Challenge, Enrich, Connect
Nearly 70% of PSD families choose to send their children to a neighborhood school, the school located in the attendance area in which they live. Students at neighborhood schools grow up together in a culture of academic excellence, community, and character development. Neighborhood schools teach PSD's rigorous standards-driven curriculum, along with gifted, enrichment, and accelerated options.
- District-wide standards identify what each child should know and be able to do in each subject, at each grade level.
- PSD standards meet and exceed state and national educational requirements.
- Courses and content are sequenced to help students build a succession of learning at each grade level.
- Classroom instruction provides clear connections between the classroom and the world beyond.
- PSD students consistently perform, on average, 4%-16% higher than students statewide in all subjects, at all grade levels on the rigorous CSAP tests.
Students attending neighborhood schools may also benefit from transportation services. Round-trip transportation is provided for:
- Elementary school students living more than 1 mile from their neighborhood school*
- Middle school students living more than 1 1/2 miles from their neighborhood school
- High school students living more than 2 miles from their neighborhood school
Enrichment and Accelerated Programs
Enrichment, gifted and talented, and accelerated programs complement neighborhood schools standards-driven instruction and expand the classroom for students.
Elementary enrichment programs include accelerated math and reading, Odyssey of the Mind, Lego Robotics, Living History Rendezvous, Eco Week, art shows, honor choir, science fair, Spelling and Geography Bee, student leadership, and more.
Middle schools offer Science Olympiad, Math Counts, Science/Astronomy Club, vocal and instrumental music groups, athletics, Robotics, National Junior Honor Society, and more.
High school students participate in a broad spectrum of extra-curricular activities in academics, music and theatre, and athletics, many advancing to state- and national-level competition.
Advanced Placement, College Credit Classes
PSD's comprehensive high schools allow students to get a head start on college-level work by offering a variety of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP courses prepare high school students to take AP exams and earn credit or advanced standing at most of the nation's colleges and universities. Please see the College Board website for more information.
Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) courses are offered at most PSD neighborhood middle schools and help prepare students for rigorous AP courses.
Through PSD's college credit program, eligible 11th- and 12th-grade students may take college courses at Colorado State University, Front Range Community College, or Aims Community College. Students can receive dual high school and college credit, and financial reimbursement may be given after successful completion of courses.