As the smallest enrolled K-8 school and the smallest school in the district, Coal Creek K-8 is not sustainable and has been recommended for closure.
If the Board of Education (Board) approves this recommendation on October 12, 2023:
- The 2023-24 school year will be the final year for grades 6-8 at Coal Creek K-8
- Students residing within the Jeffco Public Schools district boundary in grades 6-8 will have guaranteed enrollment at Three Creeks K-8 as their new neighborhood school and transportation will be provided for eligible students.
- Coal Creek K-8 choice-enrolled students do not have guaranteed enrollment at Three Creeks K-8.
- All impacted Coal Creek K-8 students, including those who are choice-enrolled, will receive a special level of priority in the choice enrollment process for Jeffco schools.
- The timeline for the closure of grades K-5 at the Coal Creek K-8 will be in the October 12 resolution on which the Board will vote.
- When grades K-5 close:
- Students residing within the Jeffco Public Schools district boundary in grades K-5 will have guaranteed enrollment at Three Creeks K-8 as their new neighborhood school and transportation will be provided for eligible students. Students will also receive a special level of priority in the choice enrollment process for Jeffco schools.
- Coal Creek K-8 choice-enrolled students in grades K-5 do not have guaranteed enrollment at Three Creeks K-8, but will receive a special level of priority in the choice enrollment process for Jeffco schools.
Exploring Sustainable Educational Options for Coal Creek Canyon
The timing of the closure of grades K-5 is dependent on a parallel process that the district is running to explore sustainable educational options for Coal Creek Canyon. Since meeting with the community last spring, district staff have been researching sustainable education options for the community. Through that process we have determined that exploring the possibility of having a charter school, sustainably small by design, serve the Coal Creek Community is a viable prospect.
On August 25, Jeffco begins a formal process to seek interest from prospective charter school applicants that can demonstrate a capacity to provide quality education to serve students in the Coal Creek Canyon area beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
On September 22, the district received notification that some charter partners are considering the possibility of beginning operations in the 2024-25 school year to serve the Coal Creek Canyon community. The district recognizes that this aligns more closely with the community's desire for a sustainable educational option. Charter schools that could open a school to serve Coal Creek Canyon beginning in August 2024 are encouraged to attach a supplement to their letter of intent expressing their ability to do so.
The results of this process will inform the timeline on which staff recommends grades K-5 be closed as part of the Board vote on October 12. This process will not impact the timeline for closure of grades 6-8, which will occur at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Please see below for how this process will impact the October 12, 2023 Jeffco Board vote.
Note: The district's official charter application window commences in Spring 2024.
District staff will update the community on the exploration of sustainable educational options for Coal Creek Canyon during the two planned community meetings and in advance of the October 12, 2023 Board vote. The Jeffco Board will not have a role in assessing charter applications until its formal charter school authorization process which occurs annually from March – June.
Learn more about the Letter of Intent requirements and submission process