Shrinking Schools
News about small schools and school closures in Colorado related to declining student enrollment.
Outdated zone lines aren't equitable and are limiting the school’s enrollment and course offerings, students say.
Not everything has been smooth, but staff and parents say the good outweighs the hard.
Jefferson Academy, a local charter school, fell short of its enrollment goal to open.
Denver Public Schools, however, saw a slight increase in its official student count from October.
The new charter school, which will be part of the Jefferson Academy network, will operate a preschool through eighth grade program with before- and after-school care.
Figures provided to Chalkbeat break down the amount spent per school.
The district will now consider whether to let a new charter operate in the building that’s currently home to one of the schools.
The increase will bring more state funding for the district, but it may be temporary.
One proposal would spell out rules and a timeline for closing schools due to declining enrollment. Another would cap elementary school enrollment at 600 students.
The proposed closure of Coal Creek K-8, however, will come with a search for a charter provider that may reopen the school in the community.
Declining enrollment is a persistent issue in Denver Public Schools — and more school closures could be coming.
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A combined Rocky Mountain Prep charter school network will serve nearly 5,000 students. The transition has been marked by upheaval and leadership questions.
After closing 16 elementary schools due to declining enrollment, the Jeffco school board is turning its attention to secondary schools.
Sheridan union says higher salaries will help stem the turnover that’s driving families away.
The district’s top leader is retiring. Since Pat Sandos’ announcement, the school board is dealing with accusations of bribery, petitions to speed Sandos’ departure, and a delay in naming a replacement.
The Jeffco district expects to make recommendations for middle school and K-8 closures in August.
Middle school recommendations are expected in August, and will also consider schools at the end of the accountability clock.
Capping enrollment at popular elementary schools could bolster enrollment at smaller schools that have been losing students.
The 3-year-old charter school cited low enrollment and high costs as the reasons for the closure in a resolution passed by its board of directors.