Your School Merger at a Glance

Walk past Acres Green Elementary on any school morning and you'll see what's at stake: parents strolling with their kids along residential sidewalks, neighbors waving from porches, siblings reuniting at the school gate. For some families, the connections span generations — kids attending the same school their parents once did.

Terry Shumpert, whose children grew up in Douglas County public schools, said the consolidation is a hard pill to swallow. He points to enrollment decline as the driving force — and questions whether it signals a broader shift toward private education. 'My kids did excellent in the public schools in Douglas County,' he said. 'I don't really believe they need to consolidate.'

The district has the right number of schools in all the wrong places.Superintendent Erin Kane, Douglas County School District

What Changes This Fall

2024–25 School Year

• 6 Separate Elementary Schools Operating independently in Highlands Ranch
• Acres Green Elementary open
• Saddle Ranch Elementary open
• Heritage Elementary open

2025–26 School Year

• 3 Combined Schools Merged campuses, new rosters
• Students move to Fox Creek Elementary
• Students move to Eldorado Elementary
• Students move to Summit View Elementary

How We Got Here

• April 2024 — Board of Education votes unanimously to consolidate six Highlands Ranch elementary schools
• April 2024 — Board members call it 'one of the most difficult decisions' they've faced
• Spring 2025 — District announces merger pairings and building repurposing plans
• Fall 2025 — All three mergers take effect — new school year begins
• 2027 — Acres Green building repurposed — delayed to accommodate construction projects

The consolidation isn't about school quality — it's about geography. As Superintendent Erin Kane put it, Douglas County has the right number of schools in all the wrong places. New communities like Sterling Ranch are growing fast, drawing young families away from Highlands Ranch. That's left older Highlands Ranch schools with shrinking enrollment while newer neighborhoods lack enough classroom seats.

Board members emphasized that closing buildings doesn't mean abandoning communities. Each of the three closing campuses will be repurposed for student or family services — from developmental screenings for toddlers to homeschool enrichment. The district says it will continue maintaining all buildings during the transitions.

The Three Mergers: Side by Side

How Much Do You Know About Your School District?

Four quick questions about the Douglas County consolidation.

Why did Douglas County consolidate these six schools?

• Budget cuts and state funding losses — Not exactly. The district cited unequal enrollment growth across the county — not a budget shortfall — as the primary driver.
• Uneven enrollment growth across the county — Correct. Highlands Ranch schools have seen declining enrollment while newer communities like Sterling Ranch are booming.
• School safety concerns — Safety was not cited. The consolidation is about enrollment geography — too many seats in Highlands Ranch, too few in growing areas.
• A state mandate for school mergers — This was a local decision. The DCSD Board of Education voted unanimously in April 2024 — no state mandate required it.

How did the Board of Education vote on the consolidation?

• Narrow majority — 4 to 3 — The vote was not close. Board members voted unanimously, though they called it one of the most difficult decisions they'd faced.
• Unanimous — Right. Every board member voted yes — a unanimous decision made in April 2024.
• Split — with the superintendent casting the deciding vote — The superintendent doesn't cast votes. The elected board voted unanimously.
• The community voted in a referendum — No public vote was held. School consolidation decisions in Colorado are made by elected school boards.

What will the Saddle Ranch Elementary building be used for after consolidation?

• Sold to a private developer — The district is keeping the building. It will house Child Find and Bridge programs serving children ages 3 to 5.
• Child Find and Bridge developmental programs — Correct. The Saddle Ranch building will offer free developmental assessments for children ages 3 to 5 — a valuable community resource.
• A homeschool enrichment program — That's the Heritage Elementary building. Saddle Ranch becomes home to Child Find and Bridge programs.
• Administrative district offices — No admin offices planned. The space will serve young children and families through developmental screening programs.

Which Douglas County community is booming with young families, prompting the need to reallocate school resources?

• Castle Rock — Castle Rock is growing too, but the district specifically cited Sterling Ranch as the fast-growing community drawing families away from Highlands Ranch.
• Sterling Ranch — Exactly. Sterling Ranch is one of the newer communities attracting young families — but school capacity there hasn't kept pace with Highlands Ranch.
• Parker — Parker has its own schools, but Sterling Ranch was specifically named by the district as a key growth area driving the need for reallocation.
• Lone Tree — Lone Tree is served by DCSD, but Sterling Ranch was the community the superintendent highlighted when explaining enrollment imbalances.

The emotional weight of school consolidations is rarely captured in enrollment spreadsheets. Highlands Ranch is one of Colorado's older planned communities — many current parents went to these same elementary schools as children. The prospect of those buildings going dark carries a grief that transcends logistics.

Still, district leaders point out that no building will sit empty. Each closing school becomes something new — a developmental resource center, a homeschool hub, or a future facility awaiting construction plans. Whether that's enough consolation for families who built their routines around a particular school community remains an open question.

What Are Child Find and Bridge Programs?

Child Find is a federally mandated program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). School districts are required to identify, locate, and evaluate all children ages 3 to 21 who may need special education services — regardless of whether they are currently enrolled in public school.

Bridge programs complement Child Find by offering developmental screenings and early intervention services. In Douglas County, these programs will now be housed at the former Saddle Ranch Elementary building, providing free assessments to children ages 3 to 5.

For families who suspect their child may need early intervention support — whether for speech, motor skills, developmental delays, or learning differences — this is a free, no-enrollment-required resource. Families can request a screening by contacting the Douglas County School District directly.

What Affected Families Should Do Now

• Confirm Your Child's New School: Contact Douglas County School District to confirm which school your child is assigned to for fall 2025 and whether any transportation changes apply.
• Free Developmental Assessments (Ages 3–5): The former Saddle Ranch Elementary building will house Child Find and Bridge programs offering free developmental screenings for young children.
• Homeschool Enrichment at Heritage: The Heritage Elementary building will become a homeschool enrichment program. Contact the district for enrollment and scheduling details.
• Questions About the Transition: Douglas County School District has a communications team available to answer family questions about school assignments, bus routes, and building transitions.

If Your Child's School Is Consolidating — Here's Your Checklist

1. Verify your child's school assignment — Log into your DCSD parent portal or call the district to confirm which receiving school your child is assigned to for fall 2025.
2. Check transportation changes — Bus routes, drop-off and pick-up zones may change if your child is moving to a new campus. Confirm routing early — especially for walking-distance families.
3. Attend school transition events — Both the closing and receiving schools may host orientation or meet-the-teacher events before fall. Check school websites and the DCSD calendar.
4. Connect with new school community — Reach out to the receiving school's PTA or parent group to build connections before the first day.
5. Ask about early childhood resources — If you have a child ages 3–5, contact the district about free developmental screenings available at the former Saddle Ranch building.

Common Questions About the Consolidation

The school buildings will be permanently closed and abandoned.

Verdict: false

All three closing buildings will be repurposed for district programs. Saddle Ranch becomes a developmental assessment center; Heritage becomes a homeschool enrichment hub; Acres Green will be repurposed in 2027 after construction is complete.

The consolidation was driven by budget cuts.

Verdict: mostly false

District leaders specifically cited unequal enrollment growth — not budget shortfalls — as the primary cause. Communities like Sterling Ranch are growing while Highlands Ranch enrollment is declining, leaving the district with schools 'in all the wrong places.'

The board voted unanimously to proceed.

Verdict: true

The Douglas County Board of Education voted unanimously in April 2024 to approve the consolidation, though board members acknowledged it was among the most difficult decisions they had faced.

Developmental screening programs at the Saddle Ranch site will cost families money.

Verdict: false

The Child Find and Bridge programs housed at the former Saddle Ranch building will offer developmental assessments for children ages 3 to 5 at no charge.

Sources & References

• Douglas County School District — Board of Education consolidation vote, school merger pairings, and building repurposing plans
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) — Child Find mandate requiring districts to identify and evaluate children ages 3–21 who may need special education services
• Colorado Department of Education — Enrollment data and school district demographic trends across Douglas County communities