Welcome to Our New 2025-2026 Families!

School Hours

Our school hours are 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Our main office is open from 7:15 AM to 3:15 PM. 

After-School Care Through Discovery Link

Discovery Link (DL) after-school care is offered for all students (ECE-5th grade). To register for the 2025-2026 Discovery Link after-school program, visit the DL website on or after Tuesday, April 29.

Bus Transportation

McKinley-Thatcher students who live within our DPS enrollment zone (called the South Central Enrollment Zone) and whose home address is more than one mile away from our school are eligible to ride our school bus.

For more information on school bus eligibility, please visit transportation.dpsk12.org.

If your student is not automatically eligible, you can request to be added to our school bus route on the DPS Transportation Services website.

Please note that ECE-4 students may not ride the school bus unless they have an older sibling who also rides. 

We strive to create educational experiences that meet each child’s specific needs through differentiated instruction. All our students participate in hands-on learning and unique experiential opportunities with our partners, including South Platte River Environmental Education (SPREE). Our building also houses a state-of-the-art STEM SmartLab, art studio, library, and flexible learning spaces.

To read more about student instruction in different grade levels, please see below.

1st through 5th Grade Instructional Model

In first through fifth grade, we use an instructional model called “platooning” for our core content instruction. In these grades, our teachers specialize in teaching either literacy or math, science, and social studies. This model allows teachers to develop deep expertise in their content areas, create more individualized support for students, and implement more experiential learning opportunities in our classrooms!  

Under the platooning model, all first through fifth grade students have two grade level classroom teachers – one who specializes in literacy and one who specializes in math, science, and social studies. Students start their day with their homeroom teacher, then transition mid-day to their afternoon teacher. This ensures that students receive daily instruction in all of our core content areas. 

Kindergarten Instructional Model

In kindergarten, students are assigned to a homeroom classroom and engage in structured learning activities throughout most of their day. We do not use the platooning model in kindergarten – instead, our kindergartners have one homeroom teacher who is their primary academic instructor for mathematics, literacy, science, and social studies. Kindergarten students also attend daily specials classes which include art, drama, PE (Physical Education), and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math). 

ECE-4 Instructional Model

In ECE, we use a play-based approach, and our teachers work together to create a curriculum that meets the needs and interests of our unique classes. Children remain in one homeroom classroom and engage in activities of their choice for most of their day, such as working with peers, creating, exploring, investigating, and solving problems. ECE students also attend daily specials classes which include art, drama, PE (Physical Education), and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math). 

In order to attend ECE-4 at McKinley-Thatcher, ECE-4 students must be placed at our school through their UPK application. Families must also complete a Denver Public Schools SchoolChoice application. If you have not yet completed a SchoolChoice application, please let us know as soon as possible! If you need assistance with either application, contact our main office at (720) 424-5600 or McKinley_Thatcher@dpsk12.org.