Chipeta Elementary School serves students in Preschool through Fifth Grade as part of Colorado Springs School District 11 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.   Chipeta sits in the heart of Mountain Shadows, a community nestled in the foothills of the city, adjacent to majestic Garden of the Gods.  A hand-painted mural of children playing and a statue of two children reading a book on a bench make an immediate impression upon approaching visitors.  Those happy children, playing and learning, represent the core values of Chipeta Elementary. 

Chipeta Elementary opened its doors in August of 1987 and currently has 465 students enrolled.   The school is named after the Native American Indian, Chipeta, wife of Chief Ouray of the Ute Indian Tribe.  Chipeta, unique amongst Indian women, worked alongside Ouray negotiating treaties with the United States Government.  She was a highly respected and deeply loved tribal elder.  Though she had no children of her own, she offered loving counsel to tribal children.  To honor this history, representatives of the Ute Indian community attended the school’s dedication and participated in the 20^th year anniversary celebration.   

The mission of Chipeta Elementary School is to foster a community in which children develop strong character, meet recognized standards of excellence, and become resourceful problem solvers.  Chipeta staff strives to ensure that all students succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and creatively.  Chipeta Elementary has a positive and collaborative learning environment, which challenges and enriches students with a developmentally appropriate curriculum in a supportive partnership between home and school. 

Chipeta has earned an “excellent” rating from the Colorado Department of Education every year since 2002 as well as numerous awards within our district for superlative academic achievement. Chipeta is identified as an exemplary site for Response to Intervention.  On any given day, we have as many as thirty volunteers working in our building; our PTA has been recognized by the state for having the largest membership in El Paso County.  The strong partnership between community, parents and staff makes Chipeta a successful school and a role model for others.  New parents often come into the school and ask if we “allow” parents in the classroom.  We don’t just “allow” them – we encourage them to come be an integral part of their children’s learning.

Chipeta Elementary is first and foremost a place for education.  We practice “bell to bell” instruction and differentiate to meet the needs of all learners.  We offer intervention programs for students needing extra support and extensions for children working beyond the curriculum.  Advanced students have participated in state and international Future Problem Solving Program conferences.  Almost all intermediate students participate in orchestra or band. We participate annually in the district science fair and stage a full Revolutionary War-era ball to supplement our fifth grade history program. 

In addition to our strong focus on curriculum, Chipeta maintains a vibrant and nurturing environment.  The principal greets children in the morning, and our front desk staff ensures all visitors are welcomed. Numerous after school activities and enrichment classes are offered in physical education, art, drama, reading, music, and science.   The Chipeta PTA has an activity virtually every month including Bingo Nights, a Sock Hop and spring carnival.  There are offerings for every child and every family at Chipeta.

We are proud of our school and all of our students.  We recognize that these children have enormous potential and we take seriously the challenge to unlock that potential and start them on their individual paths to success.  We want Chipeta Elementary to be the place that gives each of our students the very best possible beginning to their education, the key to their futures.