Ryan Elementary School

5851 WEST 115TH AVENUE

School District

Jeffco Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
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 January 19, 2023

Ryan Elementary is a really special place, where everyone is unified with the same goal, to make the best educational experience possible for each and every child. We choice-enrolled both of our sons into Ryan Elementary, and had a uniformly positive experience. The teachers at Ryan are superb--they know those kids and what each one needs to do their best, and they genuinely care about each kid's learning and well-being as an entire individual. Time and again, I observed teachers and staff going above and beyond, working together to figure out how to improve their teaching, even when they were already doing a great job. Ryan is a supportive environment, where the staff hold themselves to high standards and keep the kids' best interests front and center. I was particularly impressed by the way that the teachers, paras, and social-emotional experts were able to tailor their services to students with varied needs--kids on IEPs or special ed needs, kids with Advanced Learning Plans or who were identified as gifted and talented, and kids who had strengths in areas that were in areas outside of the traditional core academic areas, like music and art. Principal Kristi Shaner is a strong and responsive leader, who effectively seeks out and balances feedback from her staff, parents, and objective data about students' performance and how that compares to district and state-level performance. Ryan is a gem; Westminster residents are lucky to have access to the school and those of us in neighboring communities are lucky to be able to choice into the school. They do so much with a modest budget and despite Jeffco's relatively poor teacher salaries. I would enroll my kids there again, in a heartbeat, and count myself fortunate to have been a part of their community.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2022

My daughter has attended Ryan for the past 5 years. I have been thoroughly impressed with her education. Ryan out ranks and out scores all other elementary schools in the area. There was no question when choosing elementary school for my daughter.
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2021

The Ryan community is phenomenal! As a first year teacher, I have been very impressed with the level of communication between classroom teachers, admin staff, specials teachers, and special education teachers is very extremely effective. Everyone discusses strategies to best fit the needs for every student at our school and there is genuine care within all of our teachers and it reflects onto our students. I found this to be unique to Ryan since I didn't always see this type of culture from various schools I student-taught at. Highly reccommend Ryan for any parent looking at this school for their chil/children.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2021

This school has been amazing since my son started 2 years ago! I was skeptical as a first time mom and didn't know anyone in the area but this has been an amazing choice for both my son and I! Teachers are truly amazing and the front office is helpful!
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2021

Ryan has great leadership which is shown in it's teachers and staff. We have been at Ryan for many years with 4 kids, including one who was a part of the special education program. Ryan has been super supportive and helpful. Our kids really love here and even our older ones like to come back to visit past teachers.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2019

The bullying is an issue and not dealt with. The reading curriculum is way off, more than a quarter of the 3rd grade class is behind, enough for them to change the curriculum but is too late for us. Took 3 years to get extra help for my child. The front desk staff is rude and unfriendly. The classes are bursting at the seams too.
Submitted by other on March 13, 2019

I went to this school when it first opened. I was in 1st grade. I don't remember, the homework. I remember the playground was awesome, for daydreaming it h old friends. I remember, the swings in front of the open, sports field. I was into horses and animals, I would imagine a barn, fences and hoses and ponies in the field as I swung on the swing set, with my friends I had gone to preschool and grown up with at, La Petite Academy. I think, a lot of us from La petite went to Ryan Elementary, it was only a few blocks away. I remember the School name was chosen in memory of my neighbors son who died of AIDs, from a blood Transfusion, when he was a little kid. I always thought, that was actually, a very meaningful way to remember him, good school from what I remember 25yrs. Later, lol.
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2019

Fantastic. We have been attending the school for four years now. The teachers go above and beyond. They have met my kids where they are at whether that is needing more help or needing more challenge. It is a great environment for learning and for building relationships. My kids enjoy the afterschool activities. All of the teachers go above and beyond! The programs and clubs offered are phenomenal. It’s a welcoming and fantastic school family to be a part of. Fantastic. We have been attending the school for four years now. The teachers go above and beyond. They have met my kids where they are at whether that is needing more help or needing more challenge. It is a great environment for learning and for building relationships. My kids enjoyed the afterschool activities. All of the teachers go above and beyond! The programs and clubs offered are phenomenal. It’s a welcoming and fantastic school family to be a part of
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2019

We love Ryan Elementary for our son and our family. The teacher that my son has is so caring and didn’t waste any time setting up a meeting with me to discuss my son’s learning goals as he came in struggling with literacy. The support staff are also warm and engaging each time I am there to volunteer, pick up or drop off. I loved that the music teacher knew my son’s name on the first day of school and said bye to him (by name) when he left the school. The pick up and drop off is a breeze in comparison to other schools. Faculty are placed at high traffic areas to ensure the safety of students being dropped off and picked up and also at crosswalks. The PTA is extremely active and is always bringing fun and exciting things to the school to ensure money is being raised and that money is going back to the needs of the school. I am very impressed with the communication from the principal and my son’s teacher. I always feel in the “loop” of the goings on of the school and community. We loved the Hawk Hustle 5k put on by the PTA to raise money for the school! As a former elementary school teacher, I toured many, many, schools before deciding the best fit for my son. We are proud and thankful to call Ryan Elementary our home.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2018

Wonderful school. We have been pleased with the teachers and principal. My kid has learned a lot and made many friends
Submitted by parent on July 16, 2018

Great overall experience, nice to meet the faculty staff, warm welcoming and great education for the kids
Submitted by other on March 09, 2016

We are former Jefferson County teachers. We currently bring fun science demonstrations to metro area schools. Every time we present at Ryan we are impressed with the respectful atmosphere the principal has for staff and students.Kristi Shaner, principal, is always present in the daily activities of the school. The school climate is fun, positive and conducive to learning.
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2015

We have been part of the Ryan community for three years. I cannot say enough positive things about the school. My children are encouraged, supported and held accountable for their choices when need be. The teachers and staff (Principal included) are friendly, hard working, and really accessible. The PTA is extremely active and there are plenty of opportunities for parents to help support the school.
Submitted by other on September 07, 2015

The principal doesn't treat kids or adults fairly/the same. I volunteer a lot in the building and she is not professional at all. She has favorites (on the staff) and makes that very clear. She seems to have a chip on her shoulder and likes to have power. My kids love it here and that's what counts the most. The majority of the teachers really do care for the kids and have a love for their job. Sadly, some do not and that does effect their teaching in the classroom. Some of my kids have been there K-6 and some of them are still there. If you're lucky you will get teachers like Hoff, Welch, Kohlenstein, DeCola, and Effertz. These are someMy kids have had and they go above and beyond their jobs.Overall, the school is good because of their teacher-that's who keeps it going forOur students
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2015

We absolutely love this school and the wonderful community around it. We open enrolled from out of district over 6 years ago and are so please with our decision. Both of our children have excelled at the school. The principal, teachers and entire staff are the most caring and dedicated people. The PTA is very active and offers a lot of great activities & opportunities for the students. We particularly like the Healthy Hawks and Fuel Up to Play 60 program that promote a healthy school environment. The music, art and PE teachers are outstanding and continually offer enrichment opportunities before and after school.
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2014

My son started school here in kindergarten. It was a wonderful school until three years ago when the school switched principals. The newer principal is demeaning and uncaring towards the kids. She also does not listen to the parents at all. She treats every kid like they are bad from the start and keeps a hawks eye out looking for trouble. She is in the Jeffco school district so it is next to impossible to remove someone like this. If you would like your kid treated like a criminal and like a military type run school then Ryan is for you. If not beware of this school! We pulled my child out and have been much happier and we are now seeing what it's like to have a kind, caring, warm principal.
Submitted by other on October 02, 2014

This is a review from a student that just graduated 5th grade here. I spent from Kindergarden to 5th grade and I loved every bit of it. The community is great, now that i'm in middle school, tons of kids don't care about school at all here and do nothing. Ryan is different. I never saw that. The teachers are fantastic, all of them. The only reason i'm not giving them 5 stars is that there were hardly any clubs at all. But other than that, a perfect school for anyone.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2014

I'm very concerned for my child's safety. My child told me that she left the school premises without the teachers noticing. That made me realize there's no fence around the entire playground. If the kids are playing on the north facing playground they can easily leave. That made me so upset. I checked many other schools before deciding on Ryan and I was busy checking test scores and making sure I liked the teachers. It never occurred to me to check the safety of the playground. All of the other schools had a fence that wrapped around to make sure no kids got away. Kids are young and they're going to test their boundaries. My child should have never been able to leave today. It makes me sick to my stomach.