Schmitt Elementary School

School Description

Jakob Schmitt Elementary is located in the heart of the Ruby Hill neighborhood, just west of the South Platte and Ruby Hill Park. The school and grounds cover two full city blocks, and are bordered on all sides by significant stretches of single family homes. Three of the four bordering streets, Colorado, Tejon and Vallejo, are very quiet, with little traffic. Jewell Avenue, which forms the southern boundary of the block, is the busiest of the four bordering streets, but volumes are still fairly low. Evans Avenue, three blocks south of the school, is the closest major arterial, and commercial district. Ruby Hill Park, two blocks east of the school, provides outdoor recreation facilities, many acres of open land, steep sledding hills and commanding views of the Denver and the Platte Valley. Schmitt is a traditional schedule school, and provides education for ECE through 5th grade. For the 2003-2004 school year the approximate enrollment was 450, and the school is currently at maximum enrollment. The demographics of the student population mirror those of the neighborhood.

Learning Landscape Description

Mesa Verde, a special place for this school, is the organizing principle for the master plan which proposes extensive educational gardens, art pieces, and shade opportunities.