Whiteman Elementary School

School Description

Whiteman Elementary School is nestled in the heart of the Mayfair Park neighborhood. It was built in 1955, and named for Wilberforce Whiteman, Supervisor of the Department of Music of the Denver Public Schools from 1888 to 1924. Wilberforce Whiteman was the father of Paul Whiteman, the famous 1920’s era “King of Jazz”.

As a school built in the ‘50’s, Whiteman is privileged to house a full working auditorium stage, a beautiful gymnasium, a dedicated cafeteria with a full kitchen, and two playground areas for younger and older children. In addition to being a lovely learning environment, the wonderful facilities at Whiteman have been used over the years to benefit the community. Whiteman has often been the host location for community groups and neighborhood organizations, to include: boy scouts and girl scouts, election commission polling place, soccer teams, a neighborhood basketball league, and most recently the Rocky Mountain Children’s Choir.

In the late 1990’s the library was updated to include a lab of 30 computers, and last year the building was equipped with high-speed wireless capability. Other additions to the school within the last 5 years have been to convert one classroom to a dedicated visual arts room and to update the playgrounds as a learning landscape, complete with a new playing field laid by neighbors, school students, parents, and staff. The south and west grounds also have a barbeque site with picnic tables for our school gatherings and neighbors, and a small outdoor theatre spot for special programs.

Learning Landscapes Description

A school long since abandoned by the surrounding neighborhood whose children are predominantly in private or other public schools the plan proposed a broad based program of elements for all ages.