Saddle Ranch Elementary to Eldorado Elementary Pairing
We wanted to provide a broad overview of main events below. We will provide more detailed communications on specific events and opportunities for engagement as we approach each of them. Please continue to look for updates from your school and on this webpage.
Upcoming Paired-School Meetings
The Douglas County School District values its partnership with our neighbors. Our students benefit when we maintain a strong relationship with those who live nearby. We also know how much property values and the overall health of the neighborhood matter.
As you likely know, DCSD recently made the decision to consolidate some of our elementary schools in Highlands Ranch effective at the end of the current school year. This means three of our current elementary buildings (Acres Green Elementary, Heritage Elementary, and Saddle Ranch Elementary) will be repurposed. We want to hear from neighbors about their hopes and dreams for the future use of these school buildings.
We will also be hosting community meetings where you can participate in discussions and provide feedback about the future use of these buildings.
Ahead of these meetings, please take a few minutes to complete the short survey below.
SURVEY
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Community Meeting - Future Use of Saddle Ranch Elementary Building
Thursday, November 13 | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Saddle Ranch Elementary School, Highlands Ranch
September 24, 2025, Community Meeting
Additional resources from the meeting include:
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The slideshow presentation
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Renderings of the building upgrades
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The school name, colors, and mascot survey
October 22, 2025, Community Meeting
Additional resources from the meeting include:
-
The slideshow presentation
-
Renderings of the building upgrades
-
The school name, colors, and mascot survey
Timeline
Other Pertinent Information for This Pairing
Traffic and Transportation:
- Saddle Ranch and Eldorado are in close proximity by car (2.5 miles, 6-7 minutes) and by walkable open space (1 mile, 20 minutes) with no major (4 lane) roadways to traverse. No traffic mitigation needed.
- One additional bus route will be needed for Saddle Ranch Elementary students to go to Eldorado Elementary, for those students living, in general, south and east of Saddle Ranch Elementary.
Saddle Ranch Elementary Building Use:
- The Saddle Ranch building will be maintained and available for community use (playground, fields, etc.) in addition to housing school district programming (to be determined during school year 2025-2026).
Student Programming:
- Ensure the sustainability of full-time Specials teachers to support a well-rounded curriculum and expand Specials programming (e.g., STEM, instrumental music) based on community input and student needs.
- Maintain consistent student support services, including academic intervention and mental health resources.
- Integrate Significant Support Needs (SSN) programs while maintaining Affective Needs (AN) programming (K-3) to support students from both schools.
- Increase Special Education, English Language Development (ELD), and Gifted and Talented (GT) programming to better serve all students.
- Expand preschool programming from one to two classrooms to meet early childhood education demands.
- Continue to make available Before and After School Programming (BASE).
Leadership:
- Julie Crawford, who currently serves as the principal at Eldorado Elementary, has accepted the position of Founding Principal for Elementary 51 in the Sterling Ranch community, one of the new elementary schools in the Douglas County School District. She will remain at Eldorado for the 2025-2026 school year, then transition to Elementary 51.
- Allison Hawk, who currently serves as the principal at Saddle Ranch Elementary, will serve as the principal of the new, combined Eldorado/Saddle Ranch school community, effective for the 2026-2027 school year.
Boundary Adjustment Recommendation:
- Homes north of Kendrick Castillo Way moved from Eldorado Elementary to Northridge Elementary (currently nine students). Current Eldorado Elementary families in this area will have the option of staying at Eldorado Elementary or enrolling in North Ridge Elementary.