Douglas County recommends closing 3 elementary colleges in Highlands Ranch beginning in 2026
The Douglas County College District has beneficial the closure of three elementary colleges in Highlands Ranch as a part of a consolidation plan aimed toward addressing declining enrollment. The proposal means that Saddle Ranch, Heritage, and Acres Inexperienced elementary colleges be closed beginning within the 2026–27 college yr. Superintendent Erin Kane introduced the advice on March 24, 2025, following practically two years of research and neighborhood engagement.
The district has emphasised that this determination is a part of an effort to make sure that all college students have entry to completely staffed colleges and a broad vary of instructional packages. In response to Kane, the choice follows cautious evaluation of enrollment traits and neighborhood enter, with the objective of sustaining high-quality schooling regardless of monetary challenges.
College consolidation particulars
Beneath the proposal, Saddle Ranch Elementary will consolidate into Eldorado Elementary, Heritage Elementary will merge with Summit View Elementary, and Acres Inexperienced Elementary will be a part of Fox Creek Elementary. “These selections are extremely tough,” Kane wrote in a message to households. “However our precedence stays guaranteeing that each baby has entry to an distinctive schooling and a really shiny future,” as reported by the Highlands Ranch Herald.
The district highlighted that consolidating under-enrolled colleges would permit for the preservation of staffing ranges and the enlargement of key packages similar to STEM, music, and psychological well being providers. The affected college buildings will proceed to be obtainable for neighborhood use, with potential plans for added district programming beginning within the 2025–26 college yr.
Adjustments for college kids and households
The district additionally laid out particular particulars for college kids who will probably be reassigned underneath the brand new plan. Saddle Ranch college students will transition to Eldorado, which is positioned 2.5 miles away. A brand new bus route will probably be added to accommodate households dwelling south and east of Saddle Ranch. Equally, Heritage and Summit View are solely 0.8 miles aside, and the district expects minimal transportation adjustments, together with the addition of 1 new bus route.
Acres Inexperienced college students will probably be reassigned to Fox Creek, 2.4 miles away, with three new bus routes supplied to serve college students who presently stroll to high school however fall outdoors bus eligibility. These transitions are a part of a broader technique to make sure that all college students have entry to the identical instructional choices and providers.
Further adjustments for Highlands Ranch
Past the closures, the district plans to maneuver sixth grade to center colleges in sure feeder areas beginning within the 2026–27 college yr. This can ultimately apply districtwide, and the district intends to launch a timeline as plans develop. Boundary changes for elementary colleges in Highlands Ranch are additionally into consideration to stability enrollment, as reported by the Highlands Ranch Herald.
