Douglas County School District Parker Colorado – Everything You Want & Need to Know

Parker Colorado residents can proudly send their kiddos to the highly acclaimed
Douglas County School District.

This, the 3rd largest school district in Colorado, serves over 68,000 students from
pre-school to 12th grade in nearly 90 schools.

Douglas County School District is well funded with a General Fund Budget for 2017-2018 of $680,000,000. These funds, primarily sourced through business and property taxation as well as state and local government contributions, will be primarily allocated to “hiring and retaining the best education staff, maintaining and enhancing excellence in student programming, and addressing aging infrastructure and new developments” according to the 2017-2018 Douglas County School District Adopted Budget Book 

Douglas County School District Concurrent Enrollment programs, which allow high school students to earn college credit hours by passing qualified classes during their high school day, resulted in an estimated $2,900,000 college expense savings during the 2016-2017 year.  This combined with $82,000,000 in 2017 awarded scholarships, and a 90.4% graduation rate, the highest in Denver, and 7 points higher than the national average, puts Douglas County kiddos ahead in the game of life.

According to the 2017 annual release of the Douglas County School District Performance Framework metrics, Douglas County is an “Accredited” school district with an overall rating of 66.9% out of 100%. The Accreditation category is a total percentage of points earned within the Framework metric measurements. Neighboring Cherry Creek School District  earned 66.3%, Denver Public School District earned 53.9%, and Adams Arapahoe School District (formally Aurora Public Schools) earned 45.7%.

While these measurements are quite complex, we can extrapolate that each school district is rated on 3 categories:

1.)    Academic Achievement – the extent to which a student, teacher, or institution has achieved their short or long-term education goals and is often represented by a cumulative GPA and/or completion of educational degrees such as a High School diploma

2.)    Academic Growth – a tracking of how effectively and quickly students, schools, and states are improving generally measured using standardized-test-scores, graduation rates, etc. This is often measured based on comparisons between districts, states, or even groups of students (ie: English-language learners, reduced meal plan learners, etc.)

3.)    Colorado’s Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) system which includes 4 indicators high school students need to meet in order to earn a high school diploma endorsement

1.        Student is college ready in Math and English Language Arts
2.       Student completed their Individual Career and Academic Plan
3.     Reading, Writing, and Communicating
4.       Student demonstrates 21st century skills:

                                                               i.      Information literacy (find and use information and information technology)

                                                             ii.      Invention (creativity and innovation)

                                                            iii.      Collaboration (communication)

                                                           iv.      Critical thinking (problem solving, global and cultural awareness)

                                                             v.      Self-Direction (personal responsibility, civic responsibility, work ethic

Douglas County School District ratings are as follows:

–          Douglas County School District ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

o   Academic Achievement = Meets requirements | 66% Rating

o   Academic Growth = Meets requirements | 70.8% Rating

–          Douglas County School District MIDDLE SCHOOLS

o   Academic Achievement = Meets requirements | 63.2% Rating

o   Academic Growth = Approaching requirements | 51% Rating

–          Douglas County School District HIGH SCHOOLS

o   Academic Achievement = Meets requirements | 63.2% Rating

o   Academic Growth = Approaching requirements | 51% Rating

o   Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness = Meets requirements | 72.2% Rating

(1)    Overall these ratings are quite a bit higher than most school districts in the state and around the country. That being said, if we dig in a little deeper we find that many of the categories were given “approaching” or “does not meet” ratings. For these categories, and the district overall, an improvement plan has been set into place by the state agencies and the schools will be supported in implementing this plan to reach its goals as outlined in Senate Bill 09-163.

Douglas County School District is well known for creating a “community feel” for their students, their families, their teachers, and their communities.

Apple Awards, recognizing the best teachers, support staff, and administrators, are given each year based on nominations.

The Douglas County School District Innovation and Design Center, a high tech platform supporting teachers and staff in research efforts, text catalogs, and computer sciences as well as teacher development days.

With ample Bus Routes, well established Safety & Security procedures, bullying & suicide prevention programs, substance abuse prevention programs, mental health resources, before and after school programs, a gifted learner program, Douglas County School District is truly “the place to be”.

Students can also participate in any number of Douglas County School District extra-circular activities including: spirit (cheerleading/poms), vocal music, marching band, all-state orchestra, all-state choir, all-state band, speech/debate, student council, and more.

Parker Colorado is home to the following Douglas County School District Schools:

 

ELEMENTARY: American Academy Lincoln Meadows, American Academy Parker, Challenge to Excellence, Cherokee Trail Elementary School, Frontier Valley Elementary School, Global Village Academy, Gold Rush Elementary School, Iron House Elementary School, Legacy Point Elementary School, Leman Academy of Excellence, Mammoth Heights Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School, North Star Academy, Northeast Elementary School, Parker Core Knowledge, Parker Performing Arts School, Pine Grove Elementary School, Pine Lane Elementary School, Pioneer Elementary School, Prairie Crossing Elementary School.

 

MIDDLE: American Academy Parker, Challenge to Excellence, Cimarron Middle School, Leman Academy of Excellence, North Star Academy, Parker Core Knowledge, Parker Performing Arts School, Sagewood Middle School, Sierra Middle School

 

HIGH: Chaparral High School, Legend High School, Ponderosa High School

 

CHARTER: American Academy Lincoln Meadows, American Academy Parker, Challenge to Excellence, Global Village Academy, Leman Academy of Excellence, North Star Academy, Parker Core Knowledge, Parker Performing Arts School

 

MAGNET (public schools, but not charter schools as they do not have parent boards, but parent involvement is highly encouraged) / Children MUST apply for admission: Renaissance Expeditionary Learning Magnet School and Lone Tree Magnet Elementary School

 

NEIGHBORHOOD (locally centered community schools with unique content delivery protocols)

 

Douglas County District also offers Full-Time Home Education (family provides 172 – 4 Hour days of education at home), Dual-Enrollment (180 hours in a public school setting, the remainder at home), and Home Education Enrichment programs with Cloverleaf Enrichment School, Academy Charter, and Platte River Academy.

 

Cyber School / Online Education using Lincoln Interactive and Aventa, two of the country’s largest online curriculum providers/administrators.

2017 – 2018 School Year Calendars HERE

Douglas County School District – “Learn today. Lead tomorrow.”

Citations and Additional Information

National High School Graduation Rate averages 83% according to an article published in the Washington Post Washington post ((READ MORE)) 

According to the Colorado Association of School Boards state revenues now account for approximately 64% of total school general fund operating budgets and is generally used in special programs for vocational education, special education, and at-risk students. ((READ MORE)) 

Quote from “2017-2018 Douglas County School District Adopted Budget Book”  ((READ and DOWNLOAD COPY HERE)) 

Colorado’s Postsecondary & Workforce Readiness (PWR) High School Diploma Endorsement Criteria ((READ MORE)) 

Colorado’s Unified Improvement Plan for Douglas County School District ((READ MORE)) 

Senate Bill 09-163 concerning the education accountability system ((READ MORE)) 

Douglas County School District 2017 Performance Framework OFFICIAL REPORT ((READ MORE)) 

Douglas County School District Performance Framework Description of Metrics ((READ MORE)) 

 

Have you ever considered living in Parker, Colorado? Feel free to follow along here on our blog where you will be guided through Parker, Colorado events, demographics and statistics, local news and growth, REAL ESTATE Market updates, and more!

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**Photos Courtesy of Douglas County School District