Dunn Elementary School

Lots of great schools in the district, but this is one is unique because it’s in Old Town (cool people) and has an international population. The International Baccalaureate is rigorous and thorough.
I liked Dunn the instant I walked in. Lots of natural light is coming in. We bought a house within the neighborhood attendance boundaries. («School of choice» is an option when your child enters Kindergarten, and s/​he can attend if space allows.) The students learn Spanish, can qualify for the Accelerated Reader program, and have performance-​based reading and math groups.
There’s a world map with a mark on over 90 countries with the child’s name and where s/he’s from. My daughter is friends with kids from Argentina, Belgium, Mexico, Korea, China, India, and Croatia.
The school earns «Excellent» ratings for academics (reading, math, etc.) year after year. Their test scores are the highest. The kids have the opportunity to do lots of extra curricular activities including Chinese language, Japanese language, drumming club, Odyssey of the Mind, Roots and Shoots, and Dolphin Strings.
Very hip parents and volunteers. Some very hip teachers. Kevin Duffy (third grade) is one of the friendliest guys in Fort Collins. Dan Shinneman (media specialist) is cool. The custodian, Mr. Rogers, knows all of the kids, helps with lunch, and is always smiling and giving positive reinforcement.
My daughter’s teachers were Colleen Worman, who was very kind and loving, in Kindergarten; Lisa Gimlet, who uses lots of puppets, in first grade; Deborah Taylor, who does lots of poetry and writing, in second grade; and Kevin Duffy, who plays the guitar, in third grade – all very competent teachers. Jan Borman, the long-​time principal, retired in 2006, and the school is its third year of reorganization without her leadership.