Douglas County School District maintains its position as a leader in public education in Colorado, with many innovative programs and educational approaches. Support and coordination can be found at the District level, but each school has the flexibility to build its own instructional programs. Parents can find many different choices through the District such as open enrollment, charter schools, instruction for gifted and talented students, magnet schools, an International Baccalaureate program, Advanced Placement courses and other special programs. Our vision is to "create responsible citizens who contribute to society." We strive to maintain a well-researched, integrated and standards-based curriculum, a rich array of extracurricular offerings and strong community involvement.

Location

Douglas County spans much of the distance—870 square miles—between Denver and Colorado Springs. Its northern boundary is County Line Road; its southern boundary extends past the Town of Larkspur.

Douglas County School District now has more than 70 schools and more expect more than 54,000 students in the 2008-09 school year. We have 46 elementary schools, nine high schools, nine middle schools, eight charter schools, an alternative high school, an expeditionary learning/outward bound magnet school, an integrated thematic instruction magnet school, a night high school and 34 preschool sites. The Discovery Program provides alternative education for gifted students. Neighborhood schools offer a wide range of innovative programs that foster academic achievement for all students. Families also have the option to open enroll their students in any Douglas County school if there is space available.

In 2008-09, we will celebrate the opening of five new schools – built thanks to voter support of our 2003 and 2006 bonds. Clear Sky Elementary (Castle Rock) and Gold Rush Elementary (Parker) will open in September. Mesa Middle School (Castle Rock) opened this week. Legend High School (Parker) also opened this week, with DCSD’s newest Tech Lab which will house the Expert Technician Academy (ETA). The ETA will provide students, and eventually adults, opportunities to work towards college and work force readiness. Dual and concurrent credit and licensure opportunities will make DCSD a partner with industry and give our students opportunities to get real world experience, and a head start on college credit and their careers. Cimarron Middle School (Parker) will also open this school year with students attending classes at Legend High School.

Academic achievement

Douglas County students continue to outpace state performance in every grade and on every subject tested by the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP). In 2006, DCSD topped metro area schools in 20 out of 26 tests. In comparison to the percentage of students scoring at or above proficiency, Douglas County students exceed the state average by 12-21 percentage points. Compared to the district average from the four previous years, all grade levels show gains in math. Gains were also shown in writing and reading.

Preparation for the Future

100% of DCSD graduates will be prepared for college, the work force and responsible citizenship. Students will possess strong academic skills; be prepared for the competitive global marketplace; acquire knowledge and skills to be Responsible Citizens; and utilize critical thinking, creative problem solving and leadership skills.

Technology in the classroom

Douglas County’s classrooms integrate tried and true educational approaches, including a wise use of technology that provides students with a foundation of skills for lifelong learning. Professional development opportunities and an investment in current hardware and software combine to provide teacher with the latest advances in technology to enhance student learning. DCSD’s infrastructure is far behind other competing school districts. Additional funding is necessary to maintain and improve technology infrastructure.

School Calendars

All secondary schools (middle and high school) operate on a traditional or conventional calendar. In
Douglas County School District, some elementary schools operate on a 4-track, year-round calendar.
On a 4-track, year-round calendar, instead of a two-month summer break, students on a year-round
calendar attend school for nine weeks, followed by a three week break. Additionally, some elementary schools use a modified calendar, in additional the conventional schedules.

Class sizes

The district strives to maintain average class sizes of 25 students per classroom teacher. We staff our schools according to the following ratios:

Keeping pace with growth

DCSD is the third largest school district in Colorado with more than 54,000 students. Projections show an additional 2,000+ new students are expected to enroll annually through 2011-12. That means, in the next 5 years, 10,000 additional are students expected, which would require the District to build the equivalent of an additional 1 high school of 2,000 students, 2 middle schools of 1,000 students each, and 9 elementary schools of 680 students each.

Funding (08-09 data)

Per-pupil funding revenue (based on state formula): $6,646
Per-pupil operating revenue: $6,348

Classroom Teachers (07-08 data)

Staff

School designs save resources & improve learning environments. Natural lighting use, including the use of solar tubes and lighting controls, high performance boilers, and increased insulation save utility costs. The new elementary school design also incorporates “ice storage” which allows the building to be cooled efficiently during peak electrical times of the day. Use of artificial turf practice fields conserves more than 27 million gallons of water annually.