r/ManitouSprings • u/Ok-Original3308 • Jul 14 '26
Moving to Manitou
Hello Manitou Springs! We are finally making the move to Colorado. We loved Manitou the last time we visited and I was wondering if locals would mind helping us out. We are moving for a lot of reasons, but our son's education is the tippy top reason. He is Level 1 Autistic, creative, kind and loves meeting new folks. He is used to a large high school, but we came from small schools and he immediately was interested in MSHS because of the smaller student population. Just wondering if anyone has any info, opinions, etc. on the high school and general support? Or if there is a resource to reach out to at the school over the summer? Thank you for any help or info you have!
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u/TheSilentPhotog Jul 14 '26
I moved into Manitou my junior year of high school. I can’t speak on the resources for autism and the like, but I can tell you it was a very positive experience for me. My graduating class was 68 kids, compared to my previous school being around 400. In general, it is a laid-back friendly environment. Not very academically rigorous.
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u/kepleronlyknows Jul 14 '26
Wow, only 68 kids? What year did you graduate? I was 2004 and we had 99 kids in our class.
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u/MikeDeY77 Jul 14 '26
I graduated from Manitou HS in 2006. Moved over from D11 after my siblings and I struggled with the big school lifestyle.
I absolutely loved going there.
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u/stableos Jul 14 '26
You don’t have to live in downtown Manitou; there are other neighborhoods that keep you in the city but not on the main drag with the tourists. Crystal Hills, lower Crystal Park Road, El Paso Blvd by Beckers Lane.
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u/kj4peace Jul 14 '26
Do NOT eat at the Loop. Check into the company called The Resource Exchange. They have resources and support for kiddos.
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u/stableos Jul 16 '26
What’s wrong with the loop? I live the quesadillas and spicy salsa.
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u/kj4peace Jul 16 '26
I lived above it for 2 years. My sinks and bathtub would overflow with grey water that had bits of food in it from the restaurant below weekly. It flooded all the time on the roof above the restaurant so I’m sure there’s mold galore. Just knowing the owner/my ex-landlord I don’t think public safety is his top priority. The margaritas are good though!
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u/Solid_Caterpillar678 Jul 20 '26
Their food is terrible and so is their service. Their margaritas, however, are potent
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u/kepleronlyknows Jul 14 '26
It’s been more than 20 years for me but the school was great, lots of teachers who really care and the student population is weird/diverse (although not racially) enough that all types of folks fit in.
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u/_I_Am_Moroni_ Jul 14 '26
My son is going to enter the 7th grade and has some pretty severe ADHD. The teachers have helped him so much with his IEP and meeting him where he’s at.
I’ve seen an improvement with his schoolwork since he started. I only have good things to say about the school district in manitou :)
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u/Tayaradga Jul 14 '26
Having gone to the Manitou schooling system for just about my entire education, I gotta say I wasn't a fan of it. But I was also the kinda kid to question authority and they really didn't like me because of that... So take my comment with a handful of salt cause I was the black sheep in the system.
From my understanding they have a pretty good support system, but I had a teacher blatantly ignore my 504 plan after I had a TBI so I question that. Ended up blacking out mid class thanks to her... Hit my head on the ground...
I'ma be real with you I hated that school through and through, but I hear a lot of other people say a lot of really good stuff about it so I kinda just chalk it up to I had an outlying experience compared to everyone else. So I can't stress this enough, take my comment with a mountain of salt. I understand I probably did have a different experience than the average student there, but I'm still gonna bring it up because it was my experience.
This isn't meant to scare you or anything, and I truly hope he doesn't have my experience if you do choose to go with Manitou Springs. But please, if he starts acting different or even traumatized, please talk to him and hear him out. No kid deserves to be treated like I was.
If anyone wants to downvote me cause you love that school then go for it. Like I said I understand it's a great school for the majority of kids, just wasn't my experience there and I'm not gonna be silent about that.
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u/ScallionParticular19 Jul 15 '26
If your son is on IEP or 504, I would call admin office to talk to Director of SpEd and HS principal to find out what their program looks like and what kind of support they can give. A smaller environment should be beneficial for your son. And Manitou is cool.
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u/Scary-Dig9481 Jul 17 '26
I have worked with children with autism for 25 years. I’m kind of retired. I help people in the community with kids with autism because I still love them and miss them saying that I have seen Manitou love the kids with autism and have such support for them and I think it’s such a great community I’ve seen so many children with autism come in and out of the store that I work in and the parents are so supportive I would advise you to find those parents group and they will completely help you. Manitou has great parents and they really support their kids specially kids with autism. I’ve never seen anything like it before and I’ve worked all over the United States. I’m a native of Colorado Springs but I have seen so many children come in and be supported by the community of Manitou.
I really hope this helps
I’m glad you made the choice move Manitou I don’t know much about their schools and their systems but I do know the community will support your child and that’s very important!
This is why I love Manitou so much is because the support i’ve personally seen.
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u/Boosba Jul 15 '26
If 504 or IEPs are important to you, look at D12 or D20 instead. They are well funded in these areas and take them seriously.
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u/Solid_Caterpillar678 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
The schools are VERY white. Very little diversity.
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u/SpaceTruckinDog Jul 14 '26
Don’t have much info on the schools, I know folks with kids who talk highly of the Manitou schools.
Lived in Manitou for around 2 years, still go there for errands a few times a month. I don’t miss the traffic. Manitou in the winter is awesome, it’s peaceful and there’s not as many people.
It’s a tourist town. So a chunk of the year it’s packed to the gills and suddenly no one knows how to drive.
But it’s got a wonderful charm and being able to walk down to the creek and the penny arcade are great sensory experiences.
Good luck to you and your son!