MC Kinley-Thatcher Elementary School

The classrooms are overcrowded.  This year 2010 a fifth grade class at McKinley-Thatcher has 37 students in it to one teacher.  This is not a good for the teacher, students and does not speak well of DPS policy.

 Many students are left behind, do not make progress according to their ability to achieve and are not working up to their own expectations or that of their parents.

Due to this overcrowding preferential treatment of students surfaces especially toward children who are noticably compliant in the learning environment.    A lack of focus is not  tolerated and often children are not engaged due to the generally depersonalized mileau.  

The energy of ten year olds in this setting is difficult to obtain without being either unkind or uncaring and distant.

Teacher patience and professional ability is stretched to a point that both student and teacher experience frustration and a lack of enthusiasm.

2009 classrooms were 4th-5th grade splits with many children not working at grade level.  It was too easy to peddle backwards in their own personal expectations.

This is a diverse student population with special needs as well.  Statistics from former years are not relevant to date 2009,2010 and reaching into 2011.