Education

K-12

Access to top-quality education is a key component that families consider when relocating to a community.  Parker is proud to be located within the Douglas County School District, one of the top-performing school districts in the entire state.   The Douglas County School District maintains one of the highest public school ratings in Colorado and the nation. Students' test scores are consistently higher than the state and national average, and while the number of students exceeds 50,000, the district strives to keep the student-to-teacher ration 26 to 1.  Ninety-five percent of seniors attending Chaparral and Ponderosa high schools receive their diplomas.  On average, 83% of those students pursue additional schooling at colleges and business or technical schools.

Parker Public Schools include:

LINK TO MAP (in PDF) OF PARKER AREA SCHOOLS

 

Cherokee Trail Elementary

Frontier Valley Elementary

Iron Horse Elementary

Legacy Point Elementary

Mammoth Heights Elementary

Mountain View Elementary

Northeast Elementary

Pine Grove Elementary

Pine Lane Primary

Pine Lane Intermediate

Pioneer Elementary

Prairie Crossing Elementary

Renaissance Magnet School

Cimmarron Middle School

Sagewood MIddle School

Sierra Middle School

 

Chaparral High School

Legend High School

Ponderosa High School

Parker Alternative Schools Include:

Daniel C. Oakes High School

Renaissance Expeditionary Learning/Outward Bound Magnet School

 Parker Charter Schools Include:

Challenge to Excellence (K-8)

Core Knowledge Charter (K-8)

Advanced Education 

For businesses, the opportunity for professional development and special training programs is also an important consideration.  Parker's educational opportunities for students of all ages meet the expectations for both.

University Center at Chaparral is a cooperative effort among the Douglas County School District, the Southeast Business Partnership, and three Denver-area colleges, and gives Douglas County and Parker residents a convenient alternative for education.  High school students and college students alike can sign up for classes and receive college credits through the University of Colorado - Denver, Arapahoe Community College, and the University of Denver.

Through their five-way partnership, they have brought university-level programs to local teachers and students.  Designers of the 21,000 square-foot facility installed computerized electronic chalkboards called "smart boards" and interactive computer systems allowing instructors and students to share screens.

Seminar and conference rooms have built-in data projectors, VCRs, screens, whiteboards, surround-sound, Internet access, and podiums with wired microphones.  The rooms are laptop- or computer-compatible, and networked to T-1 data lines.  A computer training lab is also on site.

The $2.8 million center received high marks from both teachers and students - convenience, technology, and atmosphere being the most highly-noted perks. 

Also, the recent completion of Rocky Vista University adds to opportunities for higher education within the Parker community.  Other healthcare links on this website can be found here.