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High School Planning Guide

High School, Leveled UP

Poudre School District has some of the most robust career and college readiness programming in the state. With a wide variety of programs, curriculum options, and college and career prep pathways, you can customize your PSD high school experience to be as unique as you are. Earn college credits and certificates, explore potential careers, gain on-the-job experience, or get a head start on postsecondary programming. Whether your plans for life after graduation include a two-year or four-year college, military service, heading straight into the workforce — or you’re still figuring out what’s next — PSD has options for you. Use this guide to find your right fit!

Explore Pathways, Graduate With Options

Page 1 of HS planning guide document

Graduation Requirements 

Graduation requirements for PSD students entering the ninth grade in Fall 2025 or later offer students more flexibility to pursue their passions and tailor their high school experience to fit their goals. This flexibility allows students to focus more deeply on interests like college credit, career training, or hands-on learning. 

Choose the Right School for You 

Read all about your high school options in PSD, including award-winning neighborhood high schools, combined middle-high schools, alternative high schools, and specialized campuses. Learn more about school choice here and find answers to FAQs here.

 

Programs & 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: Fort Collins High School.
  • Alternative education campuses: small, specialized secondary schools for students struggling in traditional school settings or 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 PSD Career Tech Center on Poudre High School campus.
    • Offered at: All PSD high schools – click here to see which pathways are offered at each school.
  • Concurrent Enrollment: PSD high school students can earn free college credits that transfer to most colleges and universities. The High School Select program allows students in grades 9-12 to take college courses right at their high schools, while the Campus Select program allows a limited number of 11th and 12th graders to take classes at local community colleges. Learn more about which courses are offered at each school.
    • Offered at: All PSD high schools and the PSD Career Tech Center.
  • Expeditionary Learning: an educational model where learning revolves around 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 and outdoor learning than a traditional approach.
    • Offered at: Polaris Expeditionary Learning School.
  • Hybrid Learning: 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.
  • International Baccalaureate (IB): a continuum of four challenging educational programs with a focus on international-mindedness and intercultural understanding.
    • Offered at: 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. All aspects of the program, including uniforms, travel to and from competitions, etc. are free of cost. 
    • 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.
  • Opportunities Unlimited: a program re-engaging 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. Drop-in classes are also available for community members 17+ to study for the HiSET (GED Latest versionequivalent.) 
    • 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. See which career pathways are offered at which schools 

  • Work-Based Learning

    • Gain credits and on-the-job experience by participating in career tours, internships, job shadowing, resume building, capstone projects, networking with potential employers. Learn what it’s really like to work in different industries before committing to a college major or job pathway. 

      Work-based learning opportunities also include: 

      • Apprenticeships: Student apprentices earn credit, wages, and real-world experience while making connections with local employers. 

      • Capstone Project: Complete a project based on what you’ve learned in class with the aid of a local mentor. 

      • Credit-for-work: Earn high school credit for working a part-time job.

      • Integrated Services (Special Education) for High School and Beyond

      • PSD offers many services and programs for students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). See Integrated Services FAQs here.

  • Alternative Cooperative Education (ACE): Students ages 15-21 identified as special populations experience developmentally appropriate career programming.

  • School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP): Young people ages 15-24 with mild to moderate employment barriers work to become job-ready through work-based learning, career exploration, learning how to write resumes, and more.

  • Transition Pathways Academy (TPA): Students ages 18-21 with disabilities continue to receive special education support after completing high school. Services emphasize student-centered planning and community-based learning aligned to individual strengths, interests, and post-secondary goals. Students engage in experiences focused on employment readiness, post-secondary education and training, independent and daily living skills, and community participation. Instruction and supports are individualized and informed by ongoing assessment to promote successful transitions into adult life.

  • Collaboration Among Many Promotes Universal Success (CAMPUS): Students ages 18-21 receiving Integrated Services support travel to Colorado State University twice a week to build independent living skills and explore opportunities in the community.

  • Project SEARCH: a year-long transition program for young adults ages 18-21 with intellectual and developmental disabilities, combining classroom instruction, career development, and internships to prepare students for competitive employment and independent living. Serving students in their final year of Integrated Services and housed at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital, the program provides real-world experience and essential skills for success in adult life.