Carbon Valley Academy

4040 CORIOLIS WAY

School District

St Vrain Valley Re 1j
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

charter

School Map for St Vrain Valley Re 1j 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 February 11, 2025

This school is unsafe. The principal does not believe in discipline and is only concerned with students liking her. When students bully or threaten other students, destroy the school, bring drugs and alcohol she refuses to hold them responsible. I have seen students punch holes in walls, trash bathrooms, and choke other students with no consequences. Her idea of discipline is a student hanging out with her in her office all day. Because of her inefficiency as a school leader the students run wild. There is one counselor for the entire K-8 and no SRO. Notice how many "new" teachers they have to hire every year and how little experience those teachers have. No one wants to work here.
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2024

Both of my children attend Carbon Valley Academy and we love this school. They promote a sense of community and we truly feel that. My daughter utilizes the special education services and is able to attend full time in the regular classroom with her IEP. We are very grateful in how the school supports us with her physical disabilities and how lovely all of the children are with her. The academics are excellent, my son came out of kindergarten reading and we were really proud of him. I really recommend this school to anyone, it's great.
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2023

this school is bad and the math teacher for middle school is the worst
Submitted by student on December 17, 2022

This school has been the worst part of my life
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2021

Carbon Valley Academy is the best elementary school option in the Tri-Town area. The teachers are fully invested in creating outstanding citizens, while also providing the students with challenging academics. As a charter school, CVA is able to offer both core and special classes (tech, music, Spanish, etc.) that educate fully and expose the kids to unique learning experiences. I cannot rave about CVA enough. Your child will THRIVE here.
Submitted by parent on August 03, 2020

Really great. We have 4 kids in attendance, two transferred over from another school and were behind by two grade levels. CVA meets kids where they are at and helps them grow in ways that are meaningful and instill confidence. The Academy is only growing and improving with the new administration
Submitted by parent on July 26, 2019

Great teachers make this school worth going to.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2018

Our year at CVA has been the worst year of my 1st graders life. His anxiety and depression have increased exponentially due to the school’s handling of his behaviors. Don’t send your children here.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2017

Curriculum was not implemented according to CDE regulations and guidelines. Nothing was done to address this issue.
Submitted by other on May 07, 2017

The staff are second to none at CVA!
Submitted by parent on February 09, 2017

The Staff changes all the time, they are already on their third teacher for third grade this year. very few staff seems to stay longer than a year. The administration does not follow policies they set in place. Parents are treated poorly.
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2014

Our child has attended CVA for 1 year and is returning this year. I worked as a teacher for 3 years at another highly rated Colorado charter school, and the curriculum at CVA is as good as it gets. While I cannot speak to the politics that are brought up in other reviews, I can say that politics seems to make it's way into every charter school. Teacher turn-over is (unfortunately) high at most charter schools because the school districts simply do not like charter schools and do very little to help them succeed. The one thing that is very discouraging to me as I read the negative reviews is - parents will come here to complain, but they must realize that charter schools live or die through parental involvement and volunteers. To those who have complained - have you put the hours into building this school into something great? Do you donate money to keep these great teachers around? Maybe you have and maybe you haven't. My point is this: criticism comes cheap and it doesn't mean anything if you aren't willing to do anything. Charter education is a privilege that many states do not enjoy. We live in a state with a great charter legacy - let's work to keep it that way.
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2014

This is a school that does not have leadership giving the school a clear identity. My students have been at this school, next year they will be starting a new school. State testing scores have been falling and I don't see administration and the executive director riding the wave and leading teachers through the storm. Instead I witness teachers being put into different grades or positions with the turn of each new year, number of classes within a grade level being cut, and teachers leaving unexpectedly. It seems like if a test score is bad in one grade those teachers are moved to a different grade. This cycle keeps continuing from year to year without any solid improvement in the scores. I am not sure where the heart of the problem lies with leadership. Is it the executive director? The board of directors? The principal? Your guess is as good as mine. I do know I will not let my little ones education suffer while they try to band aid a problem versus amputate the cancer, wherever it is in the building.
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2014

Love the personalized education my child gets and the focus on Arts, Sciences and music. Really have enjoyed our time here and believe my children are getting a high quality education
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2014

This school is an absolute joke. I honestly don't know how it's still open. The administration shows so little respect and appreciation for so many teachers who give all of themselves for their students. Parents are pulling their kids out in droves and the "leaders" are either clueless or simply don't care. The only good thing about this school was a few amazing teachers, which have left to find teaching positions where they are actually valued and encouraged. I am so glad to be done with this school. I can only hope my kids haven't been too negatively affected academically and socially.
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2014

My family has been at CVA from the beginning and it has been the best choice for us. What separates this school from others is the staff, they truly care about the kids and how they can best meet each of their needs. The middle school is continually getting better and we are excited for the new teachers that will start this fall. The last two MS teachers were great and raised the bar, and we trust the administration to make it even higher with the choices they have made to make sure all of them are certified in their subject area. Unfortunately, laws are making it so schools have to be very concerned about their TCAP scores, but how else are they going to be held accountable? CVA is no different, they care about the scores but they care more about the individual student showing growth, which doesn't always show up on a cookie cutter, state test. From what I have seen over the last 9 years is the kids leave well prepared for high school and many, from talking to their parents are taking honor classes and even graduating early with college credits under their belt! I want my own kids to have that advantage also, that's why we are at CVA.
Submitted by parent on June 02, 2014

We have been here since the school was founded. My child just graduated 8th grade. We have seen the quality decline each year. Mostly because the school is run by an executive director instead of qualified educators. All they seem to care about is average TCAP scores to keep the charter. No one on the board or administration seems focused on teaching to the individual children's need. They also just pushed out some of the best teachers they have had at the end of the year and replaced them with less qualified younger teachers. It all seems very political instead of focused on the kids. They changed the entire middle school schedule in the middle of the 3rd quarter this past year as well. I am pulling my other child out to go to a school with better success and focus on the kids instead of position.
Submitted by parent on August 13, 2013

I love the personal feeling I get when I talk to the teachers. I love the convenience of the school and the country feeling I get when I see the land around the school. I also like that the school is located 3 min. from my home. I think the school could improve by adding some additional parking spaces along the drive way for pick up. I also think the front office staff could use a friendlier smiling face. the principal is pretty good. I really dislike the middle school teachers! but LOVE the elementary teachers!!! I'm just glad my child is in the lower grades there.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2010

My child loves this school and as parents, we second that! This school continues to provide a high level of education with the core knowledge sequence and incredible arts and music program. They also have required spanish and technology classes. We left our district school because we couldn't find a principle willing to provide accelerated curriculum for our child and this school does an excellent job of providing independent learning plans for EVERY child. They also provide an ethics philosophy with their character traits every month. There is a ZERO tolerance for bullying or meanness of any kind. We are so lucky to have found this school!