Colorado Schools to Watch

Visit and Learn

Active Colorado Trailblazer Schools to Watch

The Colorado Association of Middle Level Education (CAMLE) encourages you to reach out and visit any one of our extraordinary Schools to Watch!  While each of these schools exemplify strong academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity and strong organizational structures – each presents a different flavor due to their diverse demographics and strategies to create powerful learning communities.  Each School to Watch is unique. Details regarding each school and it’s lead contact is provided below.

Altona Middle School – 2011

Altona Middle School, located in Longmont, Colorado is part of the St. Vrain School District and enrolls 643 students in grades 6-8.   It has a free and reduced population of 16% and was noted by the Colorado Department of Education as a 2010 John Irwin Award and Distinguished School Award winner for having the top 8% overall status scores and student growth scores according to performance on the state assessments. Altona also earned the John Irwin in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Altona Middle School boasts a strong culture of excellence.  Students and staff demonstrate the ideals of their mission statement as Altona is truly a place where each individual student creates his/her own opportunities for success through Core, Enrichment and Extracurricular achievement. The Altona community has come together to prepare each student to be a leader and obtain key 21st century skills such as self-reliance and academic competence so that they can thrive in an increasingly complex world.  Rigorous teaching and learning is evident through a deep implementation of evidence based instructional strategies and comprehensive instructional design. Joe Mehsling leads the staff at Altona Middle School.

Gypsum Creek Middle School – 2011

Gypsum Creek Middle School, located in Gypsum, Colorado is part of the Eagle County School District and enrolls 335 students in grades 6-8.   55% of their students qualify for free/reduced lunch, 63% of their population is Hispanic, and 48% of the population are identified English Language Learners. Gypsum Creek was noted by the Colorado Department of Education as a 2010  Distinguished School Award winner for having the top 8%  student growth scores according to performance on the state assessments.   Students and staff at Gypsum Creek attribute their success to strong relationships and high expectations for learning and achieving.  Education is the pathway for future success, and parents, students and staff understand the important responsibilities in ensuring that each and every child is held accountable as well as supported effectively to meet the challenging demands of our complex and competitive world. Rigorous teaching and learning is evident through a deep implementation of evidence based instructional strategies, comprehensive instructional design, and articulated interventions that ensure that no child is left behind. Steve Smith leads the staff at Gypsum Creek Middle School.

Holmes Middle School – 2006, 2009

Holmes Middle School enrolls 748 students in grades 6-8 in Colorado Springs,
District 11.  It has a free and reduced population of 34%, and 80% of their total student population is proficient or advanced on Reading CSAPs.  Their data-driven faculty maintains a student data folder for each student.  Students create their own learning goals and monitor their own progress throughout the school year.  Quarterly common assessments help students and staff focus in on specific learning targets. A comprehensive pyramid of interventions provides a continuum of services that ensure that every child finds success. Holmes has successfully implemented a Response to Intervention model to support their special education and regular education population. Holmes has maintained their high degree of excellence for several years.  Their students academic growth exceeds other schools of similar demographics.  The Colorado Department of Education rates Holmes as Excellent and High Growth. A “can do” attitude permeates the school, and this is always modeled by their principal, Rob Utter.

Hotchkiss K-8 School – 2011

Hotchkiss K-8 School enrolls 392 students in grades PK-8 in Hotchkiss, Colorado in the Delta County School District. 181 of their students are in grades 5-8. 50% of their students quality for free and reduced lunches, and their mobility rate averages approximately 18% annually. Hotchkiss Pride – “BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO” permeates the building and throughout the Hotchkiss community.  High expectations and strong relationships build the strong foundation for learning and success.  They instill in their students the fact that they must be proud of all they do everyday.Hotchkiss teachers are standards-based, have created strongly aligned curriculum, and focus on reading and writing across the curriculum.  The employ rich and varied strategies to provide academic and social interventions.  Parents are actively engaged in all aspects of learning in this school. This school uses their resources wisely, they think outside the box, and never, and they never, ever give up on a child. Hotchkiss K-8 is lead by their principal, Carrie Coats.

Mead Middle School – 2007, 2010

Mead Middle School, located in Mead, Colorado is part of the St. Vrain School District and enrolls 321 students in grades 6-8.  Mead has been designated a School to Watch twice. It has a free and reduced population of 11% and was noted by the Colorado Department of Education as making significant achievement gains in 2010 and 2011 for demonstrating the top 8% student achievement growth rate in the state. school year. Mead Middle School boasts a high level of student involvement where 95% of their students participate in extra-curricular activities.  A highly active parent community supports the school by volunteering thousands of hours annually.  Literacy permeates the building as noted by a successful Accelerated Reader program that creates incentives for student reading – students read on average 20 books each per year at Mead Middle School.  A standards-based report grading system helps teachers keep track of student progress in essential learning goals.  Students have multiple opportunities to achieve mastery, and staff works diligently to ensure individual student success. Josh Barnett leads the staff at Mead Middle School.

Jenkins Middle School – 2011

Jenkins Middle School enrolls 957 students in grades 6-8 in Colorado Springs, District 11.  It has a free and reduced population of 23%, and 85% of their total student population is proficient or advanced on Reading CSAPs.  Jenkins students focus on achieving excellence and have opportunities to retake core assessments until they reach 80% mastery. Students create their own learning goals and monitor their own progress throughout the school year. They actively use self-assessment strategies and are able analyze scoring rubrics to determine their own level of achievement. Students lead their own conferences during Parent/Teacher  conference times. A well designed core is enhanced by rich exploratory courses. A comprehensive approach to interventions has been effectively embedded for both academic and social/emotional support. The staff at Jenkins is lead by principal Jason Ter Horst.

La Junta Junior-Senior High – 2009

La Junta Middle School became La Junta Junior-Senior High School in 2010 due to fiscal challenges and changing populations. Located in La Junta, Colorado serves 291 students in grades 7-9 in the East Otero School District.  It has a free and reduced population of 65%, and a mobility rate of approximately 24%. La Junta’s comprehensive schoolwide reform efforts have resulted in increased student achievement as acknowledged by the Colorado Department of Education. La Junta students learn at a high rate of growth, especially when compared to other schools of their size and demographics.  The La Junta faculty engages in job-embedded, inquiry-based professional learning centered on student achievement, curriculum alignment, and high-yield instructional strategies.   Targeted interventions in math, reading, and behavior support student success. The school employs a highly trained staff that is able to effectively differentiate for a wide range of student needs. They employ active, hands-on learning strategies to stimulate academic advancement.  La Junta has a postive culture and climate where everyone works together to make a difference for kids each and every day.  Principal Paul Jebe leads the staff at La Junta.

Mead Middle School – 2007, 2010

Mead Middle School, located in Mead, Colorado is part of the St. Vrain School District and enrolls 321 students in grades 6-8.  Mead has been designated a School to Watch twice. It has a free and reduced population of 11% and was noted by the Colorado Department of Education as making significant achievement gains in 2010 and 2011 for demonstrating the top 8% student achievement growth rate in the state. Mead Middle School boasts a high level of student involvement where 95% of their students participate in extra-curricular activities.  A highly active parent community supports the school by volunteering thousands of hours annually.  Literacy permeates the building as noted by a successful Accelerated Reader program that creates incentives for student reading – students read on average 20 books each per year at Mead Middle School.  A standards-based report grading system helps teachers keep track of student progress in essential learning goals.  Students have multiple opportunities to achieve mastery, and staff works diligently to ensure individual student success. Josh Barnett leads the staff at Mead Middle School.

Powell Middle School – 2011

Powell Middle School enrolls 858 students in grades six through eight. Located in Littleton, it serves a population where 10% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Avid-based critical thinking strategies, data-driven instruction, and positive behavior support permeate the building. Robust 21st Century Learning is evident through teacher and student collaboration, questioning, inquiry, and goal setting. Students are often engaged in real-world projects and supported with strong formative assessment strategies that include student self-analysis.  Robust technology integration is a norm, as students have access to numerous tools and use them effectively whether researching online, producing articles and videos or other multimedia Web 2.0 products. Parents are highly active in the school community and believe in Powell’s ability to prepare their children for the rigorous demands of high school. Steve Wolf leads the staff at Powell.

Prairie Middle School – 2004, 2007, 2010

Prairie Middle School is the only school in Colorado that has been redesignated three times! This is an incredible accomplishment given the changing nature of education.  Prairie is a school of 1559 students in grades six through eight with a mobility rate  of almost 30%.  Located in Aurora, it faces tremendous challenges given its large and diverse population. Approximately 55% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch.  Over 57 different languages are spoken and 76 countries represented by their students – their school motto says it all, “Diversity is Our Strength!” Prairie has created an environment that maximized academic growth and respect for all. They have worked to steadily erase predictive gaps between student populations.  They have achieved great growth in all areas, especially math. Prairie provides a wide range of opportunities to meet the needs of all students and ensure a high level of challenge while emphasizing academic achievement, cultural diversity, state and district standard implementation, College Board Standards, instructional excellence, and integration of technology. Prairie Middle School is a National AVID demonstration site. Dr. Kandy Cassaday leads the faculty at Prairie.

Russell Middle School – 2008, 2011

Russell Middle School, located in Colorado Springs, is a school serving 758 students in grades six through eight.  The staff faces distinct challenges with 50% of its families living below the poverty level but through rigorous reflection and creation of a comprehensive academic interventions, this school has seen significant student achievement across the board. In 2009, Russell Middle moved from an Average to a High designation on the previous Colorado School Accountability Report card system. Russell showcases a dynamic learning environment where each member of the staff has a strong understanding of what students know and are able to do.  They have created a well structured system to monitor the progress of each individual student, apply research-based interventions, and work collegially to address student learning needs.  Russell has also successfully implemented the elements of Positive Behavior Support mechanisms which has motivated their students and staff to achieve . Russell has also been designated a Colorado State School of Character in both 2010 and 2011.  The staff of Russell is led by Julie Williams.

Steamboat Springs Middle School – 2011

Steamboat Springs Middle School enrolls 510 students in grades six through eight. Located in Steamboat Springs, it serves all the district students as its only middle school. Steamboat Springs Middle School has been recognized as a School of Excellence by the State of Colorado every year since 2004.  The staff has built strong relationships throughout their school community and has positively engaged their families in the partnership of educating their students. The staff at this middle school exemplify strong professional pedagogy as they have built  their own capacity to effectively use rich, research-based instructional strategies. Staff and students all hold themselves accountable for high levels of success and are hungry for continuous improvement. Teachers typically have multiple endorsements and teach in small two person team learning communities. Relationships are built with students at a deep level during the day, and extended by the numerous and diverse extra-curriculur and co-curriculum offerings. Tim Bishop leads the staff at Steamboat Springs Middle School.

Emeritus Colorado Trailblazer Schools to Watch

Angevine Middle School – Program to Watch 2005

Angevine Middle School is a neighborhood school in Lafayette. They serve 616 students in grades six, seven and eight by offering a challenging and rigorous academic curriculum that is supported comprehensively throughout the school. Angevine was selected as a “Programs to Watch” school for its creative and effective approach to meeting the literacy and math needs of its most at risk students.  Faced with the challenge of a large English as a Second Language population which serves between 15 and 20 percent of the student body and other students at risk, Angevine has succeeded in gathering resources and organizing a program that is worthy of replication. Mike Medina leads the staff at Angevine.

Bookcliff Middle School – 2008

Bookcliff Middle Schoolenrolls 502 students in grades 6-8 in Grand Junction, Mesa County Valley School District #51.  It has a free and reduced population of 53%, and has a 30% mobility rate. Bookcliff’s schoolwide reform efforts have resulted in increased student achievement recognition by the Colorado Department of improving status. Their faculty engages in regularly embedded, teacher-led, inquiry-based professional learning centered on student learning, assessment literacy, and research-based instructional strategies.  The school has developed unique scheduling to provide time for these embedded learning opportunities as well as flexible time for targeted academic interventions, community service activities, and project-based learning initiatives. Bookcliff has developed a strong parent support system and has worked diligently to create a welcoming and positive learning environment. Their staff is led by their principal, Cathy Drake.

Casey Middle School – 2004, 2007

Casey Middle School is a school of 321 students in grades six through eight. Casey offers a rich academic program, expecting mastery of basic skills while providing enrichment and exploration.  Casey offers a full range of academic and elective choices. As a Pre-Advanced Placement school, Casey offers students exposure to the Habits of Mind and study skills that prepare them for the advanced learning necessary for future success in an increasingly complex and changing world. We are a neighborhood school that hosts a focus program, Dual Immersion Bilingual, as well as a traditional middle school program. Approximately 65% of its student population are second language learners and over half of its families qualify for free/reduced lunch. Small class sizes coupled with powerful support structures help the school meet individual needs.  Standardized  scores from the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) reveal significant progress in student achievement while especially in the area of writing.  The staff of Casey is led by Alison Boggs.

Conrad Ball Middle School – 2005, 2008

Conrad Ball Middle Schoolis a school 659 students in grades six through eight. Located in Loveland, it serves the city’s most diverse population. Approximately 42% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch and 10% are English Language Learners. Conrad Ball has seen a dramatic drop in disciplinary referrals and a significant increase in achievement scores. Critical thinking strategies, data-driven instruction, and positive behavior are their school’s three main goals. Conrad Ball has created a powerful staff development structure where teachers work in professional learning communities attending to their own action research questions.  Teachers employ high quality instuction and support  21st Century Learning through the focus on problem-solving, collaboration, questioning, inquiry, and goal setting. Conrad Ball has created an in-house lab classroom program where peer observations provide opportunities for reflection and collaboration. Scott Elias leads the staff at Conrad Ball.