Zone - Colfax Elementary School
Colfax Elementary School
An Urban School Serving a Diverse Student Community
Location: 1526 Tennyson St. Denver, CO
Principal: Joanna Martinez
Colfax Partner Teachers: Gertraud Torrez, Early Childhood Education and Cynthia Gagnon, Early Childhood Education
Background
Located on a quiet street in northwest Denver, just one block from West Colfax Avenue, Colfax Elementary School offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere that creates a strong sense of family and community for the children served. Colfax Elementary is committed to meeting the academic and social needs of its students and offers many programs to support families and nurture children. Teachers and administrators alike expect all the school’s children, regardless of their background, to become critical and creative thinkers who are academically proficient.
Partnering to Prepare Urban Teachers in the P-16 Zone for Student Achievement
Colfax Elementary School is among a strand of feeder schools that make-up the Center for Urban Education’s (CUE) P-16 Zone for Student Achievement in northwest Denver. Currently, Metro State pre-service teachers conduct field experiences in the school. However, beginning in fall 2011, the school will serve as a host-site for elementary teacher preparation classes and provide residency support for pre-service teachers who have demonstrated their commitment to professionally serve the educational needs of children in high poverty schools.
Teaching and Learning Science the Family Way (Enseñando y Aprendiendo Ciencia con la Familia)
Metro State students in ECE 4330: Science, Health and Math for the Young Child host the annual Colfax Pre-School Science Fair for pre-school children and their parents. To extend the fun and learning beyond the classroom, teacher candidates prepare science experiment packets that contain instructions (in English and Spanish) and supplies that allow our young scientists and their parents to continue hands-on exploration when they are home.
View the Colfax Pre-School Science Fair Video
School Community
Student Population: In fall 2010, 306 students enrolled at Colfax, 180 females and 126 males. 89 percent of the student body is Hispanic, 6 percent White, 4 percent Black and 1 percent Asian or Pacific Islander. A full 30 percent of the population is identified as English Language Learners (ELLs) , with the majority of this population speaking Spanish. Eight percent of the student population is identified Special Education. Ninety-six percent of students are eligible for free and reduced lunch, but the school is a Provision II school, which means all children receive free breakfast and lunch.
Staff: There are 41 employees currently at Colfax Elementary. Fifty-five percent are Hispanic, and 45 percent are White. The languages spoken here are primarily English and Spanish with one teacher speaking German.
Parents/Families: The parent involvement at Colfax is high. When the school has “Family Night,” an average of 140 people attend and for Parent Teacher Conferences at least 93 percent of parents attend with teachers conducting telephone conferences for the remaining 7 percent.