Board to consider school closure and consolidation

Adams 12 Five Star Schools staff is presenting its closure and consolidation recommendation to the Board of Education during its Sept. 3 meeting. 

Recommendation at a glance

• Five elementary school closures, with students transitioning to seven designated receiving elementary schools. 
• One middle school closure, with students transitioning to two designated receiving middle schools. 
• All students impacted by closure will have a home at their new boundary school or have the option to apply to another district school through the choice process. 
• 1,586 students impacted by a school closure.
• 341 staff work at the six schools recommended for closure. The district is working with its employee associations and is committed to providing commensurate job opportunities for impacted staff through the 2027-28 school year.
• Two middle school boundaries would change. Current students affected by the boundary change could remain at their existing school with district-provided transportation.
• Hulstrom K-8, a gifted magnet school with an ongoing waitlist, would relocate and expand from approximately 690 students K-8 to approximately 950 students P-8.
• A new K-8 magnet school with an arts emphasis would open at the Wyco Drive site in Northglenn, currently home to Hulstrom K-8. The school would serve kindergarten through sixth grade in 2027-28, expand to seventh grade in 2028-29 and add eighth grade in 2029-30. 
• This recommendation is expected to generate approximately $5 million in annual savings after the first year of implementation.

Additional information is available on the district's website. Each affected school will have a separate public hearing in September, providing community members an opportunity to comment directly to the Board of Education. The board is expected to vote on the recommendation at its Oct. 7 meeting.

Please see below for a message from Superintendent Chris Gdowski that was sent to the Adams 12 Five Star Schools community earlier today, Sept. 3.

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Dear Five Star Community,

Tonight, district leadership will make a recommendation to the Board of Education to align our schools and resources with the students we serve today – and to ensure we preserve educational opportunities across Adams 12 Five Star Schools for all students as enrollment continues to decline due to historically low birth rates.

The recommendation includes closing five elementary schools and one middle school at the end of the 2026-27 school year. Beginning in 2027-28, students would transition to neighboring schools, with transportation provided to eligible students. Families could also apply to another district school with priority consideration through the schools of choice process.

Closure and consolidation recommendations 

• North Mor Elementary
  • Students move to Hillcrest and Westview elementary schools
• Rocky Mountain Elementary
  • Students move to Cotton Creek, Federal Heights and North Star elementary schools
• Centennial Elementary 
  • Students move to Arapahoe Ridge Elementary
• Cherry Drive Elementary
  • Students move to Riverdale Elementary
• The Studio School
  • As a magnet school without an attendance boundary, students will be guaranteed enrollment at a new K-8 magnet school with an arts emphasis in Northglenn. The Studio School students can also opt to attend their neighborhood school or apply to another school through the district’s choice process.
• Shadow Ridge Middle
  • Students move to Century and Rocky Top middle schools

The full recommendation also proposes to relocate and expand Hulstrom K-8 at the current Shadow Ridge site, open a new K-8 magnet school with an arts emphasis on Wyco Drive (the current Hulstrom K-8 building), and adjust two middle school attendance boundaries. No closures or boundary changes are recommended at the high school level. Details about each recommended consolidation/closure are available at adams12.org/school-consolidations.

Our Commitment to Students, Staff and Families
If approved, the changes would take effect for the 2027-28 school year. We remain fully committed to providing a strong academic and school experience throughout 2026-27 while working alongside affected communities to plan thoughtful transitions.

• School Choice: Students affected by this recommendation would be automatically enrolled in their neighborhood school, and the district would also provide transportation for students who meet criteria regarding distance from school, crossing busy streets, etc. Families interested in another district school would receive priority consideration in the choice process. In all circumstances, students with specialized learning plans such as IEPs, 504s and ALPs would continue to receive services at their new schools.
• Retaining Staff: We’re committed to retaining impacted employees. In partnership with our employee associations, the district would use priority hiring processes that recognize employee preferences to keep talented staff in Adams 12.
• Strong Communities: Open houses, school tours and additional transition activities would help students, families and staff begin building relationships across school communities. We would also work to honor the histories and traditions of the schools affected.

Moving Forward Together
Tonight’s presentation begins the board’s consideration of a staff recommendation. In the coming weeks, the board will evaluate the proposal as a complete package, hear from impacted communities and the public, and vote on Oct. 7, 2026.

The district will hold school-based community connection meetings and public hearings so impacted families, staff and community members can learn what the recommendation would mean for their school, ask questions, and share their perspectives directly with the board. Affected school communities have received information about when and where these meetings will take place.

I recognize the significance of this announcement, especially for the students, staff, families and alumni connected to the schools included. A school is far more than a building. It holds relationships, traditions, memories and a deep sense of community.

I know these conversations will be deeply personal. They are for me, too. As a former Adams 12 student, I know firsthand how our school communities shape our identity and sense of belonging. I do not take lightly what this recommendation asks of the communities directly affected, and honoring what has been built within these schools will be central to our transition planning.

Whether or not your school was named tonight, this recommendation affects our entire Five Star community. Our commitment remains the same: to know every student by name, strength and need and ensure they are welcomed, valued and connected, and have opportunities to grow, explore, lead and achieve.

Sincerely,

Chris Gdowski
Superintendent

Additional background

Why is district staff recommending this change?
Adams 12 serves approximately 6,200 fewer students than it did seven years ago, and projections indicate that enrollment will continue to decline. This reflects a broader trend across Colorado and the nation as fewer children enter schools and the cost of serving students continues to rise.

Enrollment directly affects the student experience. Schools with sufficient enrollment can better support full-time specials, academic and student-support staff, electives, clubs, athletics and teacher collaboration. The recommendation is intended to create stronger, more sustainable school communities.

How were schools identified?
This recommendation is not a reflection of the quality of the schools named or the dedication of the people within them. Each has been shaped by committed educators, engaged families and students who have contributed meaningfully to the Five Star community.

District staff developed the recommendation using the considerations established in Board Policy 2.11. These include student learning opportunities, ongoing cost savings, school enrollment and building use, compact neighborhood boundaries, the capacity and long-term stability of receiving schools, transportation and potential community impacts.

All five elementary schools recommended for closure serve fewer than 300 K-5 students. Shadow Ridge serves fewer than 600 students and is the district’s only middle school using less than half of its building.