Douglas County School District preps for school closures

Highlands Ranch has biggest drop

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Douglas County School District is preparing to consolidate elementary schools in the Highlands Ranch area in 2026 due to declining enrollment, while looking to build new schools in surrounding neighborhoods.

Superintendent Erin Kane and district sta presented plans to the school board on Jan. 24 addressing the drop in elementary school students in Highlands Ranch, an area of the district that is aging and seeing declining birth rates. e plan also elaborates on the need for new schools in developing parts of the district.

Kane said the district is in the unique position of having an area experiencing a drop in enrollment surrounded by developing neighborhoods that require new schools, which will likely result in consolidation and construction at the same time.

“Our hope is to begin to communicate to our community the challenge we’re facing with growth and decline,” Kane said.

At this point in time, no speci c schools have been identi ed for consolidation and the district is promising there will be no job loss.

Dealing with decline