Douglas County School District (DCSD) leaders announced a proposed plan yesterday to permanently close Saddle Ranch Elementary School (in Highlands Ranch), Heritage Elementary School (in Highlands Ranch), and Acres Green Elementary School (in Lone Tree) starting in the 2026–2027 school year. The proposed closures are partly a result of declining student enrollment.
The students who attend the three schools would be absorbed into Eldorado Elementary, Summit View Elementary, and Fox Creek Elementary, respectively.
The district leaders announced this proposal in an email to district staff yesterday. The proposal will be voted on by the school board, made up of seven members, and a final decision on which schools to permanently close will be made on April 22.
Denver7 reported that the DCSD said the recommendations of which schools to close come “after nearly two years of careful planning and evaluation” in order to address declining enrollment in Highlands Ranch. The schools were selected based on criteria outlined in a district policy.
The district also proposed a timeline for transitioning sixth grade from elementary to middle school, along with boundary adjustments to address shifting student enrollment and balance populations between under-enrolled and overcrowded schools.
“While change is never easy, DCSD’s priority remains the same,” the email said. “Ensuring that every child has access to an exceptional education and a very bright future.”
The district said in a statement made to staff that “no staff member will lose their paycheck or benefits because of this pairing process so long as they want a commensurate position in DCSD.”
