Saddle Ranch to Eldorado Pairing Considerations

No. DCSD owns all 10 acres of Saddle Ranch up to about the top of the baseball diamond on the north side of the property. The property to the north of that is owned by the Highlands Ranch Metro District. The map below and county assessor pages for Highlands Ranch Metro District and Saddle Ranch Elementary show this. 

All documents related to DCSD’s traffic studies can be found on the Traffic Reports page.   

Starting in Fall 2024, DCSD conducted traffic due diligence on the 16 elementary and 3 middle schools possibly impacted by any pairings and 6th grade to middle school. 

As administration began to narrow its pairing possibilities, follow-up studies were ordered for the pairing finalists. Those appear on the webpage as well.

In addition to these studies, we knew that each of the six schools has, in the past 5-10 years, had enrollment numbers at or above the projected pairing numbers. 

All of this information told administration that each of the six pairing schools could handle being a receiving school for traffic purposes. Some will do it a little better, some a little worse. Traffic is obviously important to account for but based on the information we had (again, posted on the webpage), we could focus on other criteria for pairings. 
 

We understand that change can be challenging, and supporting our students and families through this transition is a top priority. We know children are adaptable, but we'll provide extra support for those who need it.

• Counseling: As you know, we have a counselor at every school (and will continue to do so). School counselors will continue to be available (with backup from the district if needed) at the schools during the next two school years (SY 25-26 and SY 26-27) and beyond to help students adjust.
• Communication and Community Involvement: We are committed to ensuring that both communities are actively involved in the transition process - not just as participants, but as drivers. The detailed transition plan will be a collaborative effort.
• Community Building: As part of the transition process, we anticipate supporting things like organizing fun activities for students from both schools before the pairing, as well as welcoming events for families and staff during the SY 25-26 school year and into the first year of the paired school (SY 26-27).  The adults involved—staff and families—play a big role in making this a positive experience for the kids. 

The decision was based on several factors, aiming for the best long-term solution for students in the area. This pairing avoids a school desert north of Saddle Ranch, more efficient traffic management and better building access at Eldorado, and full ownership of Eldorado property (a portion of Saddle Ranch fields are not the property of DCSD).  Pairing with Stone Mountain Elementary would, among other challenges, require crossing a major thoroughfare without a stoplight and adding a significant amount of bus routes and, relatedly, pair an existing large school. 

Transparency about finances is important.

• Savings Sources: Savings come mainly from two areas:
  • ○Reduced headcount (fully realized in 2027-2028 and beyond) by reducing to one management team (admin, office, custodial, etc) per school pairing.
  • Reduce the number of schools (now and in the future) that require supplemental funding of about $2,500 per student per year in order to offer reasonable programs due to size.
• Estimated Savings: The total savings from pairing Saddle Ranch and Eldorado are estimated at $10.2 - $13.6 million over five years. This doesn't include additional potential savings from moving district programs out of leased spaces into district-owned buildings in Highlands Ranch.
• Use of Savings: First, the newly paired school will prosper due to being larger in size overall - this allows for more options for robust student programming and support through economy of scale. The 2 overall savings will help support programs like band, orchestra, art, or STEM (depending on the needs of individual schools).  
• Voter-Approved Funds (recent ballot initiatives):
  • Funds from the 2023 Mill Levy Override ("5A" in 2023) went towards needed salary increases for all district teachers and staff as well as added security personnel.
  • Funds from the 2024 Bond ("5A" in 2024) are for building improvements at every school, including both schools. Saddle Ranch will be maintained and used for other district programs; it won't be sold or neglected. You can track bond project progress online.
• Staffing: Job guarantees for staff will be managed through normal annual staff turnover (500-750 positions district-wide) and the need to staff two new elementary schools opening in SY 2027-28. Affected staff will have priority access to open positions for two years. 

We recognize this timing impacts students currently in third grade and younger, and that those currently in third grade will be in three schools in three years. No matter what, there was going to be one grade-level with this experience (if we were not moving 6th grade to middle school, today’s 4th graders would be in three schools in three years). We are committed to supporting every child and family through these changes with counselors, community-building activities, and ongoing communication. We are also committed to hearing from families about what they need and what their students need during the transition. 

Supporting all students, including those with special needs, is essential.

• SPED Staff: DCSD has excellent SPED professionals, including at the two schools. It's likely many of these dedicated staff members will continue to support students at the newly paired school.
• Continuity of Services: We are focused on providing the necessary support for every child.
• Specific Concerns: We encourage any family with questions about their child's specific services (like IEPs or gifted programming) to please reach out directly to their teacher, principal, or the district's special education department. They are ready to help and support your family, understanding that every student’s situation is unique.

DCSD will keep the Saddle Ranch building, maintain it, and use it for other district programs currently housed in leased spaces.

• Timeline: Decisions on specific programming will involve staff and families and will be made by Spring 2026.
• Neighborhood Impact: The building will not sit empty or fall into disrepair. Its facilities (like playgrounds) should remain available for community use after hours, similar to how they do now.  This approach helps maintain the positive contribution of the site to the neighborhood.

Based on community feedback, each pairing recommendation will include a proposed leadership plan that will be communicated by Wednesday, April 9, as part of the overall recommendation. The newly paired community will have an opportunity to meet with and get to know the proposed leadership team the week of April 10 & 15 (locations to be announced). The proposed leadership team will work, alongside the paired community, on transition planning and future programmatic planning. The community is a critical part of the process. 

While student needs are the top priority, we understand the connection between strong schools and property values. After the pairing, the neighborhood will still have a nearby elementary school (Saddle Ranch/Eldorado, among others). Furthermore, the Saddle Ranch building will be maintained and actively used by the district, not left vacant, which helps support the area. 

This process involves bringing two school communities together. The name of the newly paired school, along with its colors, mascot, and overall identity will be decided collaboratively by the new leader and the combined school communities during the next school year, before the newly paired school officially opens in 2026.