Polaris at Ebert Elementary School in Denver

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	10/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) data from Colorado Department of Education.

Posted: March 18, 2026

Although this school does well for many typical kids, it's hard to say that they thrive there. The teachers are unkind, they yell a lot, and there's too much of an emphasis on test scores. A lot of the programming day to day is inadequate, and students spend a ridiculous amount of time on their chromebooks. (4+ hours a day easy.)
And for the neurodiverse, this place is terrible. The teachers are impatient, cruel, unkind, and even violent.

Posted: March 18, 2026

Posted: July 18, 2024

The community was extremely friendly, and I made lots of friends. The teachers are very kind, and I feel like I learned a lot. They came up with fun, and entertaining ways to teach, and we had exciting projects to work on. I am sad to leave, but I feel future students will enjoy this school too.

Posted: July 18, 2024

Posted: May 22, 2024

Overall wonderful experience at this school. From academics, to the teachers and staff. My son has really grown over the last year and he enjoys every minute of it. I would definitely recommend this school to anyone!

Posted: May 22, 2024

Posted: November 26, 2023

I graduated from Polaris last year, and while I was only there for 2 years, I loved every minute of it. At my old school I had always been bullied because I was smart and liked to read, but when I came to Polaris everyone understood and appreciated my smarts, and I made long lasting friendships with people I truly connected with. I loved the challenge, and if I needed more of a challenge or some support, the teachers always had something for me to do that would push me along in my academic journey. I became a happier version of myself because of it, and it motivated me to like school again, and for that reason I will be forever thankful.

Posted: November 26, 2023

Posted: November 17, 2023

My son went to Polaris all four years. It was a little rocky at first, but he thrived as he adjusted to expectations, but he figured it out and thrived. Now he misses the challenge, the art, and the empowerment of having so many bright kids around. Highly recommend Polaris, and frankly, we are lucky to have such an excellent public school. Thank you Polaris!

Posted: November 17, 2023

Posted: November 13, 2023

I moved to this school because the school I was previously at was moving too slowly for me. I attended this school for less than a year. This school was pretty much the same as my other school education-wise, it was more challenging which was nice. The school I previously went to had a minority rate of 92% so as a Hispanic/Latino kid, it was surprising being in a school of mostly white kids. I've seen other people talk about this school's bullying issue and I 100% agree with them. Bullying is a serious problem here. I was here only for 4-5 months and by the second month, I begged and cried for my dad not to take me to school. I was threatened with physical violence and picked on multiple times by the same students. When the teachers were told, they did nothing but tell them to stop. The kids that threatened me said they never said that to me and they continued to pick on me the rest of the time I attended. I feel like because the school is for GT kids, many of the kids feel entitled to put down other kids. It is a nice school, I won't lie, but I don't think I'd ever send my kids to this school if I had them. The luxury is not worth how unsafe I felt.

Posted: November 13, 2023

Posted: June 8, 2021

I was a student here two years ago and i must admit it was incredibly toxic. I got anxiety because of the environment and now see a therapist. I got bullied 3 of the 4 years i was there. I also learned absolutely nothing my 5th grade year in math because my teacher focused on only the entire class and not me at all. He went way too fast and i lost motivation and fundamental learning skills that caused me to struggle in middle school. I do really like the electives thing. While I am smarter than the average kid because of this school I now struggle with everyday tasks and my emotions and anxiety that i never learned to control. This school gave me insecuritys by measuring me up against other students and anxiety by pushing harsh standers on me. My friend who also went there at the same time as me went through the exact same thing.

Posted: June 8, 2021

Posted: March 3, 2021

I recently gradated this school and I can't say how much I love this. The electives are amazing the classes has multiple levels of challenge. For me personally it was super easy to make friends because everyone thinks in a similar way. Easily the best school in the area

Posted: March 3, 2021

Posted: January 13, 2021

We have had 3 children go through Polaris (2 starting in Kindergarten, which is no longer available, class now starts at 1st grade). The program is innovative and individualized.
Our children are very different, and each year at each grade level, they teachers were able to challenge and support them. The 3rd and 5th grade teams are especially amazing.
The specials teachers are also able to differentiate their programs, even during online school.
The leadership at Polaris is easily approachable and extremely knowledgeable.
If I could give Polaris 6 stars, I would.

Posted: January 13, 2021

Posted: May 9, 2020

After dealing with serious bullying at this school I'm no longer a fan.

Posted: May 9, 2020

Posted: February 26, 2020

A new principal started in this 2019-20 school year and she is MUCH MUCH better than the previous principal. She's smart, communicative, compassionate, and experienced with DPS. The teachers, staff, students, and parents all seem to like her much better. The last principal did an awful job, and I'm afraid set the school back in many ways - but Polaris will recover.

Posted: February 26, 2020

The teachers seem be compassionate around difficult social situations and power struggles.

Posted: February 26, 2020

I think you come here for the community if you're looking for families with smart, sometimes quirky, overall sweet kids. You come here to have your HGT kiddo feel more understood and seen than in the more mainstream neighborhood school. You don't come here for massively innovative educational strategies. Polaris is still a DPS school with mostly inside-the-box thinking, weary, underpaid teachers and staff, and the typical share of worksheets and sitting criss-cross applesauce. But for the $0 price tag, it's an awesome option.

Posted: January 25, 2020

Our son is in first grade here, so we only have about 6 months to go on. But so far weve been greatly impressed with Polaris. He loves going to school, is making great progress, and truly enjoys his teachers and all the extra programs at the school. We feel really lucky to be here. But every grade is different and every teacher has a different style, so well continue to stay engaged and add more ratings in the future.

Posted: November 6, 2019

Fantastic experience with both my sons. Loved their teachers.

Posted: November 6, 2019

Posted: February 11, 2019

We dont have a lot of experience since we are new but we are updated often and communication has been amazing.

Posted: February 11, 2019

My daughter is stronger in math and came to the school slightly behind in reading. They pulled her out right away for a few weeks. Her assessment scores show that she has improved over 200 points which is two grade levels.

Posted: February 11, 2019

They dont allow much tolerance for bullying.

Posted: February 11, 2019

The school gives a packet on Thursday and is due back the following Thursday. Its not mandatory but I always have my daughter do it.

Posted: February 11, 2019

My daughter loves her teachers and coming from a regular school, they have believed in her, encouraged her, and accelerated her. She loves school so much.

Posted: February 11, 2019

There is a kind and loving nature to the school.

Posted: February 11, 2019

Amazing! I was so nervous the school was going to be too hard or have weird-smart kids in it. Its been amazing. We are so happy. The teachers are awesome and are passionate. Communication is fantastic. The speed at which they learn is fast so no more bored kids. The kids are for the majority are really great. They challenge kids but not strain them. Im so delighted. I only wish it went up to 8th grade.

Posted: January 19, 2018

Our experience with Polaris has been excellent. We are constantly amazed at how the teachers get the student to love to learn. The support from the teachers and staff is outstanding.

Posted: January 19, 2018

Posted: January 13, 2018

The amount of homework is just right. Every Thursday, students are given a small amount of homework to complete by the following Thursday. There is a list of spelling words, and usually a little math and/or social studies. The homework for the week usually takes about a total of 1 hour.

Posted: January 13, 2018

The students here are a very compassionate group overall. Teachers and administration make it a point to instill the value of giving back to the community, and nurturing a holistic approach to learning (which includes citizenship values).

Posted: January 13, 2018

The teachers and special providers take the time they need to meet the students' needs, and don't seem surprised by differences amongst gifted learners.

Posted: January 13, 2018

We haven't had any experience in this arena (which I guess says something in and of itself). The teachers here value socio-emotional learning, so I am confident that bullying would not be tolerated by the teachers or the Principal.

Posted: January 13, 2018

My daughter's experience here has been excellent. She is getting her need for academic rigor met here, and comes home with a positive report about school every day. I feel very lucky to have Polaris as an option within the public school system.

Posted: May 13, 2017

My children have been at this school for 5 years. The first 3 years were amazing, teachers were excited to be here, parental involvement was high, the principal was passionate and had a focused vision, and my kids were excited to go to school. The teachers were compassionate and interested in our children growing to their fullest potential. That was then, and it has all changed in the last 2 years since we have hired a new principal. The current principal seems to lack vision. She talks a good game about caring and compassion and creating a safe and creative environment for our children, but she does NOT walk the talk. There is a big disconnect between what comes out of her mouth and what actually happens in this community. She has made several new teacher hires in the past year that do not fit into the culture of caring, tolerance, and kindness that we have come to expect of Polaris staff. My child does not want to go to school many days because the atmosphere in the classroom has become so unpredictable due to the teacher's moodiness. I have noticed a drop in parental participation and teacher turnover is up, the community now feels unstable and it is getting more and more difficult to support because the principal neither seems to understand nor care about the wonderful community that she has been given the opportunity to lead.

Posted: February 27, 2017

I've had multiple kids at Polaris since 2008. I've almost pulled my kids out several times but can't bring myself to take my kids away from their friends. Yes, it is a great school for a lot of reasons. However, my experience is that most teachers just want your kid to conform and do it faster. There's rarely any tolerance for those that fall behind or need help. Only o few teachers (one no longer there) were willing to engage my kids and teach them what they need to learn to advance. My kids' ADHD truly baffles most teachers here. They resort to taking away recess or sending the work home when my kids are not engaging or disorganized. The wonderful school psychologist has been the only glue holding us there continuing to help us with the teachers. I've had to be a real advocate for my kids' emotional and social well-being at this school. The school is not proactive in identifying social/emotional needs. My kids have also needed tutors - this is common among families at this school. We lose out on family time trying to keep up with this teaching style that keeps moving even if your kid doesn't get it. This is a huge stress on my kids and me since I feel like I'm homeschooling them sometimes. In general, teacher communication is poor and conferences focus on the negative rather than problem solving. Diversity and inclusion is almost absent in the school population. Some families of color have had negative experiences. On the positive side, this school has a really exceptional music/band teacher and art teacher and has an amazing Friday electives program. I also appreciate the innovation of Singapore math and teachers challenging the kids to think at advanced levels. The parent involvement is truly exceptional.

Posted: February 27, 2017

While the psychologist is amazing, many of the teachers seem to be clueless unless told what to do and even then, some don't do it.

Posted: February 27, 2017

Yes the teachers incorporate this and kids do service projects.

Posted: February 27, 2017

One of my kids was bullied badly - this was many years ago. My other son has a really supportive class and no problems.

Posted: February 27, 2017

They want conformity and for kids to do it faster. No tolerance for kids that need help or fall behind.

Posted: February 27, 2017

I don't agree with homework at all for elementary school

Posted: June 28, 2016

My kids attend the school and like many parents I feel very lucky. The schools curriculum is transparent, fairly rigorous, project/inquiry based, relevant and there is a high expectation from each and every student. The teachers are generally resolute that all students can learn at high levels. The school has adequate resources to help kids be successful- great classrooms! The parent support is very strong; they form a community of their own and spend numerous hours totally engaged with school events. Its amazing! They commit the extra effort to create a sense of classroom/ school community and cultivate a school spirit.
Yes diversity is an important element of any school. While Polariss student body is not reflective of the actual neighborhood -- it is a diverse body of students from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Teachers structure their teaching to acknowledge different perspectives and diverse views of Americans- to include the sensitive topic of race. The entrance criteria keeps learning at a high level, where America should be and unfortunately, many students from disadvantaged backgrounds (which is the neighborhood)- are less likely to have access to the more rigorous learning opportunities Polaris has to offer.

Posted: September 17, 2015

Homework is light except projects which usually have a month or more to work on them. The main goal is a certain amount of reading.

Posted: September 17, 2015

Polaris is one of those schools that is so great, you get spoiled and forget how good it really is until you go tour other schools or hear about them from other parents. Class sizes are 25 or 26 kids. Each teacher also get several hours of para support in the classroom. The school has full-time music, gym, art, and librarian teachers thanks to parent fundraising.

Parents have to work to get their kids into the school which means all the kids have parents that actually care about their kids' education. The best thing about this school is that all the kids are smart (gifted) so there is no stigma about being the smart kid or a nerd. No one gets teased for being smart. Second, because of this, no one here sweats the testing, which means teachers have time to do more than just get everyone to the base level. They have high test scoring anyway. So, instruction is focused on the kids and learning. Art and creativity are incorporated into lessons. They have electives which are fun, enrichment-type classes on Friday afternoons during the school day. There is no need for uniforms or strict rules. The library is huge and full of current books. It's the way elementary school should be. The only real drawback is no air conditioning in the building.

There is a new principal for 2015. She seems engaged and motivated. The previous principal was an administrator to the core, but not bad in anyway. Teacher turnover is maybe 1 per year which is average for any DPS school. (There was no turnover for 2014 to 2015.)

Regarding some people who don't understand the school: First, this is a magnet school, not a neighborhood school. Living nearby does not get you in. Your child must take a test and score as HGT, that is HIGHLY gifted and talented. Testing as GT, or being otherwise "identified", doesn't get you in either. Having a sibling gets you in 1st, but ONLY if the incoming student also tests as HGT. Since this is a great school kids stay here from year to year. They don't add kids unless someone leaves except for when there is a new class at Kindergarten, 1st, and 4th Grade, so just 3 or 4 new kids get in a 2nd, 3rd, and 5th. Kindergarten has a huge wait list every year (easier test). So, your best chance to get in is 1st or 4th grade.

Posted: August 30, 2015

The new Principal has already shown that she is experienced in HGT education and eager to hear from parents about how to best educate Polaris kids. We hope she will restart efforts to bring in more diversity. But the teachers are amazing and the kids are happily and eagerly thriving!

Posted: April 14, 2015

We have been more than happy at Polaris. Our son has gone from 'mwah' about school to really excited. He has built great friendships, there is virtually no bullying and the kids seem to respect each other. Our daughter is growing into a girl who is OK with being smart. No need to dumb down to fit in. I'm so happy she learns this before the awkward teenage years and is comfortable with who she is. The parent below who refuses to send her kids here claims that siblings get a free pass in, even when they don't test HGT. NOT true. There aren't even enough spots for some siblings who did test HGT in KG. It is a bit white and I wish it was more diverse. Regarding it not being a neighborhood school: it is not supposed to be a neighborhood school, it is a charter school for highly gifted children (top 3%).

Posted: March 17, 2015

I live 2 blocks from the school, two of kids have tested HGT - AF ter further research - I REFUSE - to send my kids there for the following reasons: 1) does not represent the neighborhood at all - considering it is ONLY 3% low income and 81% white. REALLY? 2) Siblings (that aren't tested GT or HGT) are for the most part guaranteed in - thereby diluting the level of the school 3) most (upward of 50%) of the families are from Park Hill and Stapleton and Highlands Ranch - nothing wrong with that - but again - furthering my point of not being a neighborhood school. I am unhappy with this school and I hope this changes - to have a better representation of the demographics of Denver and the neighborhood.

Posted: April 28, 2014

Polaris@Ebert is a great school for my two children. Its creative, The principal and staff are amazing, and my kids have loved it for 5 years. i hope to see this school more often every day.

Posted: November 19, 2013

I moved my two children to this school this year and it has exceeded our expectations. Both my children are engaged, challenged, and feel like they are part of a greater community. I would highly recommend this school. I feel very lucky my children can get this quality of education within the DPS school system.

Posted: May 15, 2013

Polaris at Ebert is a a fantastic school celebrating creativity with core curriculum and arts with science. I love that the school's community is comprised of many diverse and talented parents as well.

Posted: September 8, 2012

Our eldest daughter graduated last fall and we are thrilled with how Polaris has prepared her for Middle School. She is a product of both the founding principal and the current principal, as well as past and current teacher. We credit her own efforts and the fabulously passionate teachers and current Principal for their hard work and educational values. Polaris is not always an easy place to learn because it is intense, yet we are so glad that our children have had the opportunity to learn there. Kudos to Polaris for not teaching for tests and for teaching for the better development of the children. We are so glad our younger daughter has two more years at Polaris!

Posted: September 5, 2012

My son is not "high acheiving," he struggles to get all his great ideas down on paper. I wish he felt more valued and included at Polaris. He feels bad that his test scores don't match what is "expected." I was warned about the changing leadership before we enrolled our boys here, but also heard a lot of great things too. I think if you have well-behaved children, and especially still quiet girls, you will be a better fit at Polaris. Loud, active, unruly boys that are hard to get a good finished product out of may have a harder time connecting with the administration.

Posted: September 3, 2012

I must rave about Polaris, and I have read a few of the below comments and want to address them. I have found the new(er) principal to be quite approachable, supportive, professional, and engaging. She is a very strong leader. I understand that she took over leadership from the original founder and visionary of the school, but that the original vision was not able to be executed (too idealistic?) and the current vision for the school is very clear- teaching to high achieving and gifted kids, not squashing but rather keeping space for creativity, and establishing an incredible community with a strong parent base and love of learning. The school is a lovely old building with many great updates, the classrooms feel like traditional public school classrooms but with flairs of each teacher's own interests/passions. Polaris has the highest test scores of any school in DPS, but the kids don't seem to be taught to the test. Kids get help for learning differences when needed (although this might not be as extensive as at other schools). If many good teachers have left, many others have come that are just wonderful. This school makes it possible to feel totally at rest as a mom.

Posted: January 4, 2012

Ebert is the best school in the metro area. Having come from other school(s) my husband and I feel like our children have found a safe haven that is nurturing and challenging to their intellectual and emotional needs. The teachers are exceptional, well trained and simply loving. The principal is a lovely person. She is open-minded, has an open door and heart for these children. The curriculum is cohesive and the electives are cherished by our kids! THANK YOU EBERT!!!

Posted: September 26, 2011

The Polaris program at Ebert Elementary provides the best elementary school education in Denver. I've looked at Edison, Steck, Bromwell, Cory and Park Hill, but none of them compare.

Posted: November 30, 2010

Ebert is by far the best elementary school in DPS and you should send your kids there if they test in. However be aware that the quality of the program and teachers is slipping. Too many good teachers have left in the last 3 years. We were thrilled with K-3rd grade but 4th and 5th grades were a disappointment. With one outstanding exception parents are unhappy with the teachers in those grades. Also it's a school that values the arts above all else and does very little to nurture a passion for math or science. The Friday electives program (parent run) is beloved by all.

Posted: October 27, 2010

We love the hands-on opportunities for the children, focus on community, empathy and building rounded children, the challenging curriculum and teachers trained to differentiate, the smaller size and intimate atmosphere, and integration of science and the arts. This is a school that is trying to engage children and challenge them to do their very best.

Posted: October 16, 2010

An incredible school - the best elementary in Denver, hands down. Excellent teachers, caring principal, global curriculum - all focused on the needs of gifted learners.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Cherry Creek	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Denver	CO	2.5 mi
2	Sterling Hills West	Area of Town	Aurora	CO	12.7 mi
3	Forest Lakes	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Monument	CO	47.7 mi

Polaris at Ebert Elementary School

Denver, CO 80205

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Polaris at Ebert Elementary School

Denver, CO 80205

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