Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School in Fort Collins

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: November 20, 2025

Horrible experience my teaching was horrible, and the students felt very unsupportive. Most of the students said that they felt uncomfortable and we lost students. Im very disappointed in the school and I do not recommend it for any other people who are looking for a good school for their children.

Posted: November 20, 2025

Posted: September 17, 2025

This school only cares about take advantage of the rich population that surrounds it. They dont care about the students.

Posted: September 17, 2025

Posted: May 10, 2025

This school is very rubbish, i sent my daughter for her whole middle school and all they did work work work work work work work. I didnt think much about it at first because thats what you do at a school. But I realized something was wrong after my daughter couldnt do anything. Homework homework. no time for fun or enjoyment. I did send my other daughter to another school.

Posted: May 10, 2025

Posted: August 24, 2024

I would say overall, Kinard is worth attending. Many opportunities for advancing in math and extra classes for more skills. 8th graders can walk out with Algebra 2 finished. Behavior management could be a lot better; 'bad' students don't receive adequate punishment. The music classes are nice, but I would take private lessons alongside if you want to succeed in your instrument. Also, the yearbooks are always gorgeous!

Posted: January 29, 2023

Exceptional school with rigorous courses for those who want to challenge themselves. Many advanced courses and a music program that is one of the best in the state if not the country. If you have a serious student this is the school for you.

Posted: January 29, 2023

Posted: March 26, 2022

this school allows sexual harassment to happen on school property from student to student without punishment, this school has had solid evidence and recordings of proof of sexual harassment and assault some happening on school property and has turned a blind eye. If you want students to be sexually safe I would not recommend this school.

Posted: March 26, 2022

Posted: October 17, 2021

It is so inclusive and an incredible community.

Posted: April 14, 2021

Very unhappy with the lack of empathy for students. They overload the students with work, and lack any type of nurturing environment. Not a good school for transitioning out of elementary.

Posted: April 14, 2021

Posted: September 18, 2020

Not happy with the school. We had very unpleasant experience there.

Posted: December 11, 2017

I have worked as a teacher for 22 years and have been a staff member of 2 Blue Ribbon Schools recognized by the US Department of Education. In my experience, Kinard is an excellent school worth considering for a middle school student. I'm particularly pleased with how the Arts, Physical Wellness, and World Languages are considered academic classes, not just electives. While I've always been a fan of neighborhood schools, we see great opportunities for them at Kinard.

Posted: June 30, 2015

Kinard is a great school. I was just at this school a year ago and now I attend Fossil Ridge highschool now. I am freshman now and I can notice a few different things between the kids that went to Preston and the ones that went to Kinard. Most of the kids that went to Prestin seem to be wilder than the ones that went to Kinard. (Not all Preston students). They also to seem to care more about being popular than rather focusing on school and education. At Kinard I felt like I was constantly learning and the information stuck with me. I also felt like was able to get many opportunities at Kinard. Most people say at Kinard that the teachers make you retake things and that isn't entirely true. Some of teachers said, you can not retake this because in highschool there are no retakes. Also kids that wanted to go to Preston that were attending Kinard only went there because they wanted to be popular. Some kids that transferred from Preston to Kinard told me that they switched schools because they thought Preston was very unorganized and seemed like the teachers didn't care. They also said they barely got any homework at Preston. Another thing I noticed at fossil between the Preston kids and Kinard kids was that the Kinard kids looked as if they knew more. An example of this would be my English class. I felt like I knew most of the things happening in the class while the kids that went to Preston were just learning things. I already knew most of the stuff I was learning. I even took regular English. Kinard was a very good school I thought, other than the grading system because it was on a scale from 1-4. But I just noticed a few differences between the Preston and Kinard kids educationally. And I feel like all the test I had at Kinard helped me at Fossil because I always have test. Also at Kinard you start language earlier than at Preston so you can be done with language requirements as a sophomore. I feel like Kinard is more well rounded. You get a taste of everything.

Posted: June 30, 2015

Kinard is a great school. I had a wonderful time over there. I was just a freshman at Fossil Ridge highschool and I was able to see a difference between the students that went to Kinard and the ones that went to Preston. (This review is to help decide whether to go with Kinard or Preston). First of all, the kids that went to Preston seem to be more concerned with being popular. They don't care for learning as much. (NOT ALL FORMER PRESTON KIDS ARE LIKE THIS). They seem to be less focused in class and be more foolish and like to waste time. Another thing is that I feel like students that went to Kinard seemed to have learned more. In my English class for example we read The Odyessey. I read that in sixth grade.I asked kids that went to Preston if they read this book they said no. I remember my teacher teaching us about it. Although it was an easier version I was able to understand it more the second time I read it. Another example would be also in my English class when we were reading to kill a mocking bird. So we also had to learn about civil Rights. Kids that went to Preston never heard about the civil rights. It looked like they learned nothing about it middle school. I learned about as 8th grader at Kinard. We had a huge unit on it! The students that went to Preston were asking all these questions about it! I have also noticed in some other classes, where they haven't learned important background information.Third of all the kids that went to Kinard are just more focused and listen to the teacher better. With classes that I have more Preston with tend to be louder and have more distractions than classes with Kinard kids. Some kids that transferred from Preston to Kinard told me at Preston it was very un organized and it seemed like the teachers didn't care.Kinard is great school. It's more well rounded, you get to try more things and there are more requirements to make you a better student. For example we take language earlier than Preston student. My language requirements will be done as a sophomore. While you still have kids needing to take language still because they are not done with the requirements. Everything at Kinard was pretty much great. At Kinard I was able to take honors classes so I could be able to see how highschool work was like. All those tests prepared me for Fossil. Some of the teachers wouldn't let you re take things too at Kinard.

Posted: May 11, 2015

Enroll in all honors classes. High school is much harder, and honors classes prepare you in a way the regular courses don't. Even if you're not particularly motivated, you should definitely take honors, or else the high school transition will screw you over. High school is much harder. Prepare yourself now, while your GPA doesn't matter as much.

Posted: April 1, 2015

I agree with two of the parents who have posted before me. Kinard is not a good place for students who want to be college ready and use their brains for something other than memorization. Testing, retesting, and testing again is what is emphasized. As an example-- in the month of February (a short one by most measures) my child had 10 tests in science, 5 tests in math, 12 tests in English, and 2 tests in spanish. Rarely a day goes by that she doesn't have a test in something. These numbers do not even include any "retesting" that may occur if a student doesn't score highly enough (thankfully she didn't have any retests in February!). How are they learning anything with that much time dedicated to tests??? This doesn't even include the time spent on the state standardized tests!!! Will not be back here next year!

Posted: March 9, 2015

We were excited when we got a spot a Kinard. Now that the reality has set in, we realize it's a lot of hype. The kids at Kinard come from all over the area, but mostly the neighborhoods nearby. Lots of cliques to deal with and the pecking order is well-established. If your kiddo isn't self-motivated to do homework this school isn't for them. There is no credit given for homework diligence, only quizzes(formatives) and tests (summatives) will be counted. Your kiddo needs only to be a rinse and repeat learner to get top scores. They grade on a 1-4 scale so understand that before going in. There is no forgivenness in that scale at all, unless they like you. Our daughter, who is a diligent learner, has been within .1-.05 of an A and not gotten one in multiple cases. That's hard for kids who are high achievers as it basically breaks them down and makes then feel like the extra work doesn't pay off. Don't despair though, if you want your kiddo in honors classes, just complain and bug the teachers. They will eventually give in. Be prepared to have entitled kids with hovering parents too.

Posted: January 12, 2015

Kinard is a good school. It is one of the better middle schools in the district and it teaches Core Knowledge curriculum. Overall my child loves the school. It provides different levels for different learners but as a parent you have to be on top of what is going on with your child just like at any school. They have high expectations for each and every student and they achieve high test scores every year. The teachers are nice and most of them are well qualified in the fields they are teaching. Having said that, I think that the leadership at Kinard needs to focus more on the kids and less on the test scores. Standardized testing is not a good indication of depth of learning. The "we are the best" attitude can be nauseating at times especially when you see how they get there. There is a lot of homework regardless of what the principal says. I don't think they really understand the amount of work and busy work that goes home each week. Some of it is worthwhile learning while other stuff is more suited for the recycle bin. Have your child do a day visit to make sure it is the right choice for them as the back to school night is just marketing fluff.

Posted: September 24, 2014

Kinard is a difficult school to rate. In some ways it is a great school. The facilities are great, the principal is awesome, and they allow for a number of extracurricular activities. However, my concerns about Kinard include the following: 1. They are very much focused on memorization and repeat testing. By the 5th week of school my child has had 4+ tests in each class. If students do not score a 3 (equivalent to a B) or above they have to retake the test. For students who do better by "thinking" instead of memorization-- Kinard isn't good for them. 2. Some of the teachers use a "public shaming" method of correction. If a student forgets their homework (which they have EVERY night) the teacher often embarrasses them in front of the entire class. 3. Some teachers will tell you explicitly that they do not award 4's (A's) to students. A student must be "truly exceptional" to receive a 4. However, what is defined as exceptional is questionable at best (usually it involves repeating in writing EXACTLY what the teacher told them). 5. The school does not foster creativity or flexibility.

Posted: July 19, 2014

I graduated from Kinard last month after attending for three years, and I feel that I have nothing but good things to say about it. I had a rough time in the revolving elementary schools and always felt like an outsider. In Kinard that is no longer a problem. The atmosphere for students is very friendly, and I started making new friends from my first day. The teachers are amazing, friendly, and helpful, making class enjoyable while you still learn so much. I must particularly compliment English teacher Mr. Steven Ray Parker, from whom I learned so much. At Kinard, I recommend enrollment in Honors courses regardless of your current confidence. They are not particularly harder than regular classes, and in fact they are much more rewarding, and go more in-depth into the subjects being studied. The Honors classes can lift up a struggling student and help the most intellectually gifted student through its engaging atmosphere. Overall, I give Kinard 5 stars. My experience was amazing, and I will look back on my three years there with fondness.

Posted: June 15, 2013

I attend Eaton Middle School and I would do anything to transfer to Kinard!!!!!!! I'm still trying to convince my parents to let me!!! I would recommend this middle school :)

Posted: April 6, 2013

This school is rated the best academically preforming school in thedistric out of middle schools

Posted: August 29, 2012

Its the best school ever! It beats all the other middle schools in this area. Preston, Webber, Blevins, and Boltz don't march this amazing school! It also is able to make people happy and laugh. I will never have a middle school like this one.

Posted: June 18, 2012

Kinard is an amazing school! As a student who recently just finished 6th grade, I can say that I really enjoyed all my classes and teachers! It is not true that teachers do not go out of their way to help kids because all of them are so helpful! If you ever have a problem, they are willing to encourage as will as help you! The discipline at this school is not extremely enforced but it's still there. The teachers will still enforce rules. Don't judge Kinard just because everyone thinks we are so gifted and wealthy! We are like all average students and even though some students there are wealthier than me, I don't find it affecting me or my learning. Send your kid to Kinard and I promise you will find it a success!

Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School

Fort Collins, CO 80528

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