Montclair Elementary School

School Description

Montclair Elementary is a small school with a projected enrollment of 420 students for the fall 2008 school year. It sits in one of Denver's historic neighborhoods established in the late 1800's by Baron VonRichthofen, the uncle of the Red Baron. Montclair has been a neighborhood school since opening its doors at its original location, not far from where the school currently sits.

Innovative instruction has been a hallmark of Montclair. The first kindergarten program in the state of Colorado debuted at Montclair over 100 years ago. The 2005-2006 school year opened with the implementation of a new instructional model as a result of the school's major revitalization effort. The framework for the new instructional program is built upon Renzulli's Schoolwide Enrichment Model (Dr. Joseph Renzulli http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/sem/ ) and is designed to bring learning to life as students experience a multitude of enrichment experiences directly connected to grade level content standards.

In just two years we have made important and significant progress as we strive to improve student achievement, increase enrollment, invigorate the instructional program and boost parent engagement. The following tale based on the classic childhood story The Little Engine that Could, retells the story of Montclair.

Learning Landscape Description

The plan plays off the neighborhood’s founder Baron Walter van Richthofen’s Castle creating a "learning castle of the mind" to beautify the grounds and instill civic pride and ownership.