Seven New Charters Bring Statewide Total to 265

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. Of those seven, two are Wildflower Montessori Public Schools (Cactus Bloom Community School and Mountain Juniper); and three are new campuses for an existing charter (James Irwin Elementary-Canada Drive Campus, Jefferson Academy Coal Creek and Leman Academy of Excellence at Parker-Bayou Gulch).

One is a former BOCES school specializing in dyslexia (Orton Academy) and one — University Prep Pre-K  — is a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.

Together with these new seven, 265 charter schools across the state are serving over 135,000 students and families, equaling over 15 percent of total public school enrollment across the state. Please join us in welcoming these seven, high-quality schools to the Colorado Charter Schools family:

• Cactus Bloom Community School (Grand Junction). Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado is opening its second location, Cactus Bloom Community School, in Grand Junction. The organization's inaugural micro-school site will serve ages three through third grade.

• James Irwin Elementary-Canada Drive Campus (Colorado Springs). James Irwin is celebrating the opening of their third elementary school which took residence at the former site of the organization’s Power Technical school. “We are pleased to announce the principal and assistant principal for our new elementary school: Janiece Primrose and Chloe Whatley, respectively,” said CEO Rob Daugherty in a letter to parents. “Both outstanding educators are veterans of James Irwin Schools and bring extensive knowledge of elementary education to their roles.” 

• Jefferson Academy Coal Creek (Golden). This PK-8 in Coal Creek Canyon is a former traditional JeffCo public school closed by the district following the 23-24 school year. It becomes the third campus for Jefferson Academy, which also boasts an elementary and secondary campus in Westminster and Broomfield, respectively, as well as a homeschool program. 

  Executive Director Tim Matlick states, “In partnership with Jefferson County Public Schools, we were able to find a path to keeping this small mountain school serving students in the area. By leveraging JA’s homeschool program (The Summit Academy) we are able to add a homeschool component to the school week, thus bringing together all mountain community families into one school building.  This is a novel approach that follows very much in the charter school tradition of finding new and different ways to meet student’s educational needs.”  

• Mountain Juniper Montessori (Aurora). Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado debuts its third location, Mountain Juniper Montessori, in Aurora. The micro-school site will serve primary students ages three to six.

• Leman Academy of Excellence (Parker). The Parker-Bayou Gulch campus in Parker is Leman Academy’s second location in Colorado. The new campus will welcome students in grades K-6 for the first year followed by K-7 instruction in year two. Year three and beyond will provide K-8 instruction. [link to the school in our school finder]

• Orton Academy (Colorado Springs). Founded in 2020 and formerly operated by Education reEnvisioned Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES), Orton Academy has converted to a charter while continuing to serve students in grades 2-8 who have dyslexia or other reading difficulties. Each student receives daily reading therapy with a certified academic reading therapist. 
  
  "Our students are brilliant and their dyslexia is not a disability, but the approach to teaching reading in most traditional school settings makes it disabling," says Cindy Kanuch, Principal. "It is very moving to see the incredible academic and emotional growth of our students when they receive instruction that matches the way they learn."  

• University Prep Pre-K (core Commerce City). UPrep’s newest campus is opening in Commerce City with full-day, tuition-free PreK programming. Serving 4-year-olds, the new school will be located at the Suncor Boys & Girls Club in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.