Kunsberg School Helps Students in Need

Elementary school children whose chronic diseases are causing them to miss school and fall behind academically can attend the Kunsberg School on the National Jewish campus where they receive a combination of medical care and specialized education that is unique in the United States.

Kunsberg School is approved by the Colorado Department of Education and free to all students. The school provides a safe, friendly and healthy school environment committed to whole child development. Students are grouped by ability into small classes, and have access to three nurses, a case worker and a child advocate.

Between 70 and 85 students attend the K-8 school each year. On average, students stay at Kunsberg for 2-3 years before getting their illnesses and school work under control and returning to their neighborhood schools.

Many students come from disadvantaged families. In fact, 83 percent qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches. Two-thirds of the students live in single-parent homes, and 90 percent are minorities.

In spite of difficult chronic illnesses, such as asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia, Kunsberg students attend a full schedule of classes and participate in 40 minutes of physical education every day. The children receive Red Cross swimming instruction, play strenuous sports and even climb on a climbing wall. This is an enviable standard for any school and a great personal achievement for the Kunsberg students in particular.

The Kunsberg concept works because it is results-oriented and focuses on whole child development. We see improved attendance with an average 54 percent reduction in absenteeism. Kunsberg students report 62 percent fewer medical interventions including hospital stays, and 38 percent fewer emergency room visits. As a result, most of the students enjoy improved school performance and improved ability to manage personal health issues.

Kunsberg is the only Colorado school ever to win the US Department of Agriculture’s Healthier US School Challenge for excellence in nutrition, nutritional education and physical education.

It costs about $1.5 million to run Kunsberg each year. The state of Colorado contributes $500,000 and the other $1 million comes from our generous donors.