Programs and Campus Options

Every child deserves a school where they belong, grow, and succeed. With 54 schools — including five district-authorized charter schools — PSD offers caring teachers, unique programs, and opportunities for every learner. Whether you are looking for your neighborhood school or exploring choice options, PSD is your guide to finding the best fit for your family.

PSD Programs and Campus Options

Advanced Placement (AP)

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.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)

AVID is a college and career readiness program that teaches students core WICOR skills (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) to ensure they not only get into college but have the skills to successfully graduate. AVID deliberately builds a dynamic community where students develop a sense of belonging and become self-advocates for their own learning.

Offered at: Lincoln Middle School, Fort Collins High School

Alternative Education Campuses

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).

Career & Technical Education Pathways

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

Concurrent Enrollment

Starting in ninth grade, students can earn college credit while taking Front Range or Aims Community College classes in their high schools and/or at the PSD Career Tech Center. Courses are free for students and transfer to most colleges and universities. To learn more about what courses are offered at each school, please visit the PSD Future Ready website.

Offered at: All PSD high schools and the PSD Career Tech Center

Core Knowledge

A classically-oriented curriculum structured around a sequence of foundational knowledge. This provides a highly content-focused, sequential approach to education. Core Knowledge embodies the philosophy that children enter the world on a more equal playing field when they are given access to a more consistent and unified bank of knowledge. 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.

Dual Language Immersion

Expeditionary Learning

Hybrid Learning

International Baccalaureate (IB)

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.

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC)

A credit-earning high school program run by the US military designed to teach high school students the value of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment, while instilling in them self-esteem, teamwork, and self-discipline. Enlisting into the military after participation is not required, but participation can lead to higher rank if a student does enlist. JROTC's objective is that all students graduate from high school on time with a foundation of skills that will enable them to be successful citizens after graduation. All aspects of the program, including uniforms, travel to and from competitions, etc. are free of cost. Learn more here.

Offered at: Poudre High School, but all PSD high school students can participate. JROTC participants from other schools are provided with transportation to and from Poudre High School every day.

Leader In Me

Opportunities Unlimited (OU)

Opportunities Unlimited re-engages students who are off-track in their education, enabling students ages 17-20 to earn their alternative high school diploma (a GED equivalent). OU students are able to work towards their traditional high school diploma if the student has 50 credits or less to earn. After successful completion of OU, students have the option of concurrently enrolling in Front Range Community College. This program is free of cost and offers a formal cap-and-gown graduation. Drop-in classes are also available for community members 17+ to study for the HiSET (GED equivalent.) Community members can start this Alternative High School Diploma process at any time during the year.

Offered at: Poudre High School, but the program is not limited to PHS students. Students from anywhere in PSD can participate, as well as students from other districts, and 17-20-year-olds who are not currently enrolled in school.