Colorado Charter Stories

Colorado’s charter school debate is often framed through the experiences of Denver and other Front Range communities.

This fall, nine new public charter schools are opening their doors to Colorado students for the first time.

From childcare to mental-health support, Colorado charters are finding creative ways to remove the barriers that keep students out of the classroom.

A decade-long vision is finally a reality — and families are responding.

New campuses. New learning opportunities. New possibilities for Colorado students. Get to know the schools joining the charter community this fall.

A commercial dishwasher may not seem like a student success strategy—but for many rural Colorado charter schools, it's exactly that.

Discover how charter schools can use earned media, not paid advertising, to build trust, strengthen their reputation, and reach more prospective families using stories they're already living.

The strongest audits aren't built at year-end. They're built through consistent habits, strong controls, and proactive planning.

At Aurora Science & Tech, students aren't just learning about STEM careers—they're experiencing them firsthand through immersive, real-world partnerships that are redefining what high school can look like.

Colorado's public education landscape has changed dramatically, and new enrollment data challenges many long-held assumptions about school choice and charter schools.

This morning, Governor Polis signed Senate Bill 145 into law—an important step forward for charter school facility funding and transparency in local bond planning.

This wasn’t a school built for Commerce City; it was built with it. See how U Prep’s newest campus is partnering with families to create a college-bound future starting in PreK.

Visits to member schools help strengthen, support and spotlight your work.

At Georgetown Community School, a hydroponics program is helping students grow far more than lettuce.

The most effective school marketing plans don’t start in August. They start now, with intentional reflection, focused priorities, and a clear roadmap.

Through responsibility- and skill-building programs like the Dragon Safety Patrol and VEX IQ Robotics, Flagstaff Academy's students gain hands-on experience in leadership, safety and technology.

With a major new investment, Lotus School of Excellence is expanding access while aligning academics, infrastructure, and culture, proving that growth and rigor can go hand-in-hand.

Summit Middle School’s new Design Futures wing is giving students hands-on opportunities to design, build, cook, and explore real-world career pathways in STEM and the culinary arts

Strong boards don’t wait for problems to surface—they build the habits, systems, and insight to spot early signals and act with confidence before challenges escalate.

Pagosa Daily Post
Charter school students account for more than 15% of Colorado’s public K-12 enrollment, but advocates say that many charters get far less from local voter initiatives meant to fund construction than the share of students they serve.

The Colorado League of Charter Schools is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its Board of Directors and a third elected to a second term: Tomi Amos, Ricky Bucher and Dr. Ian Stout.

As the legislative session reaches its midpoint, we’re doubling down on the “3 F’s” — funding, facilities, and flexibility — to protect and advance the priorities Colorado charter schools need most.

From hydroponic towers in the mountains to greenhouse farms along the Front Range, Colorado students are learning that some of the most powerful lessons can start with a seed.

In a world that increasingly happens behind screens, experiences like this remind students that a confident handshake, thoughtful conversation, and respectful interaction can still open doors.

From a handful of schools in 1994 to 262 today, Colorado’s charter community has grown — and so has the League. Our refreshed brand reflects our Colorado roots, our shared future, and the students at the center of it all.

Congratulations to the 2026 Colorado Charter Schools Hall of Fame winners! These exceptional educators, leaders, and advocates were nominated by their peers for their lasting impact on students, schools, and the charter movement across Colorado.

When James Irwin Elementary on Canada Drive opened its doors in fall 2024, it did so with quality and stability from day one — thanks in part to a CSP grant from Great Schools Colorado.

Grand Junction K-8 school demonstrates innovative approach to facilities expansion.

As the 2026 Legislative Session gets underway, the League is pairing strategic advocacy with data-driven insight to strengthen funding, facilities, and flexibility for charter schools statewide.

Justice Richard L. Gabriel brought the law to life, challenging students to think deeply about civic responsibility, justice, and their own potential to shape the future.

Inside a geodesic dome at Crestone Charter School, students are growing food, creativity, and confidence in a four-season greenhouse where learning is hands-on, interconnected, and very much alive.

The Kick-Off Webinar for the 2025-2026 Grant Cycle will be held on January 21, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. MST via Zoom. Please Register Here or review on the Great Schools Colorado website (the webinar recording will be posted to the Competitions page after the session concludes).

Discover how targeted funding is strengthening classrooms, expanding programs, and preserving JA Coal Creek to serve the heart of its mountain community.

Big futures don’t always come from big schools. From wildland fire lines to college research labs to shaping public art policy, charter graduates from Animas HS in southwest Colorado are proving that extraordinary outcomes can start in the most unexpected places.

A deep dive into Colorado’s 2025 SPF results reveals consistent, compelling patterns about where students are thriving, who benefits most + why charter schools continue to play a critical role in advancing educational quality + opportunity statewide.

Great Schools Colorado is strengthening academics, expanding the arts, and helping more Western Slope families access a high-quality education.

The French Ministry has once again recognized two Global Village Academy campuses for their immersion programs and commitment to bilingual excellence.

At Mountain Middle School, civics isn't just a class, it’s a community-wide experience.

Vista Charter School in Montrose is showing what’s possible when charter flexibility meets real-world learning.

Colorado charter schools have faced a massive, long-overlooked facilities gap. New research reveals just how deep the inequity runs—an estimated $1.4B in lost funding over the last decade. Learn what’s driving the disparity and how our community can unite to demand the fair share charter school students deserve.

The ballots are counted, but the impact is still unfolding. This post-election reflection breaks down why victory isn’t the finish line, why loss isn’t the end of influence, and what the new board must do to stay connected to communities.

Colorado’s school board elections didn’t follow a single narrative—they reflected each community’s priorities. After hundreds of voter conversations, one theme stood out: when people understand charter schools, they support them. Explore what the results reveal, why they were so distinctly local, and what it means for charter school advocacy moving forward.

In Cortez, Southwest Open School is proving that food is education. 🍽️ Through the Rural School Food Project, students are gaining hands-on culinary skills, healthier meals, and stronger connections to community.

With more than $830,000 in federal funding through Great Schools Colorado, C2E is expanding its middle school program, adding new classrooms and collaborative spaces, and strengthening its STEAM-based curriculum — all while keeping its close-knit community feel.

From rural mountain towns to busy city corridors, Colorado’s charter schools are redefining what it means to put kids first. Discover how these schools are expanding opportunity—one charter at a time.

A new study shows that Healthy School Meals for All is improving participation, attendance, and equity in rural charter schools—helping students learn better and communities thrive.

By blending expert insights with student voices, Beyond the Bell demonstrates how schools can become hubs of thought leadership and innovation. It also engages families, students, and communities in shaping the future.

Effective communication isn’t just about sharing information — it’s about building trust. Schools can strengthen relationships, shape perception, and foster transparency through clear, consistent, and courageous communication.

CIVA Charter High School is kicking off the year with its signature Forum assemblies, where student voice, creativity, and community spirit shine through music, storytelling, and shared celebration.

Pagosa Peak Open School is excited to announce the grand opening of the Playground for the People — Uptown Pagosa’s first public, multi-tiered play space designed to spark curiosity, movement, and community connection.

The new executive director of The STEAD School brings a clear vision for strengthening STEAD’s unique career-focused model that blends science, technology, environmental science, agriculture, and systems design (i.e. “STEAD”).

The League’s September Town Hall highlighted Colorado’s budget outlook, charter sector priorities, and upcoming opportunities for schools to connect, grow, and advocate together.

The Leadership Summit 2025 workshop sessions are now live.
Check out the lineup and secure your spot for this annual one-day event. Don’t miss the chance to learn, connect, and lead alongside peers from across Colorado.

More than 100 school leaders joined the Annual Finance Seminar 2025 to explore policies, tools, and strategies that strengthen financial sustainability for Colorado’s charter schools.

Flagstaff Academy Charter School has once again earned statewide and national acclaim, having been named one of the 2025 Colorado Trailblazer Schools to Watch

The League welcomes three new charter schools to Colorado for the 2025-26 school year.

When a kindergartener with hearing loss arrived at a rural charter school, the community faced a challenge. What they discovered was that by embracing American Sign Language, they didn't just support one student—they enriched the lives of everyone in the school.

What do a charter school advocacy day, a state representative, and a governor have in common? They all played a part in helping one recent graduate from The Academy discover her passion.

Governor Polis has called a special session for August 21 to tackle Colorado’s looming fiscal crisis brought on by the new federal tax bill—here’s what lawmakers will be focusing on.

Rural charter schools often struggle to provide consistent, nutritious meals. But Steamboat Montessori, a K-5 school in Northwest Colorado, found an innovative solution by partnering with a neighboring school district.

Mary Faith Hall, our 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, spent 16 years guiding Thomas MacLaren School with a deep commitment to its mission and vision. As she transitions from her role as Executive Director, she reflects on lessons learned from leading both her school community and the broader charter movement.

Many of this year's Charter Champions are leaving high school and heading into the next phase of their life! To celebrate, we're catching up with each of them to discover what's next in both life and leadership.

Seven years after founding Vega Collegiate Academy, Dr. Kate Mullins reflects on her journey with a perspective that can only come with time and experience. Hear what this 2025 Charter School Leader of the Year has to say as she transitions out of her current role in the charter school community.

This year, three of our Charter Champions are graduating high school and heading into the next phase of their lives. To celebrate, we're catching up with each of them to discover what their training has provided, and what's next for both life and leadership.

This school urgently needs a solution. Its location excludes it from the National School Lunch Program, and its long-term vendor is ceasing operations.

Three of this year's Charter Champions are leaving high school and heading into the next phase of their life! To celebrate, we're catching up with each of them to discover what's next in both life and leadership.

Charter schools in rural Colorado are battling a hidden crisis: the struggle to provide students with healthy, affordable meals. The Rural School Food Series will spotlight the challenges they face—and the innovative solutions helping schools overcome food deserts, funding gaps, and logistical hurdles to nourish their students.

At Knowledge Quest Academy (KQA), a steadfast commitment to student wellness and nutrition is driving transformative change. Among the most impactful advancements is the planned addition of a commercial dishwasher.

We can say quality in numerous ways in the world of education. We can talk about measurements and assessments. We can talk about qualitative and quantitative data. We can also look at a number of different factors including school climate and performance and student outcomes and engagement.

Governor Polis, Senate President Coleman, and Speaker McCluskie Champion Equitable Access to High-Quality Education Opportunities

We are celebrating an extraordinary year for Colorado charter schools with record-breaking achievements, but we must stay vigilant for the challenges that lie ahead, says League President Dan Schaller.

Students at these charters gain unique hands-on experiences with animals and nature, fostering connections to the environment and pathways to STEM-based careers.

The outcome of the race made one thing clear: Charter school families are a political force to be reckoned with. 

Today, the Leadership Summit is happening at the Gaylord of the Rockies. I can’t wait to see so many of you there. If you can’t make it, we’ll miss you. Our theme this year is Catalysts, and as the vice chair of the League’s board of directors and chief of staff at Global Village Academy (GVA) Collaborative, I see this idea of catalysts everywhere I go. 

While publicly addressing falsehoods can sometimes amplify them, allowing misinformation to spread unchecked is perhaps more harmful. It’s for that reason that I aim to set the record straight.

In honor of National Principals Month this October, we caught up with some of our favorite charter school leaders across the state for a little Q&A. Their responses provide insight into the unique experiences, lessons and mindsets that help shape these passionate educational leaders. From historical figures to modern fictional characters, we uncover their inspiration.

Six Colorado charter schools are among 32 recipients of a CDE Local Food Program (LFP) grant whose pilot was extended for the 24-25 school year. Dishing up local food with a focus on nutrition, education and community are: Colorado Early Colleges Fort Collins (CECFC), The Academy, Pinnacle Charter School, Windsor Charter Academy, The STEAD School, and Community Leadership Academy.

Welcome to the 2024-25 school year! In this August edition of the League’s MOVE, I want to thank you for everything you and your communities do to launch a positive, healthy, and successful school year.

From core knowledge and classical to Montessori and dyslexia seven new charter schools have opened their doors in Colorado for the 2024-25 school year.

Staples is making it easier than ever for charter schools to simplify and streamline the purchase of office and janitorial supplies.

Chalkbeat   |  August 6
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a former high school teacher, is Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.

The 74   |   August 6
K-12 open enrollment is an increasingly common and popular form of school choice, allowing students to attend classes outside their assigned public school zone. Since 2021, 10 states have significantly improved their open enrollment laws, creating a boundaryless and student-centered education system.

NAPCS   |   August 4 
NAPCS thanks the Senate Appropriations Committee for recognizing the incredible value of public charter schools by offsetting the proposed cut in President Biden’s budget and also recommending funding for the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) at $440 million and increased funding for Title I and IDEA Programs. 

The 74   |   August 4
A new study of charter schools identified strikingly positive academic results. The paper finds that charter students in Massachusetts are significantly more likely (than non-charter peers) to enroll in a four-year college and obtain a degree. 

Thomas Fordham Institute | July 4
Charter schools are in for a slog. It doesn’t matter who wins in November. Joe Biden is not a fan. Donald Trump was lukewarm on the topic when he had his hands on the switch. Even the president’s potential replacements are bad on the issue. Read more by League Board Member, Dale Chu.

The 74 | July 10
Four years after the pandemic rocked America’s education system, students continue to post lackluster test scores and far-from-adequate learning gains. Too many children still are not getting the education they need to thrive. Read more by League Board Member, Karega Rausch.

The Journal | July 31
The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe’s Kwiyagat Community Academy has added fourth grade to its roster of class offerings, with the goal of offering kindergarten through 12th grade in the future. Read more.

The 74   |   Aug 1
In April, New Mexico launched a tutoring effort with all the “high-impact” elements experts say lead to success: small groups, led by a trained tutor for 90 minutes of instruction spread throughout the week. Read more.

Boardhawk | Aug 1
Growing up in Denver, I spent my entire K-12 education in Denver Public Schools. From Ebert Elementary, which shut down at the end of my kindergarten year, to Park Hill Elementary, Smiley Middle School, and eventually George Washington High School, my journey has been deeply intertwined with the DPS community. Read more.

The 74   |  August 1
New protections against sexual harassment and discrimination, including for LGBTQ students, went into effect in less than half the country on Thursday as legal challenges to the Biden administration’s Title IX rewrite pile up.

A snapshot of the progress we made together this year.

Colorado Springs Gazette
Read more about a public school system that achieves a 100% college acceptance rate—every graduating senior is accepted to at least one four-year college, university or post-secondary program.

I know charter schools are integral to setting Colorado students up for success — especially students with unique needs and from underserved communities.

American education seemed to bend towards normality: chronic absenteeism is improving, standardized testing is making a comeback, and phonics has finally won. Read more.

According to a recent poll from the RAND Corp., one-third of all U.S. teachers have used AI tools. Read more.

"Indeed, charter schools are perhaps the single most promising and scalable policy to shrink the persistent achievement gap between white and black students." Read more.

by Kate Mullins, Vega Collegiate
None of my sixth-grade students could read or write above a kindergarten level. The only difference between us was the ZIP Code. Read more.