Advancing Classical Education on the Western Slope with Great Schools Colorado

Ascent Classical Academy of Grand Junction — a K–12 public charter school that opened in fall 2023 — has been awarded $1,122,491 through the Colorado League of Charter Schools’ Great Schools Colorado project, part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Charter Schools Program (CSP). The investment is strengthening curriculum and teacher development, expanding student access to the arts, and increasing the school’s visibility with families across Western Colorado. 

For Headmaster Carissa Drake, the grant’s impact is both immediate and foundational, helping to purchase everything from desks to workbooks. “CSP funding has been essential in the start-up years of our school,” she said. It has ensured access to high-quality educational resources and curricular materials, resources she says allow the school to “meet student and staff needs in ways that we would not have been able to without it.”

The funds have also boosted marketing capabilities and fueled teacher growth, including direct access to on-campus professional development and curriculum coaching. Perhaps the most critical outcome of the award is the school’s robust music and arts program.

“As a Classical school, we believe the integration of art and music education is critical to a well-rounded student, yet there are often not enough resources to build these programs,” she explains. “The CSP grant has enabled us to purchase dozens of band and string instruments, countless art supplies, and sound and lighting equipment for theater classes and productions.”

These investments align tightly with Ascent’s mission of developing well-educated students with strong character. “By investing in our fine arts programs, we are providing students an opportunity to be discerning, learned, and expressive, thus having a deeper understanding of that which is true.”

Because applying for the grant is a thorough process, proper preparation is key. “Be prepared to think about the nitty-gritty details of your school and what is really needed to help it be successful from planning through execution.”

 

With the support of Great Schools Colorado, Ascent Classical Academy of Grand Junction is strengthening its academic core, elevating the arts, and expanding access, ensuring that more Western Slope families can choose a rigorous education that forms both intellect and character.