It’s been too long since I’ve taken a glimpse at a new Colorado school. But as the school year fast approaches for most students around the state, it’s definitely time to get back on track.

For the preschool-through-5th grade students at SkyView Academy in Highlands Ranch, a south Denver suburb, the inaugural school year doesn’t start until after Labor Day. That’s because the new school building is in the final stages of construction and is slated for a grand opening on August 26.

The school’s mission statement explains what it’s all about:

SkyView Academy offers a research-based, content-rich liberal arts program with a commitment to foreign language studies and community service.

As with so many other Colorado charter schools, SkyView has adopted the Core Knowledge curriculum — showing parental demand remains high for this proven focus on cultural literacy and solid content. But as reported on the website, the Highlands Ranch school also will integrate Core Knowledge with Spanish language acquisition and a character development program.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Merlin Holmes, long active in the charter school world, SkyView plans to expand upward in grades served. Its initial P-5 scope will grow a year at a time until it takes students through 8th grade in 2013-14, while the high school campus will open in 2011-12 with 9th grade and eventually graduate its first class in 2015. If SkyView sounds like an appealing possibility for your family, you will want to fill out an intent to enroll form (PDF) available from the school’s website.

Other new schools for 2010-11:

• Vista PEAK Exploratory School (Aurora)
• West Denver Prep and DSST Add Campuses

1 Comment »