Learn More About High School Programs and Options

8th Graders and Their Families Can Learn More at High School Nights

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is extremely proud of the variety of choices offered for quality, advanced academic programming available at each of its high schools. Our program offerings include the following range of options for your motivated students: 

• Horizon: S.O.A.R. Honors is designed to enlighten, enrich, and excite students and prepare leaders for the 21st century.  S.O.A.R. Honors also provides structure and support for high-achieving students to prepare for college and post-secondary success.  It is designed to promote a well-rounded high school experience including Advanced Placement/concurrent enrollment courses, extracurricular activities, community service involvement, and extended learning opportunities.  The S.O.A.R. Program aspires to furnish a variety of learning opportunities to challenge and engage students. Learn more at: https://sites.google.com/adams12.org/hhssoar/  Contact Dawn Schafer at 720.972.4457 or dawn.schafer@adams12.org.
   
• Legacy: Legacy 2000 (L2K) program is a rigorous four-year program designed to develop the tangible and intangible skills and experiences that assist students interested in preparing themselves for a career involving mathematics, science, and technology. Learn more at: https://sites.google.com/a/adams12.org/l2k/home  Contact Amy Stern 720.972.6792 Amy.Stern@adams12.org and Rachel West  720.972.6834 Rachel.J.West@adams12.org     

• Mountain Range: the High School of Business™ program is an accelerated college program that prepares students to be leaders and competitors in our 21st Century Workplace and in our global society. The program prepares students to work in business and economics while working towards fluency in a World Language. Students in the program are dually enrolled in high school and college and can earn 21 college credits. Learn more at: https://mountainrangehsb.org/ Contact Hilary Wimmer at 720-972-6477 or hilary.wimmer@adams12.org.

• Northglenn High: 
  • STEM Pathways program is a student-centered environment rich in questioning and inquiry,where students have frequent opportunities to apply engineering design and problem-solving processes to authentic, contextual problems. STEM Pathways include: Engineering and Biomedical Science. Learn more at: http://northglennh.adams12.org/  Contact Eric Hotz 720-972-4691 or eric.e.hotz@adams12.org and Allison Dopler 720-972-4689 or allison.l.dopler@adams12.org.
  • P-TECH at Northglenn STEM program is an innovative partnership between Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Front Range Community College, CableLabs and Solid Power where students are able to earn a free associates of applied science degree in Computer  Information Systems. Students begin in 9th grade and finish their degree at FRCC. As such, students graduate with both a high school diploma and an industry-recognized associate degree, in addition to gaining relevant workplace skills. Learn more at: http://northglennh.adams12.org Contact Todd Corn 720-972-4629 or todd.corn@adams12.org.

• Thornton High: The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program provides students access to a rigorous, comprehensive global education that gives them the opportunity to earn up to one year's worth of university credit. The programme builds students' inquiring mindset, fosters their desire to learn, and prepares them to excel at their careers through coursework, creativity, activity, and service. This is an open enrollment program to support any learner who is looking for an academic challenge. Contact Wesley Brown at 720-972-2843 or bro029872@adams12.org. 
  
  THS Connect is a unique opportunity for 9th graders. Freshmen Foundations is a year-long class that supports students in developing skills that will help them be successful in their academics as well as socially and emotionally. The goal of THS Connect is to help students with the transition to high school, remain "on-track" towards earning credits, and stay connected to the school community. Contact Adriane Bohlender at 720-972-4844 or boh023534@adams12.org.

All Adams 12 incoming 9th graders who reside within the Adams 12 boundaries are eligible to apply for all of the above programs, regardless of their attendance area boundaries. For the 2025-2026 school year, based on current enrollment, Legacy will not be accepting applications to their specialized programs from students who reside outside of the district. Northglenn High School will only accept applications from out-of-district students who attended one of our STEM K-8 schools. Horizon, Mountain Range, and Thornton High Schools will accept applications from out-of-district students. As a result, families do not need to submit a choice application in order to  apply to one of these specific programs.  Families should refer to the choice policy for enrollment in out of boundary schools if NOT accepted in one of these programs.  

We encourage you to get to know each of these programs better to determine the best fit for your child by attending the High School Information Nights on November 18 & 19 @ the Educational Support Center (1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton, CO 80241). (Each school will be presenting during each of the two sessions). 

6:00 p.m. – 6:40 p.m. Session 1: School Presentation Session 

6:50 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Session 2: School Presentation Session 

To make the application process more efficient for parents, we have common application deadlines for each program. These dates are as follows: 

• Nov. 1 Application process opens 
• Nov. 18 & 19 High School Information Night 
• Dec. 1 First round of Choice opens 
• Dec.4  Last due date for all program applications (please check applications for specific due dates for each school’s specialized program)
• Jan. 2 First round of Choice closes 
• Jan. 24 All candidates will be notified of their acceptance to specialized programs 
• Feb. 16 Choice Notification letters mailed to families 
• Feb. 24 Accepted candidates must inform the schools’ program offices of their decision to attend or not attend 

After February 25, schools may begin selecting students from their wait lists if space is available. We hope this will simplify the application process for you and your child as you continue your educational journey through Adams 12 Five Star Schools.