Jefferson County Public Schools (Colorado) Explained

Jeffco Public Schools
City:West Pleasant View (2000 US Census)
State:Colorado
Country:United States
School Board:School Board Info (web site)
Superintendent:Tracy Dorland[1]
Grades:Pre-K to 12th Grade
Enrollment:81,088 (January 2021)[2]
Staff:4,700.91
Ratio:17.04

Jefferson County School District R-1 (a.k.a. Jefferson County Public Schools or Jeffco Public Schools) is a school district in Jefferson County, Colorado. The district is headquartered at the Jeffco Public Schools Education Center in an unincorporated area of the county near Golden in the Denver metropolitan area.[3] [4] Jeffco Public Schools serves almost 81,000 students in 166 schools. It is the second-largest school district in Colorado, having been surpassed in 2013 by Denver Public Schools, which has an enrollment of approximately 81,000.

The district covers the entirety of Jefferson County,[5] and also includes a section of Broomfield.[6]

History

Beginnings

The first school in Jefferson County and the second school in Colorado opened in Golden on January 9, 1860. It stood at around today's 1304 Washington Avenue and was a rented log cabin, with school taught by Thomas Daughterty, with 18 students, financed through tuition and subscription. Its second term was taught by Miss M. F. Manly. When Jefferson County was organized by the Territorial government in 1861, the capability of organizing public schools became reality, and George West became the first superintendent of Jefferson County schools. After a mill levy was created in 1862, the first two school districts, Golden and Vasquez (roughly today's Wheat Ridge/Arvada area), were organized in 1863. That September the first public school in the county opened in Golden.[7]

Original school districts

Over time, as the population grew and spread across the county, more and more school districts were organized, each with its own elected board to govern them. They were a diverse variety of schools, from the stately brick edifices of urban Golden which operated through the traditional school year, to the rural one-room wooden schoolhouses that operated during the summer months because winter in the mountains made it difficult for students to attend. Some school districts only rented buildings for class; others shared into neighboring counties. The first building constructed as a Jefferson County public school, around the area of 14th and Arapahoe Streets in Golden, was never completed and eventually sold in 1866 to Colorado Territorial Governor Alexander Cummings for $2,700 for use as the Territorial Executive Building. Its replacement, the first completed public school building in Jefferson County, still stands today at 1420 Washington Avenue in Golden. After the completion of its successor at today's 1314 Cheyenne Street in 1873, later known as the South School, Jefferson County's first senior high school, Golden High School, was organized. The first public school graduations in Jefferson County were held in the 1880s.

By 1894 Jefferson County school enrollment was around 1,500 students, with 54 high school students. By 1939 Jeffco had blossomed to 3,883 students with 1,426 high schoolers. In the early 20th century, however, population shifts and other factors began to spur consolidation. The Lorraine School District of Jefferson County merged with the Mandalay School District of Boulder County (Broomfield) in 1917. In 1920 the Montana, Lakeview, Midway and Mt. Carbon districts merged to become Bear Creek District C-1. In 1923 several mountain districts merged into Evergreen District C-2, while in 1945 Washington Heights and Bancroft merged to form School District 52. However, some school districts went by the wayside including South Platte in 1944, Pleasant Park in 1946, and Pine Grove. By 1950 only 39 of the 54 individually organized school districts remained.

List of historic school districts

Note: several districts have different identities over time.

In 1950, the 39 school districts in Jefferson County were consolidated and reorganized into a single district, Jefferson County R-1 Schools.[8] It was so named as the Reorganized School District 1, and ushered in a modern age in a county where some still sent to school in the original one-room rural schoolhouses. Through the course of time several landmark school buildings had been built across Jefferson County, including Golden's North, South, Central and High schools; the stone Morrison school; and Lakewood's 3-school campus. With renewed energy a new generation would be built, and state-of-the-art schools sprouted across Jefferson County as old schools were phased out. By 1999 Jefferson County had an enrollment of 88,793 students.

Today the next wave of school buildings is being created, as Jefferson County schools move forward into the 21st century. However, a good collection of schools from throughout Jeffco's educational history remain. They serve many uses from private homes to museums, and several are designated Jefferson County, Colorado and National Historic Register landmarks.[9]

Through Jeffco schools' history, there have been several fatal events which have not been forgotten. In 1887 the original Lamb School, which had just been built the year before, burned down and had to be replaced. (The rebuilt school was later destroyed by the Lower North Fork Fire in 2012.)[10] In 1905 Golden's South School, including Golden High School, was saved from explosion by janitor Oscar Nolin when its overheating boiler was minutes away from claiming possibly over 100 lives.[11] In 1916 the original Fruitdale School burned as its students marched to safety. In 1919 an attempt to burn down the South School was made by a parent who was frantic to keep the school from reopening in the wake of the Great Flu Epidemic, but the fire smothered itself out. In 1938 the recently built Buffalo Creek School burned while school was in session from an overheated furnace, and teacher Wilma Barnes successfully got all 15 students to safety.[12] On April 7, 1982, Scott Darwin Michael was shot and killed by classmate Jason Rocha at Deer Creek Middle School.[13] In 1999, two students killed 12 students and a teacher in the Columbine High School massacre.

On February 23, 2010, eighth-graders Reagan Webber and Matt Thieu were shot and wounded at Deer Creek Middle School.[14] The incident ended when math teacher David Benke tackled the perpetrator, Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood, who was armed with a .30-06 Winchester Model 70.[15] [16]

In September 2014, students and teachers in schools around the district protested the conservative ideology of the school board, which had proposed reviewing the APUSH curriculum set by the College Board, to focus history education on citizenship and patriotism, while condemning civil disobedience and strike actions.[17] [18] The conservative members of the board were recalled and replaced in November 2015, on a 64-36 public vote.[19]

Environmental consideration

Many Jefferson County schools make use of constructed wetlands for managing stormwater and contributing to the health of local watersheds. The wetland project at Oberon Middle School has been lauded by the National Resources Defense Council for setting "an example for local governments seeking new ways to manage stormwater on municipal grounds with some value added.[20]

Literary mentions

Oberon Middle School is the setting for the novel Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters.[21]

Facilities

The school district headquarters, which has a Golden postal address, is in an unincorporated area completely surrounded by, but not in, Lakewood.[22] [23]

In the 1990 U.S. Census, the facility was defined as being in the Applewood census-designated place.[24] [25] In the 2000 U.S. Census, the facility was in West Pleasant View, another CDP in the county.[26] [27] In the 2010 U.S. Census and the 2020 U.S. Census, the Jeffco headquarters plot was not defined as being in any CDP.[28]

Schools

As of April, 2021 - there are currently 166 active schools in Jeffco Public Schools, as identified by Colorado Department of Education School ID numbers.

Elementary schools

  • Adams Elementary School (web site)
  • Allendale Elementary School (web site)
    • In 2021 the district decided to close the school.[29]
  • Arvada K-8 School (web site)
  • Bear Creek K-8 School (web site)
  • Belmar Elementary School (Belmar School of Integrated Arts) (web site)
  • Bergen Meadow Primary School (web site)
  • Bergen Valley Intermediate School (web site)
  • Blue Heron Elementary School (web site)
  • Bradford K-8 North School (web site)
  • Bradford K-8 South School (web site)
  • Campbell Elementary School (web site)
  • Coal Creek Canyon K-8 School (web site)
  • Colorow Elementary School (web site)
  • Columbine Hills Elementary School (web site)
  • Coronado Elementary School (web site)
  • Deane Elementary (web site)
  • Devinny Elementary School (web site)
  • Dutch Creek Elementary School (web site)
  • Edgewater Elementary School (web site)
  • Eiber Elementary School (web site)
  • Elk Creek Elementary School (web site)
  • Emory Elementary School (web site)
  • Fairmount Elementary School (web site)
  • Fitzmorris Elementary School (web site)
    • In 2022 the district's board of education decided to end the school's operations.[30]
  • Foothills Elementary School (web site)
  • Foster Elementary School (web site)
  • Fremont Elementary School (web site)
  • Glennon Heights Elementary School (web site)
  • Governor's Ranch Elementary School (web site)
  • Green Gables Elementary School (web site)
  • Green Mountain Elementary School (web site)
  • Hackberry Hill Elementary School (web site)
  • Hutchinson Elementary School (web site)
  • Kendallvue Elementary School (web site)
  • Kendrick Lakes Elementary School (web site)
  • Kullerstrand Elementary School (web site)
  • Kyffin Elementary School (web site)
  • Lasley Elementary School (web site)
  • Lawrence Elementary School (web site)
  • Leawood Elementary School (web site)
  • Little Elementary School (web site)
  • Lukas Elementary School (web site)
  • Lumberg Elementary School (web site)
  • Maple Grove Elementary School (web site)
  • Marshdale Elementary School (web site)
  • Meiklejohn Elementary School (web site)
  • Mitchell Elementary School (web site)

Middle/Junior high schools

Senior high schools

Option schools

Special schools and programs

  • Fletcher Miller School (web site)
  • Mt. Evans Outdoor Education Laboratory School (web site)
  • Mount View Youth Services Center
  • Sobesky Academy (web site)
  • Windy Peak Outdoor Education Laboratory School (web site)

Charter schools

Former schools

Demographics

As of January, 2021

Enrollment count for 2020-2021 school year: 80,088

source: Colorado Department of Education Pupil Membership

Superintendents

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jeffco Public Schools . 2022-04-21 . jeffcopublicschools.org . en-US.
  2. Web site: Jeffco Public Schools - District Profile .
  3. http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st08_co/place/p0884042_west_pleasant_view/DC10BLK_P0884042_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: West Pleasant View CDP, CO
  4. http://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/misc/contact.html Contact Us
  5. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jefferson County, CO. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022-07-19. - Text list
  6. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Broomfield County, CO. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022-07-19. - Text list
  7. http://www.goldenpioneermuseum.com/documents/smartin1955_hog.htm The Golden Pioneer Museum 1955 - "Sophie Martin"
  8. http://co.jefferson.co.us/archives/archives_T77_R66.htm A Chronology of the History of Jefferson County, Colorado
  9. Web site: Jefferson County. History Colorado.
  10. News: Roeder. Milly. Farewell to Lamb School. Historically Jeffco. Jefferson County Historical Commission. 2012.
  11. Web site: Skiba. Doug. Golden's historic cemeteries. October 2016 . Golden History Museums.
  12. News: Lawson. Pamela. Passing into history: Jack Green dies at 90. High Timber Times. 2007.
  13. News: Deer Creek also site of a shooting in 1982. The Denver Post. 24 February 2010.
  14. News: Pankratz. Howard. Vaughan. Kevin. Bunch. Joey. 2 students shot, 1 man arrested at Deer Creek Middle School. Denver Post. 23 Feb 2010.
  15. News: Teacher describes how he stopped shooting. CNN. 24 Feb 2010.
  16. News: David Benke And Matt Thieu On TODAY Show (VIDEO). The Huffington Post Denver. 5 May 2010.
  17. News: Hundreds of Colorado students protest history curriculum changes that would promote patriotism. September 25, 2014. Associated Press. Fox News. September 24, 2014.
  18. News: Wallace. Kelly. Denver students accuse school board of censoring U.S. history. September 25, 2014. CNN.com. September 24, 2014.
  19. News: Conservative school board members ousted in bitter Colorado battle. November 4, 2015. The Washington Post. Layton. Lyndsey. February 4, 2023.
  20. http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/storm/chap8.asp Implementing Pollution Prevention for Municipal Operations - Constructed Wetland Becomes Outdoor Classroom
  21. http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/authors/0/891/critical_praise.html Julie Anne Peters
  22. Web site: Official Zoning District Map of the City of Lakewood. 4/12. 2024-07-24.
  23. Web site: Home. Jeffco Public Schools. 2024-07-24. 1829 Denver West Drive #27 Golden Colorado 80401.
  24. Web site: 1990 COUNTY BLOCK MAP (RECREATED): JEFFERSON County. U.S. Census Bureau. 19. 2024-07-24.
  25. Web site: About Jeffco. https://web.archive.org/web/19981201214036/http://204.98.1.2/communications/newcomers.html. Jefferson County Public Schools. 1998-12-01. 2024-07-24. 1829 Denver West Drive ~ P.O. Box 40001 ~ Golden, Colorado 80401-0001. - linked from here
  26. Web site: CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: WEST PLEASANT VIEW CDP. U.S. Census Bureau. 2024-07-24.
  27. Web site: JeffcoNet . https://web.archive.org/web/20020526173715/http://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us. Jefferson County Public Schools. 2002-05-26. 2024-07-24. 1829 Denver W. Drive Golden, Colorado 80401 .
  28. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: West Pleasant View CDP, CO. U.S. Census Bureau. 2024-07-24.
    2010 map: Web site: West Pleasant View Map. https://web.archive.org/web/20150406105339/http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st08_co/place/p0884042_west_pleasant_view/DC10BLK_P0884042_001.pdf . 2015-04-06 . live. U.S. Census Bureau. 2020-03-29.
  29. Web site: Robles. Yesenia. Giving families little notice, Jeffco lays out plan to close small elementary school . Chalkbeat. 2021-04-15. 2022-05-15.
  30. Web site: Robles. Yesenia. Jeffco votes to close another small school while looking ahead to long-term plans. Chalkbeat. 2022-03-18. 2022-05-15.
  31. Web site: Columbia Heights Elementary School. Place Names Directory. Jefferson County, Colorado.
  32. Web site: Fruitdale Elementary. Place Names Directory. Jefferson County, Colorado.
  33. http://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/finance/reductions/FAQ/pdf/QandA%20closures.pdf Jeffco Public Schools 2011-12 Budget Reductions - FAQ School Closures
  34. News: Martensen Elementary School Holds Open House Before It Closes. CBS Denver. 14 May 2011.
  35. News: Garcia. Peyton. Martensen Elementary becomes first-responder training facility. Denver Post. 24 Apr 2017.
  36. News: Klemaier. Josie. Preparing for closure, Pleasant View Elementary in Jeffco looks ahead. Denver Post. 7 Mar 2017.
  37. News: Meyer. Jeremy P.. Jeffco's Russell Elementary packs up classrooms as school shuts doors. Denver Post. 1 Jun 2010.
  38. News: Fortier. Shanna. Lease agreement approved for Zerger building in Westminster. Westminster Window. 28 Mar 2017. Zerger Elementary School closed in 2012 following budget cuts..

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