Here, the Path to College Starts in Kindergarten

In the Rose Hill neighborhood of Commerce City, a $619,572 grant from Great Schools Colorado is helping University Preparatory Schools (U Prep) expand its model to serve PreK and Kindergarten students inside the Suncor Boys & Girls Club. The school will grow one grade level per year, ultimately serving more than 400 children in PreK-5th grades. The goal is ambitious but clear: educate every child on the path to a four-year college degree and a life of opportunity. 

Authorized by the Colorado Charter School Institute, the Commerce City campus opened in fall 2025 as part of a replication effort designed to bring a proven college-preparatory model to more families. But as Principal Clare Lundquist makes clear, this work is about more than growth.

“Most importantly, everything starts with our core values,” says Lundquist. “Staying grounded in the values that drive all decision making has proven essential to ensuring that as our network grows, our identity and DNA persist.”

College Starts Here

At U Prep, college readiness doesn’t begin in high school; it starts in Kindergarten.

“At the heart of it all is the work to build an unbreakable education foundation,” says Lundquist. “Children who leave elementary school at or above grade level against the state’s academic standards are far more likely to successfully engage in post-secondary education.”

That foundation is paired with a school culture that constantly reinforces what’s possible. Each day, students are reminded why they are there.

“Every morning at the front door, we ask, ‘Why are you here?’” Lundquist says. “Scholars respond, ‘to climb the mountain to college.’”

From classrooms named after universities to scholars identified as the “Class of 2043,” the message is clear: college is not just an aspiration; it’s an expectation. Students track their reading progress by moving their names up a visual “mountain to college,” tying academic growth to long-term goals.

Exposure is also tangible. Students and families visit college campuses each year, exploring everything from dorm rooms to dining halls, experiences designed to make higher education feel real and accessible from the earliest years. That same level of discipline carries into how the network approaches growth itself.

Replication Done Right

U Prep’s newest campus builds on lessons learned from a previous replication effort nearly a decade ago. One of the biggest takeaways: who you bring into the building matters as much as the model itself.

“Successful replication requires team members who carry immense institutional knowledge and skill,” says Lundquist.

That shows up in a leadership team and teaching staff largely drawn from within the University Prep network, educators who understand the model deeply and can bring it to life from day one. 

Equally critical is attention to detail. “We’re crazy about intentionality, from the way we greet scholars during morning arrival to how we plan and deliver math instruction. It all matters,” Lundquist says.

That level of precision ensures that as the network grows, the student experience remains strong and aligned.

Breaking Down Barriers for Families

Just as important as academics is access, ensuring every family can fully engage in their child’s education.

The Great Schools Colorado grant supports a robust family-access strategy, an essential component in a multilingual community like Commerce City.

“We communicate constantly with our families and ensure that every communication and opportunity to engage with the school is accessible,” says Lundquist.

At least half of the staff is bilingual in English and Spanish, and all materials are translated. Parent-teacher conferences are conducted in families’ native languages, and every family begins their relationship with the school through a home visit.

“Our goal is true partnership, so we will do anything necessary to ensure language is not a barrier,” Lundquist says. The school also celebrates multilingualism as an asset, incorporating bilingual elements into weekly community celebrations to ensure families feel seen, valued, and included.

Early Signs of Success

Though the campus currently serves only PreK and Kindergarten, early indicators show strong momentum.

“Success, at its core, is focused on our kids winning,” says Lundquist.

That success is measured through a combination of academic and community metrics, including attendance, family satisfaction, staff retention, and instructional quality. Nearly all families surveyed say they would recommend the school, and attendance rates are high.

Early academic data suggests the model is taking hold quickly.

“More than eighty percent of our Kindergarten scholars are now reading at or above grade level, with 89% demonstrating above or well above typical growth,” says Lundquist. “And that’s after starting the year with less than 10% of children hitting the mark.”

These early outcomes point to strong alignment between instruction, culture, and family engagement.

Built with Community, for Community

From the beginning, the Commerce City campus was shaped by the families it serves. This wasn’t a school built for the community — it was built with it.

“We spent a year co-designing our newest school alongside parent leaders from within the Commerce City community,” says David Singer, Founder and Executive Director of U Prep.

That collaboration helped ensure the school reflects local needs and priorities and opened as a genuine option for families seeking something different.

Growth Grounded in What Matters

University Prep’s expansion into Commerce City offers a clear example of what thoughtful growth can look like: strong academics paired with strong relationships, intentional replication guided by experience, and a deep commitment to community.

“All children deserve exposure to what’s possible for their future,” Lundquist says. “Ensuring they understand that higher education is, in fact, for them.”

In a PreK and Kindergarten classroom in Commerce City, that future isn’t far off; it’s already underway.