School profile: Compositive Primary on the Anschutz Campus
If there’s one thing our team loves to chat about, it’s local schools. Our 12 team members here at the Scoop have children at more than 10 different schools, which is pretty amazing to think about! It’s also a testament to the incredible quality and wide range of school options around Central Park.
Another big focus of ours is the Anschutz Campus. We’re fortunate that hundreds of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who work on campus call Central Park home. I was also very lucky to work for many years at Children’s Hospital Colorado before joining the Scoop and Focus Real Estate – so I’m proud to say I spent many of my professional years working on campus.
Given all this, we thought it would interesting to learn more about the Anschutz Campus’ new school. I say “new,” but Compositive Primary actually opened its doors in August 2019 and is quickly growing on the northeast part of campus.
We were lucky to connect with Heather Mock, Head of School for Compositive Primary. Compositive already has many children who attend who live in Central Park and is expanding its admissions outreach beyond just the campus. Compositive has children ages three through 2nd grade (and 3rd grade coming next fall), and a focus on inquiry based eduction, diversity, multi-age groupings, and extended-day care.
Here’s our interview with Heather!
Can you tell us a little about Compositive Primary?
“Compositive Primary is a student-driven, inquiry-based school just east of Central Park on 23rd and Ursula. We focus on educating the whole child through four domains: cognition, character, health and well-being, and community engagement; and we develop in our students the capacity to reflect and learn, recognize and act, care, and connect, and engage and serve. Our students currently range in age from three years old through second grade. Next year, we will go through third grade and will continue to add a grade each year until we go through fifth grade.”
We know you have a fabulous, new campus on the Anschutz Campus. Do you have to work on the Anschutz Campus for your child to attend?
“Yes, we have a wonderful new building that provides flexible learning spaces and a warm environment that encourages our students to take risks and grow as learners. We began as a school that served people on the Anschutz and Fitzsimons campuses, but we are excited to now expand our admissions outreach to the broader community through a rolling admissions process.”
How does the enrollment process work? Can children still enroll?
“Yes! We are offering a rolling admissions process for the 2022-2023 school year. The first step is to fill out an inquiry at our website, compositiveprimary.org. We will contact you then, or you can call the school at (720) 452-2522 to set up a tour. You will then fill out an application, arrange an in-person visit (for kindergarten through third grade applicants) or send in a short video (for early childhood applicants). The admissions committee will review completed files and notify families within two weeks.”
Tell us something about Compositive Primary that we might not know by researching online?
“We have a lot of information on our website about the program and the curriculum. We are proud of the work we do to develop in our students a true love of learning. But there’s nothing like coming for a visit to really understand the feel of the school. When you walk into the school, you immediately feel a sense of joy and warmth. Art created by students lines the walls, and you’re sure to see and hear children laughing and learning around every corner.”
What do you think sets Compositive Primary apart from other schools?
“Compositive Primary truly puts the students at the center of their own learning. Through our inquiry arcs, classes dive deep into topics that engage them wholly, learning important skills, like creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, along the way. Teachers document student growth meticulously in a variety of ways, including thorough digital portfolios that empower students to reflect on their progress and take charge of their own growth and development.”
Can you tell us about the tuition model at Compositive Primary?
“Philanthropy allows us to offer a flexible tuition model, working with families to determine tuition based on their adjusted gross income and other financial circumstances. The maximum tuition for the 2022-2023 school year is $19,900.”
What’s the best way to schedule a visit?
“Please call the school at (720) 452-2522 to schedule a tour. Additionally, you can fill out an inquiry at compositiveprimary.org to get the ball rolling. We are excited to see you!”
What else would you love for our audience to know about Compositive Primary?
“We are thrilled to be expanding our admissions to include a broader range of students and families. We believe wholeheartedly that the Compositive model develops in students important skills, a true joy in learning, and a desire to make a difference in the world. Our kids adore school – they even worked with a teacher to write a school song, which talks about “changing the galaxy one question at a time.”
Thanks for your time Heather!
