Parent Review |
Rating:
Posted 2012-07-10
"Of course the lottery process has zero transparency...it's a lottery! I get it, it's a nail bitter we've been there. Openings change from year to year depending on how many incoming siblings are registered. One year it can be 20 opens another year it can be 40, maybe more, I don't work in the office. The year my child came in we were in the low 20s and I didn't hear anything for months. However, I do know the staff cannot tell you the number they are working on because they have outstanding calls to families with lower numbers. The staff need a decline or acceptance of the open offer before the staff can move onto the next. It is my understanding that this process isn't complete until the middle of summer. Let us not blame the staff but rather those who have a low lottery number and don't get back to the school in a timely fashion. It is egregious and outright unreasonable for the previous parent to give this school a one star when clearly this person know nothing of the standards, academics, teachers, etc. of this truly incredibly awesome life changing incomparable elementary school."
Parent Review |
Rating:
Posted 2012-06-19
"Good luck getting in though. Admissions are by lottery only. The lottery process has zero transparency. They don't tell you how many openings they have each year, how many siblings got in or how the number you are assigned fits in with any of these other numbers. At the very least they should post a website saying the next opening will go to number XX. Then you would know how far your number was from the current number. No that would be way to hard for weary administrators. I mean updating a number every week or so is hard work. Why would they want to lift a finger to let concerned parents know if they are even close to getting in to this incredibly awesome life changing incomparable elementary school."
Parent Review |
Rating:
Posted 2012-05-29
"Dennison is an option school, not a charter school. The difference is that a charter school is a school operated by a group of parents, teachers and community members whereas an option school is still operated by the district. Perhaps this is what the parent below is referring to when writing but still follows the Jeffco curriculum. Dennison is a school with high expectations for both behavior and academics. So yes, it would stand to reason that the children are also evaluated for their behavior. (e.g. follows directions, completes homework on time, follows classroom rules, respectful of others, talks only at appropriate times, etc.) Unlike the previous author, I don t find that to be a negative. Dennison has a rigorous academic curriculum that requires discipline and an attitude of excellence. There is homework just about every night but two to three hours is not the norm for most. However, if you child finds it hard to focused and stay on task in class, s/he may find they have more to do when they get home. I know of plenty of families who are able to balance the academics of Dennison with music lessons and several sports outside of school."
Parent Review |
Rating:
Posted 2012-05-26
"Be prepared to "fit in" at Dennison with both the faculty and parents. If you have issues with the curriculum or teachers, chances are you will be ostracized and given the cold shoulder. Academically, Dennison is a good school but still follows the Jeffco curriculum. Your kids will get graded for things not related to homework or tests. They push hard at this school, so you will have to deal with those side-effects. Two to three hours of homework a night is common so if you want your child to have a life outside of school, this is not the place."
Parent Review |
Rating:
Posted 2012-04-24
"This a lottery school, meaning you must come by during the first round of open enrollment to submit your child's name. It is purely by lottery that you can get in. Once in, siblings are on a priority list and are the first to be selected for open seats. Dennison is a school with high expectations for both behavior and academics. It is for committed parents who believe in the school's philosophy. If you believe in a rigorous academic environment that requires discipline and an attitude of excellence, you've come to the right place. One can nitpick over the little trifles as commented below, but the rewards go far beyond giving out candy (which few teacher do). Rewards such as honor roll, SOAR tickets, marble jar parties, and shopping at the "class store" with "class dollars". Parents are encourage to volunteer and be present in the classroom as the teacher sees fit. However, volunteering opportunities dwindle as the children move to upper grades. There are left-wingers here too (myself included), but it's not about politics here it's about a great education for our children. I can only wish that other schools would follow this fundamental model of education as it clearly works."