Denver Relocation Guide

QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION IN DENVER The seven-county metro Denver area is home to 19 school districts—seven in Adams County, seven in Arapahoe County, two in Boulder County, and one each in Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties.

Public school K- 12 education in Denver revolves around choice, with both public and private schools offering many educational options for primary and secondary students. The K- 12 education system includes 19 public school districts and a number of private and parochial school systems.

Students can also choose from charter and magnet schools, international baccalaureate programs, and Montessori and English Primary schools. In the case of charter schools, individuals and organizations in Colorado can establish their own schools and curricula to meet special needs within established school districts. These charter schools are approved by local school districts and receive funding from the local district and the state of Colorado.

All metro Denver public schools offer open enrollment, which allows students to attend school in the district of their choice. This flexibility helps parents select schools that match each student’s individual needs. See the Public Schools listings for more information and resources.

DENVER K- 12 PRIVATE SCHOOLS Metro Denver has a large selection of nonpublic private, parochial and independent schools for pre-kindergarten (pre-K) through the 12th grade. These schools offer traditional classroom settings, innovative learning centers, accelerated programs and special preparatory classes for college-bound students. Most schools offer financial aid.

The Colorado Department of Education website
( www.cde.state.co.us/ index_choice.htm)
lists these schools and provides some statistical
information. CDE does not accredit private
schools; however, accreditation by other
organizations is recognized. The
Association of Colorado Independent
Schools ( www.acischools.com) accredits,
supports and promotes independent
schools in Colorado.

Although Denver has excellent private schools, overall enrollment is low because the region offers so many high-quality public school options. About 7 percent of metro Denver’s total student population attended private schools in the 2009 school year. See the Private Schools listings for more information and resources.

DENVER CHARTER SCHOOLS Charter schools are free, public schools of choice that are open to all students. Colorado has 120 charter schools across the state, serving approximately 40,000 students in metro, suburban and rural areas.

These nonsectarian, nonreligious schools do not have admission criteria or require admission tests. As with all metro Denver public schools, charter schools offer open enrollment, which allows students living in one school district to attend a school in another district, subject to space availability.

As innovators in public school education, charter schools allow creative educators and parents to reach students whose needs aren’t met in traditional public school systems. However, they are held to the same state and federal testing standards as all other public schools. Charter schools are approved by local school districts, assure local control, and receive funding from the local district and the state of Colorado. See the Charter Schools listing for more information and resources.