Kindergarten

About Kindergarten

All DPS elementary schools offer a full-day of instruction to children in Denver. Children must be 5-years-old on or before October 1 of the year of enrollment to be eligible.

Specific hours of operation are determined by the individual school. Holidays and District Planning Days are determined by the district calendar.

See the Applying to a Kindergarten Program page for specific registration requirements.

Philosophy

Denver Public Schools provides developmentally appropriate kindergarten education services for 5-year-old children in Denver. Kindergarten is available in all DPS elementary schools. The kindergarten program provides a safe and nurturing environment that promotes and supports the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of the child. The program serves approximately 6,500 kindergarten children.

Family Involvement

Parent involvement is a critical component of the kindergarten experience. Children get the most from their educational experience when teachers and parents work together as a team. Parents are encouraged to be active partners in their child’s education.

students

List of ECE Programs for 23-24

Gifted and Talented Information

Please visit the Gifted and Talented Family Information website for more information about gifted programming at Denver Public Schools.

As a family of an advanced learner who is looking for possible school options for your child, there are several questions which can help you gain more information about individual schools philosophies and whether it will be a good fit for your child. We encourage visiting schools and asking questions like the ones below.

  1. What are the advanced learning opportunities at your school?

  2. How do you identify advanced students who need differentiated instruction?

  3. How are advanced programming services decided and implemented?

  4. How can we ensure that the advanced programming services do not simply mean more work for my child, but differentiation to meet their needs?

  5. What does staff training for gifted and talented look like?

  6. How do we address the social and emotional needs of my child?

  7. In what ways can we work/communicate together?

  8. How do I assist my child in transitions to a new school?

  9. What are the ways I can participate in school activities/committees?

  10. What kind of assessments are used to monitor my child’s progress?

  11. What resources or support systems are available to families of advanced children?

  12. What are some ways I can support my child’s strengths outside the school environment?

Curriculum
Applying to DPS
District Calendars & Publications

Researching Schools

Student Services