2022-2023
UPPER SCHOOL PROFILE
Colorado Academy Trimester Calendar
CEEB CODE 060393 Michael Davis, PhD Head of School Max Delgado Upper School Principal Sonia Arora ' 01 Director of Upper School Strategic Initiatives and College Counseling 303-914-2582 sonia.arora@coloradoacademy.org David Jones ' 09 Associate Director of College Counseling 303-914-2511 david.jones@coloradoacademy.org Cathy Nabbefeld Associate Director of College Counseling 303-914-2504 cathy.nabbefeld@coloradoacademy.org Sara Purviance Associate Director of College Counseling 303-914-2508 sara.purviance@coloradoacademy.org
Curriculum
Colorado Academy offers a college preparatory curriculum emphasizing disciplines in the liberal arts and sciences. The school emphasizes 21st century skills, including critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, cultural competence, and character development. CA is phasing out Advanced Placement (AP) in English and social studies and will begin offering Advanced Studies and Research (ASR) courses.
Course Offerings
(H) Honors (AP) Advanced Placement (ASR) Advanced Studies and Research ENGLISH ■ Grade 9: Coming of Age in the World ■ Grade 10: American Literature ■ Grades 11 & 12: Seminar Electives (H) ■ English Literature (AP) WORLD LANGUAGES Chinese I, II, III, IV ■ Chinese Advanced Seminar (H) ■ Chinese Advanced Topics (H) ■ French I, II, III, IV ■ French Advanced Seminar (H) ■ French Advanced Topics (H) ■ French Language & Culture (AP) ■ Spanish I, II, III, IV ■ Spanish Advanced Seminar (H) ■ Spanish Advanced Topics (H) ■ Spanish for Heritage Speakers (H) ■ Spanish Language & Culture (AP) ■ Spanish Literature (AP) ■
Colorado Academy 3800 South Pierce Street Denver, Colorado 80235-2404 (303) 986-1501 FAX (303) 914-2583 www.coloradoacademy.org
Founded in 1906, Colorado Academy is a coeducational independent day school for grades Pre-K through 12. CA develops the whole person for college and for life through excellence in academics, arts, athletics, 21st century skills, and character education.
Enrollment
English: 4 years Mathematics: 3 years; 4 years recommended ■ World Language: 3 years of the same language ■ Science: 3 years ■ Social Studies: 3 years ■ Computer Science/Engineering & Design: 2 trimester credits ■ Visual and Performing Arts: 2 years ■ Athletics: 2 years ■ Interim: Experiential Learning: One week each year ■ ■
32
students of color
Visual and Performing Arts
Painting, digital photography, filmmaking, ceramics, sculpting, dance, private music lessons, instrumental ensembles, jazz/rock combos, choir, specialized vocal groups, dramatic productions—these are just some of the ways CA’s visual and performing arts program gives students the opportunity to discover and cultivate their creative interests. Selected students pursue Advanced Portfolio options for studio art, photography, film, and ceramics.
MATH Math 1; Math 2; Math 2e ■ Math 3: Non-linear Functions and Trigonometry ■ Trimester Math Electives ■ Advanced Algebra (H) ■ Pre-Calculus; Pre-Calculus (H) ■ Calculus (H) ■ Calculus, AB (AP) ■ Calculus, BC (AP) ■
83
of students exceed % the 2-year Visual and
Performing Arts requirement
COMPUTER SCIENCE Courses such as: ■ Computer Science Principles (AP) ■ Computer Science A (AP) ■ Advanced Computer Science & Data Structures (Post-AP) ■ Programming with Swift ■ Visual Design & Algorithmic Art ■ Python for Biologists* ■ Data Analytics with Excel, SQL, & Tableau ■ Introduction to Probability and Randomness ■ Introduction to Statistics and Data Science ■ Advanced Topics in Computer Science * Computer science or science credit given
REDI Lab Trimester projects ■ The Entrepreneurial Mindset ■ REDI Lab, Grade 11 ■ REDI Lab, Grade 12
■
Graduation Requirements
■
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN Courses such as: ■ Robotics Playground ■ Audio Engineering ■ Digital Design & Fabrication ■ Performance Innovations ■ 3D Digital Design & Fabrication
SOCIAL STUDIES Global Perspectives in the 21st Century ■ U.S. History ■ European History (AP) ■ Economics (AP) ■ Grades 11 & 12: Seminar Electives (H) ■ The American Experiment (ASR)
Upper School Enrollment 9-12: 447 Total number of students in Pre-K through 12: 1,038 Class of 2023: 105
Statistics (AP) Advanced Topics (Post-AP) SCIENCE ■ Biology; Advanced Biology (AP Level) ■ Conceptual Chemistry; Chemistry; Chemistry (AP) ■ Environmental Chemistry (H) ■ Physics (H); Physics I (AP); Physics C (AP) ■ Physiology (H) ■ Grades 11-12: Electives with Research and Inquiry focus (H) ■
Colorado Academy follows a trimester calendar with grades issued at the conclusion of each term (November 11, 2022; February 15, 2023; and May 26, 2023).
About Colorado Academy
% self-identified
Creating curious, kind, courageous, and adventurous learners and leaders.
Athletics Colorado Academy has some of the most competitive interscholastic teams in Colorado 3A, 4A, and 5A competition.
93
of Upper % School students play competitive sports
82
number of ZIP Codes in which our students live
Signature Programs REDI Lab REDI (Research, Entrepreneurship, Design, and Inquiry) Lab challenges select high school Juniors and Seniors to design innovative research and projects. These self-directed learners grow to be skilled problem solvers.
Interim and Global Education CA students spend one week learning in an informal small-group setting, with a wide range of options from the arts to outdoor activities. CA also encourages students to become global citizens through international travel and exchange.
Leadership and Service CA students take pride in offering peer leadership, both informally and with formal training through the Community Leadership Team (CLT). Every Senior also identifies a service passion and pursues a Community Impact Project (CIP) that meets a need outside the school.
Innovation Lab With access to everything from automated machine tools to a 3-D printer and laser cutter, the 1,300 square foot two-story Innovation Lab challenges students to turn their designs and inventions into reality.
Students HOPE For more than 25 years, HOPE, a volunteer program run entirely by students, has brought thousands of low-income families from around Denver to campus for a day that includes a hot holiday meal, clothing, games, gifts, and health checks.
Colleges Attended by Graduates in Classes 2019-2022
Discipline Disclosure Policy
Colorado Academy’s policy is that the school will notify colleges when an infraction results in suspension or expulsion for any length of time from Colorado Academy. This includes incidents that occur during a student’s Senior year after college applications have been submitted.
Grading Scale
Colorado Academy uses the traditional A-F grading scale: A (4.0) B (3.0) C (2.0) D (1.0)
B+ (3.33) C+ (2.33) D+ (1.33) F (0.00)
A- (3.67) B- (2.67) C- (1.67) D- (0.67)
For athletics, Practicum classes, and certain elective courses, the following grading letters are used: P = Pass F = Fail
Grade Weighting
Only AP, AP Level, Advanced Studies and Research (ASR), and Post-AP courses generate weighted grades. The reported GPA reflects this weighting.
Class Rank
Given the selective nature of admission to Colorado Academy, we do not rank our students.
GPA Distribution Class of 2023 (End of Junior Year)
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
40
33
30 20 10
4
30
15
10
6
3
4
2.6-3.19 3.2-3.49 3.5-3.69 3.7-3.89 3.9-4.09 4.1-4.19 4.2-4.31 4.32-4.5
Class of 2022, Standardized Testing ACT Middle 50% 26-33 SAT Reading/Writing Middle 50% 610-710 SAT Math Middle 50% 550-760
Mean
29
Mean
665
Mean
645
Class of 2022
23% 13%
100
%
Arizona State University - Tempe (3) Auburn University (2) Babson College (1) Bates College (3) Beloit College (1) Berklee College of Music (2) Boston College (4) Boston University (5) Bryant University (1) Bryn Mawr College (1) Bucknell University (1) California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (3) Carleton College (2) Chapman University (13) Claremont McKenna College (4) Clemson University (1) Colby College (2) Colgate University (6) College of Charleston (3) Colorado College (15) Colorado School of Mines (3) Colorado State University - Fort Collins (3) Colorado State University - Pueblo (1) Columbia University (1) Connecticut College (3) Cornell University (3) Creighton University (1) Dartmouth College (7) Davidson College (2) Denison University (8) DePaul University (1) Dickinson College (2) DigiPen Institute of Technology (1) Eckerd College (1) Elon University (2) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach (1) Emerson College (1) Emory University - Oxford College (1) Florida Institute of Technology (1)
29%
15% 19%
of CA students are admitted to a 4-year college
0%
International
Colorado Academy is accredited by, or is a member of the following organizations: the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS), the State of Colorado, the College Entrance Examination Board, the Colorado High School Activities Association, the Educational Records Bureau, the Association for College Counselors in Independent Schools (Founding School) and the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, complying with the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practices.
George Washington University (4) Georgetown University (1) Gonzaga University (3) Hamilton College (3) Harvard University (2) Harvey Mudd College (2) Howard University (2) Indiana University - Bloomington (3) Johns Hopkins University (1) Kenyon College (1) Lafayette College (1) Lehigh University (1) Lewis & Clark College (2) Loyola Marymount University (3) Macalester College (2) Marquette University (2) Maryland Institute College of Art (1) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1) McDaniel College (1) Miami University (4) Middlebury College (2) Montana State University (2) New York University (3) Northeastern University (2) Northwestern University (6) Occidental College (1) Pennsylvania State University Main Campus (1) Pepperdine University (2) Pitzer College (3) Pomona College (2) Princeton University (3) Queen Mary University of London (UK) (1) Rhode Island School of Design (1) Rhodes College (2) Rice University (2) Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (Netherlands) (1) Rollins College (1) San Diego State University (2) Santa Clara University (4) Sewanee: The University of the South (2) Skidmore College (1) Southern Methodist University (8) St. John's College (1) St. Lawrence University (1) St. Olaf College (1) Stanford University (5) Swarthmore College (4) Syracuse University (1) Texas Christian University (6) The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (1) The College of Wooster (3) The New School (1) The University of Texas at Austin (3) Trinity College (1) Trinity College Dublin (1)
Trinity University (1) Tufts University (4) Tulane University (14) Union College (2) United States Military Academy (1) United States Naval Academy (1) University of Arizona (2) University of Arkansas (1) University of British Columbia (1) University of California - Berkeley (2) University of California - Davis (1) University of California - Irvine (1) University of California - Los Angeles (3) University of California - San Diego (1) University of California - Santa Barbara (1) University of California - Santa Cruz (2) University of Chicago (1) University of Colorado - Boulder (23) University of Colorado - Denver (1) University of Denver (6) University of Georgia (1) University of Kansas (1) University of Miami (6) University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (8) University of Mississippi (1) University of New Hampshire Main Campus (1) University of Notre Dame (1) University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (1) University of Oregon (5) University of Pennsylvania (1) University of Portland (1) University of Redlands (1) University of Richmond (2) University of San Diego (2) University of Southern California (10) University of St Andrews (Scotland) (1) University of St. Thomas (MN) (1) University of Utah (1) University of Vermont (3) University of Virginia - Main Campus (5) University of Wisconsin - Madison (2) Vanderbilt University (2) Villanova University (4) Wageningen Universiteit (Netherlands) (1) Wake Forest University (4) Washington University in St. Louis (8) Wellesley College (2) Wesleyan University (2) Western Washington University (1) Whitman College (3) Whittier College (1) WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management (Germany) (1) Williams College (1) Yale University (3)