Phase II Recommendation

Since the spring of 2021, because of low enrollment in parts of Jeffco Public Schools, the district has taken difficult action to close 19 schools. 

On May 11, 2023, the Board approved the Regional Opportunities for Thriving Schools Phase II resolution.

In the 2023-24 school year, Coal Creek Canyon K-8 School (Coal Creek K-8) is the lowest enrolled district-managed Jeffco school and will serve fewer than 85 students, which is a 45% decline in enrollment since 2019. 

Arvada K-8 School will use 60% of its intended capacity and serve fewer than 560 students as the district’s second lowest enrolled K-8 school. Enrollment is not projected to increase and both schools are urgently unsustainable.

On August 24, 2023, district staff recommended the Jeffco Board of Education (Board) close Coal Creek K-8 and Arvada K-8 because of unsustainable enrollment. On October 12, the Board voted to approve the Phase II recommendation. View the Board statement.

The Opportunity

All Jeffco students will have equal access to a thriving educational experience – resourced classrooms and programming, opportunities to collaborate with peers – because we are stewarding our resources to serve the number of students who live in Jefferson County today. Regional Opportunities for Thriving Schools Phase I focused on thriving elementary schools. Phase II focused on thriving K-8 and middle schools and concluded this focused work to address declining enrollment in our district. The FCB Dashboard will be used to regularly monitor the enrollment health of our schools. 

  • The Board voted in June 2023 to meet the community’s desire to sustain the Pomona articulation area with a 6-12 school at Pomona in the 2024-25 school year, which means Moore Middle School will close at the end of the 2023-24 school year.
  • The district can address long-term sustainability issues in two communities with the smallest K-8 enrollment, Coal Creek K-8 and Arvada K-8.
  • Boundary students from closing schools can be accommodated in their current articulation areas.
  • These recommendations will impact approximately 524 students and 97 staff across two school communities.

About the Phase II Recommendation

Arvada K-8 School

On October 12, 2023 the Board voted to close Arvada K-8 at the end of the 2023-24 school year:

  • Starting in the 2024-25 school year: Lawrence Elementary will be the K-5 designated neighborhood school for students residing in the current Arvada K-8 boundary area.
  • Starting in the 2024-25 school year: North Arvada Middle School will be the 6-8 designated neighborhood school for students residing in the current Arvada K-8 boundary area, and the feeder school for Lawrence Elementary School.
  • The district will support choice-enrolled students at Arvada K-8 to enroll in their designated neighborhood school or apply to enroll in a Jeffco school of their choice.
  • The Significant Support Needs (SSN) Center program, which serves students in grades 6-8, will move to Pomona 6-12. Jeffco’s Office of Student Success will contact center program families with further details.

Coal Creek Canyon K-8 School

On October 12, 2023 the Board approved the recommendation to close Coal Creek K-8. The Board also opened an expedited charter authorization window to accept applications from charter schools who could sustainably serve the Coal Creek Canyon community beginning as soon as August of 2024. As a result of this process, on January 10, the Board authorized Jefferson Academy to open a replication site in the current Coal Creek Canyon K-8 building.

  • Starting in the 2024-25 School Year: Jefferson Academy Coal Creek Canyon PK-8 will open, providing a quality and sustainable educational option to the community, including homeschool enrichment programs.
  • Starting in the 2024-25 School Year: Three Creeks K-8 will be the K-8 designated neighborhood school for students living in the current Coal Creek Canyon K-8 boundary area. 
    • Students living within the Jeffco district boundary in grades 6-8 will have guaranteed enrollment at Three Creeks K-8 as their new neighborhood school and transportation will be provided for eligible students. 
    • Coal Creek K-8 choice-enrolled students do not have guaranteed enrollment at Three Creeks K-8.
    • All impacted Coal Creek K-8 students, including those who are choice-enrolled, will receive a special level of priority in the choice enrollment process for Jeffco schools. 

Moore Middle School - Approved June 22, 2023

The Board voted in June 2023 to meet the community’s desire  to sustain the Pomona articulation area by consolidating Moore Middle School with Pomona High School. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year Pomona Jr/Sr High School will serve students in grades 6-12 at Pomona. Moore Middle School will close at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

Learn more about the Pomona community-led vision and Pomona Jr/Sr High School. 

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