Two Charter School Applicants From Adams 12 Appeal to the State Board of Education

After two years with only one charter school appeal hearing, the Colorado Board of Education has three scheduled for February and March. Lotus School for Excellence tried to replicate by opening a new site in the Jefferson County School District and were denied. That appeal hearing will be heard on February 10th.

Recently the two applicants in the Adams 12 Five Star School District decided to appeal to the state board. National Heritage Academies was behind the Capstone Academy application. NHA already operates Landmark Academy in the Reunion part of Commerce City. Landmark has almost 200 students on a waiting list and has already demonstrated success academically.

Prospect Ridge is the other denied application. Prospect Ridge was a proposed K-12 charter school wanting to use the Core Knowledge curriculum used by almost half of the state's charter schools. The applicants were a group of parents in the area who wanted a charter school that offers rich content and character education with a focus on science and math.

Both applications were for the same general area in northern Adams County. The area borders the St. Vrain Valley School District where a similar school, Aspen Ridge, was recently approved.

Capstone Academy and Prospect Ridge will be heard in March when the State Board of Education meets -- either March 10 or 11.