Programs & Campus Options

A program offering college-level courses and examinations to high school students, allowing them to earn college credit for free during their high school years. They are taught by PSD faculty, using the same content and requirements as those that are taught at universities.

• Offered at: Fort Collins High, Fossil Ridge High, Poudre High, Rocky Mountain High, Timnath Middle-High, and Wellington Middle-High School.

Small, specialized secondary schools for students struggling in traditional school settings or who are at risk of not graduating. These schools offer a close-knit community, a trauma-responsive focus, a high level of individual attention, and unique structure offering ample opportunity for credit recovery.

• Offered at: Centennial High School, Poudre Community Academy. Poudre Global Academy and Polaris Expeditionary Learning School are not alternative education campuses, but can be considered as options if a smaller school and more individualized learning model is needed (in the case of Polaris) or if a hybrid learning model is needed to address school aversion/attendance challenges (in the case of PGA).

Structured programs of study that prepare students for high-demand, high-wage careers and future college or technical training. A wide variety of offerings from health science to agriculture to welding are offered at PSD middle and high schools, in addition to the Career and Tech Center on Poudre High School campus.

• Offered at: All PSD middle and high schools – click here to see which pathways are offered at each school

A classically-oriented curriculum structured around a sequence of foundational knowledge. This provides a more content-focused, as opposed to skill-centered, approach to education. Developed by E.D. Hirsch, this is the same curriculum utilized at most Northern Colorado classical schools

• Offered at: Bethke Elementary, O’Dea Elementary, Traut Elementary, Zach Elementary, and Kinard Middle School.

Full bilingual instruction in English and Spanish, fostering higher levels of bilingualism, biliteracy and cultural fluency for students.

• Offered at: Harris Elementary, Irish Elementary, and Boltz Middle School.

An educational model where learning revolves around "learning expeditions:" in-depth, long-term studies on a single, compelling theme that integrate multiple subjects and involve rigorous, real-world projects. This provides more hands-on learning than a traditional approach.

• Offered at: Polaris Expeditionary Learning School

A blend of online and in-person instruction to meet specialized student needs. Instruction is done by licensed teachers while a parent/guardian serves as the learning coach

• Offered at: Poudre Global Academy

A continuum of four rigorous academic programs that inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and a global outlook. IB students develop intercultural understanding and the skills to make a positive impact in an interconnected world.

• Offered at: Bennett Elementary, Cache la Poudre Elementary, Dunn Elementary, McGraw Elementary, Riffenburgh Elementary, Cache la Poudre Middle, Lesher Middle, Lincoln Middle, and Poudre High School.

An evidence-based, whole-school development program based off of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. This program fosters a leadership culture through training, shared visions, goal-setting, academics, and activities to build life-readiness and supportive school environments.

• Offered at: Lopez Elementary and Rice Elementary School.

An educational model where students learn by working on complex, real-world, hands-on problems or challenges over an extended period

• Offered at: Olander Elementary, Blevins Middle, and Fort Collins High School. 

A focus on science, technology, engineering, (arts) and math, setting students up for success in high-demand career fields.

• Offered at: Shepardson Elementary, Tavelli Elementary, and Preston Middle School.