Las Animas Elementary School

When we moved here three years ago, I read the negative reviews about the school and was concerned. However, my and my child’s experience at Las Animas has been completely different from those reviews. I have been completely satisfied with the teachers my child has had every year. Communication has been timely and responsive, class management has been good, and the teachers continuously challenged my child to make sure he was/is reaching his potential. My interactions with the principal have always been open, professional and productive. The school has many supplemental programs including Theater Arts, STEAM, Wendy’s Heart, Project Cornerstone, etc. In addition, the school has increased its technology and STEAM lab every year since we have been at the school. It’s great watching the kids working with Ozobots, green screen animation and various other activities. I spend a lot of time volunteering at the school. By doing that, I have had an opportunity to interact with the principal, support staff, teachers and other parents. The principal, teachers and staff truly care about the students at Las Animas. My child has been able to be in school plays since 3rd grade and also enjoy STEAM club the last two years. He loves Las Animas. We had the opportunity to switch schools because my child tested into GATE, but we made the choice to stay at Las Animas, and we are very happy we did.

My experience at Las Animas has been very unpleasant. After multiple negative experiences with the principal and the horribly rude secretary I stopped volunteering and limited my involvement to dropping off and picking up my kids. There is a toxic culture in the office that needs to be eliminated.

Shocked & disappointed by everything about Las Animas, also dangerously overcrowded.

As a teacher at this school, I have been very disappointed with the way students, parents and teachers are treated by administration and her posse. The principal chooses favorites, and it does not seem to matter if they are not meeting the requirements of their job. Teachers that she doesn't like, even very effective teachers, are forced to move to different grades, criticized and essentially bullied into changing schools or leaving the district entirely. There is a reason this school has a nearly 50% turnover rate-it's a very unpleasant and stressful place to work. Although the district knows this and has received many formal complaints, the principal has been allowed to carry on like this for years. The dual immersion program is not properly executed, and the majority of students are not at grade level in Spanish. Parents are upset that teachers leave so frequently and openly discuss the fact that it is due to the way they are treated by the principal. Furthermore, there is no proper reading intervention programs in place, so students who struggle in reading do not receive the support they deserve. I strongly advise against either working at this school or sending your child to attend. If you do send your child to this school, please make sure you are as present as possible, advocate for them and avoid leaving your child alone with the principal. Of course, there are teachers that care and many students have positive experiences here. However, the culture is overall based on fear and submission to a principal that is unkind to students and staff, creating a suffocating atmosphere of stress and fear for both students and staff.