Founded in 1982, Steele is a highly-rated cooperative preschool serving Colorado children. Lauded for its one-room-school-house environment, play-based curriculum, and age-appropriate commitment to Kindergarten preparedness, it is the only cooperative preschool still operating in Northwest Denver. As a cooperative, Steele involves parents actively and directly in their children's earliest education. This approach gives families a sense of continuity between home and preschool, creates a sense of community for students and parents, and keeps tuition costs down. Under the tenants of a cooperative, Steele parents work alongside teachers in the classroom. Together with their children, members organize, attend or volunteer at community events and fundraisers throughout the year. They pitch in for one another when a new baby is born or someone is diagnosed with a serious illness. Working as a democracy, families vote to donate resources to hospitals, food banks, and other valuable institutions. In short, Steele teachers and parents engender in Denver children, at a very young age, a critical sense of community. The impact of this philosophy stretches well beyond the preschool years. In impressive numbers, Steele parents go on to volunteer in ther respective Denver Public School classrooms. A staggering number of Steele alumni families not only serve, but hold leadership roles within DPS parent-teacher associations. Steele is as committed to the classsroom as it is to the community. Our CLASS-rated teachers have a close working relationship with the Denver Preschool Program. Working within the framework fo the school's play-based curriculum, Steele staff members utilize nationally-recognized tools like Handwriting Without Tears to teach skills such as writing, letter, and print recognition; number awareness; and the emotional aptitude necessary for success in Kindergarten. Under the Qualistar Early Learning System, Steele was awarded a perfect 4-star rating. Colorado Shines, the new Quality Rating Improvement System, will review Steele in the forthcoming academic year and the school is committed to maintaining this top-tier status.
