachers cultivate curiosity and a love for learning through a play-based approach. They also explicitly teach social emotional skills in a caring and safe environment. We couldn't be happier!
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2017

We're thrilled with MCT as our neighborhood school. This small, diverse school has a homey feel and the principal, teachers, parents and kids are energetic and genuine. If you're in the neighborhood, I'd really encourage you to stop in and see it in action, regardless of how you think it looks 'on paper'. Our choice to send our kiddo here has been positively reinforced day after day after day - we love it! Another commenter put it perfectly when they said "This school is a small community in a big city where we feel so at home." I couldn't agree more!
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2015

This school has been an amazing find for us. Our daughter has been at McKinley-Thatcher since she started Kindergarten there 3 years ago. The small size allows every staff member to truly get to know every student in the school. Our daughter's 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Scott, has been fantastic. She is able to get every student in her class engaged and excited about learning. I don't think we could have found such a wonderful school anywhere in Denver, public or private. Our daughter attends McKinley-Thatcher and she loves it! We are very happy to have such a great neighborhood school with caring attentive teachers and staff.
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2015

This is our first year at Mckinley-Thatcher and we have been very pleased. The staff and parents are helpful and make it a great envioronment for kids and parents alike.
Submitted by other on November 20, 2015

We've been a part of McKinley-Thatcher for six years now and are thankful that our daughters attend here. The small school environment means that every student is known by name, not only by their teacher but by everyone from the principal to the custodian. The staff are committed to the students and show great care for their education as well as their overall health and well-being.
Submitted by parent on November 19, 2015

I love this school! My kids look forward to school everyday. Their teachers are loving, caring, and amazing educators. Every adult in the school knows both of my kids by name. This school is a small community in a big city where we feel so at home. There are great community events like the school dance that bring parents and kids together, and everyone in the building, including the custodial staff, shows such great care for my kids. Great school, great staff, great parents, great community. I couldn't ask for more for my kids.
Submitted by parent on November 19, 2015

I love this school. It is truly a small neighborhood school hidden in a great big city. The teachers, paras, school leader, secretary, parents, and students go to great lengths to ensure a high quality educational experience for everyone. There are regular community events that bring families together. My son and daughter are both being appropriately challenged in all subjects. I do not hesitate recommending this school.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2015

I feel that this school has really changed over the years with the treatment of the children. My grandson was in a class where his teachers, the were unfair in their treatment of the children. They had a group of kids, my grandson included that they separated daily from the class under the lie that it was to help them. They did not inform the parents of any of these kids until months later when one of the kids talked about the special class he had to go to. When they were questioned the harassment of the parents began. When addressed with the Principal Hastings, nothing was resolved as if she didn't have time for it, or maybe it was because she already knew she wouldn't be there this year. The teachers and some parents formed a click and whispered about the other parents every time the children were dropped off. The sadness it brought myself and daughter every time we dropped off our children was terrible. I would never recommend this school ever again to anyone in fact I would advocate against them! To me instead of trying to teach against being a bully, they were the bullies running the show. Very poor form and disgusting to me! We have since moved our children to other schools and they are thriving without the daily bullying from those "professional". Be warned keep your eyes open and ask questions all the time. Don't trust that they are doing the right thing, they probably are lying to you as they did all of us!
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2015

This school is horrible. The communication and education has dropped immensely. Its such a shame. Its unfortunate the teachers, front desk, and principle lack communication skills. The front desk is very cold (to say the least), and not very efficient. The front desk is constantly gossiping amongst each other and other teachers.My son was literally being pulled out of class everyday....for 5 months....without my knowledge...or my permission. I found out through my child. My child did not even know the name of the "teacher" he was leaving class to see. When I brought it up to the principle, she explained it was a "hiccup". When I brought it up to the primary teacher, she explained it "was not her job" to tell me, it was somebody else's. Who's? I have yet to find out. There were days that I would feel unbelievably uncomfortable leaving my child at that school because of how oblivious the staff was. Not only were they oblivious, but clearly, they had an issue with owning their faults in order to improve in the future. If they could not own this "hiccup", what else could they be hiding from me? And other parents? I was terrified! I still am.Needless to say, we have decided to enroll our child in a different school. The differences are incredible! The communication at this new school is amazing. The education and standards are remarkable. It makes me feel amazing for making the best decision (not going back to McKinley) for my child. He is so happy now and is learning so much!If you are considering McKinley thatcher, please, please consider your childs SAFETY.
Submitted by other on April 21, 2015

The rise in scores COULD have more to do with gentrification of the neighborhood than anything else. I'm sure the teachers are doing great but it's much easier to boost your numbers when the median income in the neighborhood is a large percentage over poverty line.
Submitted by other on November 27, 2014

We rate McKinley Thatcher as a 5 star. We are really impressed with the interaction between teachers, parents, staff , and the community all working together . We recently attended the Rock Star Rodeo and participated in their fundraiser. The PTA works hard to provide quality education for the kids at this neighborhood school. Like they always say..." HARD WORK PAYS OFF." The students are happy and they're aware that they have responsibilities too......There's lively learning going on .... you can see it on their faces.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2014

I feel ready, now that the school year is almost over, to say that choosing McKinley-Thatcher was a great choice! This is our neighborhood school. My daughter loves her teachers/staff/classmates and she has been learning so much from them and impressing us everyday. The school staff and parenting community are making genuine efforts to enable the students to learn, achieve and grow. The results have proven positive.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2014

Having moved into the city from Cherry Creek Schools in the suburbs I was afraid that my daughter wouldn't find the same sense of community. McKinley-Thatcher Elementary is her favorite school "EVER" and I could not be more impressed with the principal and community involvement. It takes a village and the parents and staff of McKinley-Thatcher get that.
Submitted by parent on January 04, 2014

To the parent that doesn't think a jump of 26% to 68% is much to brag about. I am sure those numbers would matter alot to you if they were falling and not rising. I am curious what your participation in this school is beyond elitist worries. Do you belong to the PTA or CSC? Do you volunteer in the classroom? Progress doesn't take place without parent's participation. That jump in numbers is the result of alot of work by alot of dedicated parents. Those grades are my kids grades and I am proud of the teachers, principle, and other students striving to improve. Why don't you continue the tradition and help grow the school instead of dogging it and leaving it to others to do the hard work.
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2014

Test scores have jumped the past year, but being 26% up to 68% is hardly anything to brag about. 5 grade does seem better than the rest of the school. The teacher/principal turnover rate has me concerned. They seem to be headed in the right direction. More kids from outside the neighborhood? With all the new apartments and rent controlled housing being put up, I'm concerned with the future growth.