Growth and Decline

Media Coverage of School Naming

The Highlands Ranch Herald published a story about the schools' new names, and included comments from school leaders. 

 

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Future Uses of Closing Schools

Posted December 18, 2025

After a lot of conversation with and surveying of our neighbors at Heritage and Saddle Ranch Elementary Schools, we know that they are most interested in maintaining regular District use of the buildings and upkeep. They are also interested in normal traffic along with the availability of the playgrounds and the building for community gatherings and events.  

These interests are very much in line with the commitments we have made to our closing-school communities over the last couple of years. We will keep those commitments. 

To that end, once it closes as an elementary school, the Heritage Elementary School building will house Cloverleaf Enrichment School, our home-school enrichment programming which currently operates in leased space in Castle Rock. Heritage is closer than Saddle Ranch for many of our Cloverleaf families and staff via Monarch Blvd. It is also closer to Interstate 25, which provides a competitive edge for keeping and attracting new families who may want to join the program. 

In addition, once it closes, Saddle Ranch Elementary School will house our Child Find and Bridge Programs located in Highlands Ranch. These are complementary programs that are typically housed together. Because our Child Find services in Highlands Ranch are currently located in Eldorado Elementary, and Bridge currently occupies leased space in Highlands Ranch, the move of both to Saddle Ranch, which is about 5 minutes closer to Eldorado and otherwise linked via the pairing, makes sense. 

These great communities, the room and amenities these buildings will provide, and the stability that comes with leaving leased space will greatly benefit our kids. Our communities will also be proud of what comes next and how we manage traffic and building availability, among other things. 

The Acres Green Elementary building needs work done to its roof, which likely last through SY 26-27. No new programming will move in until after this work is completed. We will reach out to our community next school year to discuss status, programming options, etc. In the meantime, the grounds and building will be maintained by DCSD and accessible as it is now to our community. There may be construction-related restrictions.

Acres Green Elementary will have a bus stop next year, and the district has expanded transportation eligibility for next school year.  

If you have any questions about the future of these buildings or about the DCSD Growth & Decline process please visit dcsdk12.org or contact Steve Colella, DCSD’s Chief of Staff. 

 

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Prior Community Meetings Regarding Future Use of Buildings

Community Meeting - Future Use of Heritage Elementary Building
Wednesday, November 12
Heritage Elementary School, Highlands Ranch
Slideshow Presentation from Meeting

Community Meeting - Future Use of Saddle Ranch Elementary Building
Thursday, November 13 
Saddle Ranch Elementary School, Highlands Ranch
Slideshow Presentation from Meeting

Community Meeting - Future Use of Acres Green Building
Monday, February 23
Acres Green Elementary
Slideshow from the meeting