Researching Schools for your Children
There are many great resources for gathering information about schools in Colorado and in the Denver/Boulder area. Here are some links that our Relocation Department highly recommends:
The Colorado Department of Education publishes yearly school accountability reports. They include information on student and teacher demographics, standardized test scores, safety, use of funds, etc… This is the single BEST way to get objective, factual information for evaluating and comparing schools and school districts.
o https://www.cde.state.co.us (home page)
o http://www.cde.state.co.us/schoolview (School View pages - Colorado Growth Model, School Performance – compare performance and assess performance data for schools and districts across the state
o http://www.cde.state.co.us/schoolview/coloradogrowthmodel (search page for individual School Growth Summary reports)
o https://www.cde.state.co.us/accountability/schoolviewdataandresults (School View data center for info on accountability, performance, students, staff, finances, courses, health on districts and schools)
Charter Schools – Colorado currently has over 40 charter schools. These are public schools that run independently of their school districts in terms of curriculum and enrollment but are still held accountable at the state level for achievement outputs.
o Colorado Charter School Institute - http://www.csi.state.co.us/
o Colorado League of Charter Schools - http://coloradoleague.org/
o Colorado Department of Education - https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdechart
Niche –
Source for researching neighborhoods, schools and colleges. Uses shared authentic personal experiences from people and data to produce rankings, report cards, and in-depth profiles. Rankings of best places to live, best schools and districts, and best colleges.
o https://www.niche.com
Great Schools – Parents’ Guide to K-12 Success – allows you to research and compare schools and includes great community information. This is a for-profit site. There is some good information here, but you will also see some advertisements as well.
o www.greatschools.org
SchoolDigger - Test scores, rankings, school and district boundaries, student/teacher ratios, ethnic makeup, and scores of other useful metrics and information for over 120,000 elementary, middle, and high schools in the United States
o https://www.schooldigger.com/
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Individual School District Websites
Boulder Valley School District (Boulder and surrounding communities, except Longmont and Erie) www.bvsd.org
o How to find your neighborhood school – attendance area mapshttps://www.bvsd.org/parents-students/enrollment/k-12-school-finder
o District Strategic Plan - https://www.bvsd.org/about/strategic-plan
o Strategic Financial Plan 2021-22https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1561582052/bvsdorg/z1yjz7aqmhuqh2d2blmd/2 021-22StrategicFinancialPlanDRAFT.pdf
o Impact on Education – Foundation for Boulder Valley Schoolshttps://www.impactoneducation.org/
o Children entering Kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before September 30th of the school year.
o Preschool is available at some Elementary Schools – see the enrollment page for information: https://doe.bvsd.org/About/enrollment/Pages/default.aspx
St. Vrain School District (Longmont, parts of Erie) www.stvrain.k12.co.us
o Education Foundation for the St. Vrain Valley http://www.efsvv.org/
o How to find your neighborhood school – search by addresshttp://www.svvsd.org/boundaries
o To enroll in kindergarten, students must turn 5 on or before Oct. 1 of that school year. There are full and half day programs available.
o Preschool programs available at each elementary school and come community partner sites - http://www.svvsd.org/about/departments/preschool
Jeffco (Jefferson County) Public Schools (Westminster, Golden, Arvada, Evergreen … all the way down to Littleton) https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/
o How to find your neighborhood school – search by addresshttps://enrolljeffco.force.com/Find/s/
o Annual reporthttps://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/about/publications/annual_reports
o Strategic Plan - https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/about/strategic_plan
o Graduation rateshttps://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_627881/File/Graduation% 20Rates%20By%20School.pdf
o Enrollment statisticshttps://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/about/district_profile/enrollment_statistics
o Students must be 5 years old by October 1 to enter kindergarten, and 6 years old by October 1 to enter first grade.
o Many Jeffco schools also offer preschool as an option for 3 and 4 year-olds. See the preschool page for more details. https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/programs/preschool
Adams 12 Five Star Schools (Broomfield, Thornton, Westminster, Northglenn, Federal Heights) www.adams12.org
o School boundary locatorhttps://www.adams12.org/departments/admissions/boundary-locator
o ELEVATE Strategic Plan - https://www.adams12.org/elevate/strategic-plan
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o Kindergartners must be 5 years old and first graders must be 6 years old on or before October 1. Some exceptions are made:
1. The Early Access process will include assessments for Aptitude/Cognitive, Achievement, Performance, and Behavior (readiness, social behavior, and motivation). A student qualifying for Early Access to Kindergarten or First Grade will have a Cognitive score at or above the 97th percentile, along with Achievement scores at or above the 97th percentile in each reading, writing, and mathematics. A qualifying student will also demonstrate advanced abilities in Performance and Behavior (readiness, social, and motivation) evaluations.
2. Early Access is for children that are age 4 on or before October 1 for Kindergarten; and, age 5 on or before October 1 for First Grade.
o Many Adams 12 schools offer preschool – See this page for schools and locationshttps://www.adams12.org/preschool/preschool-locations
Adams 14 School District (Commerce City, parts of Thornton and unincorporated Adams County) http://www.adams14.org/
o School boundary locatorhttps://www.adams12.org/departments/admissions/boundary-locator
o Attendance area maphttps://files.adams14.org/files/16/Adams14ElemAttendAreas.pdf
o Map of all school locationshttps://files.adams14.org/files/16/ACSD%2014%20map.updated7.11.11.pdf
o Preschool and special education informationhttps://www.adams14.org/index.php?token=eyJyZWYiOiJjaGlsZGZpbmQiLCJp ZCI6MCwib3RoIjoiIn0=
Westminster Public Schools (Westminster) http://www.westminsterpublicschools.org/
o District boundary map - https://www.westminsterpublicschools.org/Page/215
o Vision 2021 Strategic plan - https://www.westminsterpublicschools.org/Page/44
o Children must be five years old by October 1 of the year applying for kindergarten.
o Early Childhood Education program available at the district Early Learning Centerhttps://www.westminsterpublicschools.org/ece
Mapleton Public Schools (Adams County including parts of Thornton, Denver) http://www.mapleton.us/
o No “neighborhood schools” – enroll in school of choice based on learning styles, interests. Transportation provided to all.
o District boundary map - https://www.mapleton.us/Page/5002
o All current preschool students turning 5 years old by October 1 will need to select a school for kindergarten. Preschool students are not automatically enrolled in kindergarten at their current school.
Poudre School District (Ft. Collins area) www.psdschools.org
o School locator by addresshttps://schoolbus.psdschools.org/Eligibility.aspx?Page=School
o Links to “About Us” info including district snapshot, reports and data, etc…https://www.psdschools.org/your-district/about-psd
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o Your child must be 5 years old on or before September 15 to register for kindergarten. Younger students may be accepted if they transfer to PSD from another public school's kindergarten program.
o Preschool is offered in 20 PSD elementary schools and five centers across the district's 1,800 square miles. Placement at neighborhood schools or a parent's top-choice location is not guaranteed, but preferences are highly regarded and given due consideration upon admission.
Thompson School District (Loveland/Berthoud) https://www.thompsonschools.org/
o Strive 2025 Strategic Plan - https://www.thompsonschools.org/domain/6857
o District Information Guide - https://www.thompsonschools.org/Page/7584
o School locator by house number - https://www.thompsonschools.org/Page/9235
o Feeder Schools - https://www.thompsonschools.org/Page/2290
o A child may enter kindergarten if five years old on or before October 1 of the year of enrollment. Children who do not meet the district's entrance age requirement for kindergarten may be accepted if transferring from another kindergarten program, if the principal or designee determines that placement of the child in kindergarten is appropriate. A child four years old on or before the district's start date for Kindergarten and identified as a highly gifted student, in accordance with applicable state law, may enroll if the early entrance committee determines that placement of the child is appropriate.
o Early Childhood/Preschool offers options for families that include free preschool and tuition-based preschool at 13 different locations around the Berthoud/Loveland communities. Weld County School Districts (parts of Erie … up to Greeley) https://www.thompsonschools.org/Page/11431
Weld County RE_1 School District (Gilcrest, LaSalle, Platteville) http://www.weld-re1.k12.co.us/
o Preschool is offered at each of their elementary schoolshttps://www.wcsdre1.org/Pre-School.aspx
Weld County RE-5J School District (Johnstown, Milliken, small portions of Berthoud and Greeley, in Weld and Larimer Counties) http://www.weldre5j.k12.co.us/
o District Vision statement - https://www.weldre5j.k12.co.us/district/page/our-vision
o School site locator - http://apps.schoolsitelocator.com/?districtcode=00045
o A child may enter kindergarten if five years old on or before October 1 of the year of enrollment.
o Preschool is offered at the Johnstown Milliken Preschoolhttps://www.weldre5j.k12.co.us/school-information/page/preschool
Weld RE-8 School District (Dacono, Fort Lupton, Wattenburg) https://www.weld8.org/
o Preschool is offered at Little Trappers Preschool - https://littletrappers.weld8.org/
Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6 (Greeley, Evans) www.greeleyschools.org
o 2021 Report to the Community - https://www.greeleyschools.org/Page/21714
o Innovation 2030 Strategic Plan - https://www.greeleyschools.org/domain/10161
o Web page for district site map, bus routes, school attendance areashttps://www.greeleyschools.org/Domain/427
o School boundary locator - http://apps.schoolsitelocator.com/?districtcode=00055
o A child may enter kindergarten if five years old on or before October 1 of the year of enrollment.
o Preschool locations at 6 school sites - https://www.greeleyschools.org/domain/8296
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Other Out of Area References
Denver Public Schools https://www.dpsk12.org/
o Research schools online - http://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org/
o Enrollment guide - http://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org/enrollment-guides-2/
Cherry Creek School District (mostly south of Hampden, East of I-25) http://www.cherrycreekschools.org
o School locator by address - https://addresslocator.cherrycreekschools.org/
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Information on Open Enrollment
Boulder Valley School District (Boulder and surrounding communities, except Longmont and Erie) www.bvsd.org
o https://www.bvsd.org/parents-students/enrollment/open-enrollment
o Families may choose to enroll their students in a school outside of their neighborhood as long as there is sufficient programming, staff and space at the school. Families residing outside the BVSD boundaries are welcome to open enroll their children into this district. Open Enrollment begins in November for next school year (beginning the following August).
o Selection is based on a lottery process, not first-come first-served. Because Open Enrollment is not guaranteed, district residents who choose Open Enrollment may simultaneously pursue neighborhood school enrollment as a backup.
o School waitlist information is available at this link and indicates which wait list number is next to be served at each school and grade level. Movement on the wait lists is based on space availability at the school anytime from now until the end of August 2021 (September 2021 for Charter schools).
o If a grade is not listed under a school, there are no applicants at this time waiting at that school/grade.
o If an applicant's number is to be served next, there is not a guarantee the applicant will receive an offer if the school is full at that grade.
St. Vrain School District (Longmont, parts of Erie) www.stvrain.k12.co.us
o https://enrollment.svvsd.org/open-enrollment-2
o Any students who desire to attend a school outside of their designated attendance area may still apply for Open Enrollment/Non-residence authorization for the school of their choice by completing an open enrollment form and returning it to the school.
o All schools allow open enrollment however some schools may not have space available for open enrollment. Each year the Board of Education reviews school poplulations, enrollment projections, building capacities and staff sizes and determines what schools can permit open enrollment.
o Transportation for open enrolled or non SVVSD students is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
o Students whose applications are denied or whose applications were submitted after the December deadline will be added to the waitlist of the requested school. Board policy also provides the opportunity of appeal.
o Open Enrollment window for 2022-23 school year closed in December 15, 2021.
o Contact 303-702-7909 or complete the Contact Form at the bottom of the website.
Jeffco (Jefferson County) Public Schools (Westminster, Golden, Arvada, Evergreen … all the way down to Littleton) https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/
o https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/schools/enrollment/enrolljeffco
o For choice enrollment, you may apply to as many schools as you would like. For the 2022-23 school year all submissions for Round 1 close Wednesday, January 28, 2022. Remember, this is an application. Acceptance to a choice school or preschool is based on space available. If there are more applicants than the school can hold, there is a lottery for those spaces.
o If you submit a preschool or choice application during Round 1 you will hear from all schools in late January. EnrollJeffco users that applied for schools (choice enrollment or preschool) will receive a notification indicating (a) an opportunity to accept an offer, or (b) information about waitlist placement, for each school application. You have five
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days to accept one of the offers received. Once an offer is accepted, all other offers are rescinded. You will remain on the waitlist of any schools who sent a waitlist notification.
o Respond to offers within five days of notification. After five days offers may be released to other students if needed.
o After Round 1 the process is the same except applications are processed as they are received.
Adams 12 Five Star Schools (Broomfield, Thornton, Westminster, Northglenn, Federal Heights) https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/
o https://www.adams12.org/departments/admissions
o Link to Choice application - https://webfarm.adams12.org/ezchoice/default.aspx
o The 1st round of Choice for the 2022-23 school year closed Jan 31, 2022. For information after January 31, 2022 contact the Choice Program at 720-972-6015
o The list on the page above includes schools that are open to Choice for new families and students. If the family has a sibling at a school that is not on this list they can still apply for siblings to attend there. If the family has a student that is attending a school that is not on the list and has moved out of the boundary for that school, they can apply for their student to continue at the school. Families may apply to return to their boundary school through the Choice process even if the boundary school is not on this list.
o Open enrollment is allowed within the district and for non-residents. Check the link above for information or to determine specific open enrollment information for individual Adams 14 schools, contact the Student Records Department at 303.853.3238.
Westminster (Westminster) https://www.westminsterpublicschools.org/home
o https://www.westminsterpublicschools.org/Page/10855
o Westminster Public Schools (WPS) offers Choice Enrollment at all of its neighborhood schools, Innovation Schools, and Alternative High School. Families from both inside and outside WPS boundaries are encouraged to apply! Where space is limited, priority enrollment is given to students living inside WPS boundaries. All schools are tuition free, but families are responsible for their own transportation.
o Separate applications area required for the three Innovation Schools, magnet schools and the Alternative High School.
Mapleton Public Schools (Adams County) http://www.mapleton.us/
o https://www.mapleton.us/enroll
o In Mapleton, there are no 'neighborhood' schools. This means that instead of being automatically enrolled in a neighborhood school, we invite families to select from a full menu of schools that are small-by-design. School models include Expeditionary Learning (EL), International Baccalaureate, University Partnership, Community School, Young Adult, Leadership, Online, and Workshop model. Our schools also offer families
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a range of grade levels, including K-6 schools, K-8 schools, a 7-12 school, 9-12 schools, and a K-12 school.
o As a District of Choice, families choose the top three schools they would like their child to attend. Once \ ready to make the choice, submit an application for enrollment online. They try to place children in their first-choice school. However, if they are unable to do so they will make every effort to place the child in their second or third choice school.
o The Waitlist will only be in effect until the end of the last week of August.
Poudre School District (Fort Collins, Northern Colorado) http://www.psdschools.org
o https://www.psdschools.org/schools/school-options-choice
o PSD's School Choice program allows families to select the school that best meets their child's educational needs based on space availability and eligibility requirements. A school choice application is required to attend a school that is not a student’s neighborhood school or to attend a choice only school.
o Access the School Choice application system herehttp://psdschoolchoiceapplication.com/site.php
o Poudre School District's School Choice program has two application/consideration periods:
1. First Consideration Period - begins the first day of class at the beginning of the school year prior to the school year in which a student wishes to attend a choice school or program. The deadline for first consideration period for the 2022-23 school year is January 31, 2022:
The order in which applications are received during the first consideration period does not affect a student's chances of acceptance.
2. Second Consideration Period – is scheduled to open at 8 a.m., Wednesday February 23, 2022.
The order in which applications are received during the second consideration period are based on priority ranking and date and time on when the application was submitted.
Thompson School District (Loveland/Berthoud) https://www.thompsonschools.org/
o https://www.thompsonschools.org/domain/7706
o If you did not complete an open enrollment application during the initial open enrollment window (November 26 - January 11) you may still complete an application. Your application is automatically placed on the school's wait list. If your application is accepted then the accepting school will contact you. In the meantime you will need to register with your child's home school.
o Standardized Notification Process of Approval/Denial - Applications received prior to Friday, January 11th at 4:30 pm - The district office will mail out letters of approval/denial from Friday, March 15 through Friday, March 22. These letters will be mailed to the address on the open enrollment application completed by the parent/guardian. Parents/guardians must come in and sign their acceptance in person at the school. This acceptance must be done no later than Monday, April 1, 2019 or the application is considered denied by the parent/guardian.
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o All families who are new to the district must also complete an online registration application. https://www.thompsonschools.org/registration
Weld County RE-5J School District (Johnstown, Milliken, small portions of Berthoud and Greeley, in Weld and Larimer Counties) http://www.weldre5j.k12.co.us/
o http://www.weldre5j.k12.co.us/pioneer/page/20222023-student-registrationenrollment
o The Board of Education endorses the neighborhood school concept but recognizes, however, that resident students may wish to attend a school or participate in a program located in an area other than that of their assigned school. Therefore, students shall be allowed to attend any school or participate in any program of their choice on a space available, first-come, first served basis. This policy will be implemented for enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year.
o Transportation for students granted permission to attend school outside their attendance area must be furnished by their parents.
Weld RE-8 School District (Wattenburg, Fort Lupton) https://www.weld8.org/
o https://www.weld8.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1186672&type=d&pREC_ID=228 9690
o The district allows Choice/Open Enrollment. Open Enrollment for the 2022-23 school year has begun
Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6 (Greeley, Evans) www.greeleyschools.org
o http://www.greeleyschools.org/Page/2490
o District 6 offers a variety of educational programs and schools via open enrollment. Any parent or guardian interested in enrolling their child in a school outside their home boundary must apply during the open enrollment period. While the district is able to accommodate the vast majority of open enrollment requests, they may not be able to approve requests for enrollment into schools, specific grade levels, or special programs that are at or above capacity or cannot fulfill the specific needs of the student.
o Greeley-Evans School District 6 families interested in enrolling their child or children in a school outside their home boundary for the 2022-2023 School Year will have from November 1, 2021 through December 16, 2021 to complete an open enrollment application and be included in the lottery. Any applications received after the open enrollment period will be placed on a waitlist and will be considered based on additional open seats at that grade level. Students currently open-enrolled are eligible to stay at their current school through the highest grade offered at that school and do not need to apply yearly.
o Charter Schools may have separate processes, policies, and timelines. Contact one of the 5 charter schools directly for more information.
o All students approved for open enrollment to a school outside their home boundary, regardless of programming needs, will not be provided District transportation services to or from school.
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