Looking at the possibility of moving to Denver

[Esse Quam Videri]

from Charlotte. My wife is an elementary school teacher. Is there anyone here that can answer some school district questions??

[chemteacher]

1. I teach in SE Denver metro area (Centennial)...

My wife and I are both high school teachers, but I can perhaps answer some general questions about school districts.

[Esse Quam Videri]

2. general school questions

What can you tell me about the Aurora school district? As I have been researching the area I found that they pay a considerable amount more than the surrounding districts. Does this district have a bad reputation? Do they micro manage their teachers? I am currently teaching at a school district that does just that and I hate it. Do they have a difficult student population? There must be some reason they pay their teachers almost $10,000 more than some of the other districts. If this is a bad district, which ones would you recommend? I would love to be in a district that is relaxed where I can enjoy teaching again. My current district only cares about test scores and micro manages every second of the day. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

[chemteacher]

3. Aurora Public Schools vary...

...some of the schools are pretty challenging. A number of their schools are in lower SES areas, and consequently you see that in test scores, etc. It is the least suburban of the suburban school districts, if that makes sense.

EVERY school district here is under the pressure of statewide testing, however, some schools and districts less so than others.

South of Aurora Public Schools is the Cherry Creek School District. There is a lot of diversity there, but it is a good district. Realtors and developers put "Cherry Creek Schools" on their advertising. The west side of the district is pretty affluent, but the east side is pretty middle class with some good schools. I live, teach, and send my daughter to school there.

South of Denver, Douglas County Schools are very good. Douglas County is the most affluent county in the nation. The superintendent has said in the newspaper that they don't really care about test scores, etc. Face it, kids will achieve fine coming from the backgrounds they have.

Some good districts exist on the north side, too, like Adams Five Star Schools.