Devinny Elementary School

1725 South Wright Street

School District

Jeffco Public Schools
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

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 08, 2022

Great school with an amazing staff and environment for the kids to learn and grow.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2021

I couldn’t ask for a better school for my family. My oldest attended from 2015-2018 (we transfers from out of state) and my youngest is currently in 1st grade. The staff is amazing. Teachers are knowledgeable and care for the success of their students. Any time I have had a concern or question about anything, they are more than willing to meet and discuss with us. And while they are caring, they have all been straightforward and honest which is beneficial for students and parents! They help kids think for themselves and mature properly so that the kids become more successful as they move past elementary school. And whether your child is in the GT program or separately excels at an area (we have experienced both), the teachers help nurture that ability and knowledge to make the student grow.
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2019

This is our 3rd grade daughter's first year at Devinny. She loves her teacher and school. She has homework nightly and her teacher stays in close communication with us as to how she is doing. This school projects a very positive sense of community and you can see this in the high self-esteem of the students and faculty.
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2019

10/10 at Devinny. The teachers are talented and caring, the programs are organized and well run, the PTA is involved, the parents are engaged, the supporting staff is wonderful. We could not have asked for a better school experience.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2019

We decided to pull our child out of the school after 5 months in the Kindergarten class. The teacher was very ineffective in handling the emotions of a 5 year old. She had labeled him a "bad child" but had no solution to his bad behavior except for handing him a colored piece of paper on a daily basis (green, yellow, or red) based on his behavior. it was a very traumatic experience for him as such a young child. We switched to a private school, and our child has had no behavior issues at all.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2018

My first grader is excited to go to school each day. Great experience at Devinny.
Submitted by other on May 06, 2017

Our son arrived at Devinny in 2011 for First Grade coming from a small private school for GT kids. The next four years were a living hell for our entire family. The GT "program" did not live up to its state mandate, our son's social, emotional and affective needs were not addressed, he did not receive the academic advancement he needed, and he under performed for four solid years while the so-called "professionals" contributed to his failure to thrive. The principal, teachers, other kids, and office staff targeted him relentlessly and labeled him very negatively which really trashed his self-esteem. He was bullied for an entire school year with no intervention by the school despite our repeated efforts to stop it. By the time we found a way out four years later, we were all in a deep depression. This school might get top test scores (thanks in part to our son's very high test scores despite only mediocre grades with teachers who mostly didn't get him at all), but the test scores of a school only tell part of the story. If you have a child who is exceptionally gifted and different than most kids, with asynchronous development that is typical with highly gifted kids, this is most definitely NOT the place for him or her. Look at private schools, consider home schooling, and/or seek alternatives such as public charter schools. Devinny is probably a good school for average and even above average kids, but for our highly gifted son, it was a train wreck that we are still recovering from two years later.
Submitted by other on October 11, 2016

My son is now in first grade. I feel like he's learning a lot! He loved his kindergarten teacher and his current one as well. I feel like he gets good individual attention; although, parents still need to advocate for their kids, but I expect that. I've always been listened to. Homework is OK. I suppose it's habit building, but I tend to agree with recent studies that homework in elementary school can actually have a negative effect on school performance in the long run. I know the point is to practice, but it's stuff my son knows so it becomes busywork. I'd rather parents have the assignment of reading with the kids every night and perhaps a larger book project each month or math/science projects. As it is my son now says he "hates" homework, which isn't how I want him to feel. This, obviously, isn't limited to Devinny though. Also, having only one 20 minute recess for 1st-6th graders really bothers me. Those kids need to run -it helps behavior and academic achievement. Other than my more global complaints, I feel that Devinny is a terrific community and we're very happy there!
Submitted by parent on July 19, 2016

We have two children in this school ... they tested in for the GT program and have been so happy with their teachers, classwork, and other students in the school. The practice of blending the students per grade across the AMP classes is a great idea. This way, the students get to know kids in the entire grade, not just their class. The Principal is the best we've experienced from four different schools. How many other Principals send an email and leave a voicemail message every Sunday evening for the entire student body, preparing them for the week ahead? The PTA is also awesome, and we love the fact that there is only a single fundraiser for the entire school year. No peddling magazines or doing door-to-door sales for a small portion of the proceeds going to the school. The Noble Knights Fun-Run is the highlight of the Fall back-to-school events and *all* of the money raised goes directly to the school. In this age of budget cuts and short-sighted voting tendencies of the surrounding county, this is the most fair way to provide all of the extra-curricular support that the students deserve. Devinny is an awesome school ... too bad we can't stay here through middle school as well!
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2015

As a new member to this community, we have been astonished at how amazing the teachers and support educators are! There is not enough good that can be said about how well they have integrated our children both of which have sensory issues, ADHD and dyslexia and provided accommodations that are working. No small task and huge testament to the hardworking teachers! This is unlike the 3 previous Jeffco and Dougco schools we tried, which were a complete fail. As for the administration, the principal tries to come off as controlling to the point of arrogant and condescending at times. That's just her way of handling it all; however, she is still very effective at getting the kids needs mets, creating an inclusive atmosphere and does so with a sense of humor. There is one front desk admin who is curt, and seems to want to let the world know she's better than her job, she will help you reluctantly, otherwise just ignore her. The other front desk admin is knowledgable, helpful, personable and exactly the person you want to greet you at the door. Any negative Admin stuff here is only background noise. When it comes to education this school has it figured out!
Submitted by other on May 12, 2014

I'm a student at Devinny and I love it! I have had great teachers and their is nothing bad to say!
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2014

I love this school! The staff is incredible and so devoted to their students and their success. PTA is active and encourages all parents to be involved. I feel this school is very united! The principal is so great and a great community leader!
Submitted by parent on September 11, 2013

Devinny Elementary is a great school with awesome teachers who really care about their jobs and the children. Devinny is a high-performing school whose teachers are always striving to do better. The parent involvement is amazing and the PTA is very active and focused on supporting the teachers and improving the school anyway it can.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2013

I have been at this school for 10 years and have 4 more years to go. This is the best school around - teachers, administrators, principal, office staff, and parents. What a fantastic community. I feel blessed that this is my kid's home school. It has totally prepared my older kids for middle and high school - they are both advanced now from attending Devinny. The kids coming out of Devinny are more advanced than surrounding schools and are high achievers and have strong morals - the Devinny Noble Nnight program promotes and instills good behavior in all the kids. There is little to no bullying. I can't say enough good things about this school!
Submitted by parent on June 27, 2013

We've experienced multiple years of petty problems. There is a consistent feeling that the "Devinny Community" isn't exactly all inclusive. There is an underlying power struggle at all times, as well. Parental involvement is high, but rather helicopter-like. We haven't been happy with the majority of the teachers and have experienced 3 principals in the past 4 years. Our experience has been consistently negative in most respects. Parking, drop-off/pick-up is always an issue and the latest attempt at fundraising was ridiculous. The office staff is consistently rude and unhelpful, as well. There is also a lack of male teachers at the school... I can only count the gym teacher, a part-time counselor, and a 6th grade teacher.
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2013

We made the hard decision to leave this school last year and could not be happier. I have been a memeber of the Devinny Community my whole life, and had a hard time letting go of that as well as there high test scores and raitings, But at his new school my child is happy for the first time in years. We did have 2 good teachers at Devinny, but had 3 very bad ones as well, the principle was awful, and the bullying in my childs clase was out of control. I was just told by his new teacher that she completly disagreed with the lable/peg that Devinny had given him. So many hard choices with Parenting but I'm so glad I made this one, and I would encourage other parents to look at ther otions if there gut feeling that this school is failing there child. I also now have a suspition that those high test grades are influenced by the gifted and talented program as well.
Submitted by parent on January 09, 2013

We have been at DeVinny for two years and have not been happy with either of the prinipals at all. We had major teacher issues last year and the teacher was replaced halfway through the school year and things got better. My childs teacher this year is amazing! I think there is a great PTO that has lots of fun events. The drop-off/ pick-up is ridiculous! I have never seen such a poorly planned event that happens everyday.