FAQs

We want to provide the best experience for our students and families and become a “destination district” for the region. However, our enrollment and school-aged population continues to decline, leading to many critically under-utilized buildings which are costly to maintain and staff. With a limited amount of funding, our priority must be providing an excellent and equitable educational experience for all of our students and families, across the board.

Rightsizing is an option that makes sense for everyone

Rightsizing can lead to greater access to academics, special education services, fine arts, and athletics, among other essential services such as social emotional learning and mental health support: in an equitable manner for all students and staff.

Students also may experience a broader range of student peer interactions, and now with more educator and staff support, receive more enrichment or intervention services based on their individual needs. Additionally, with fewer school buildings to monitor and maintain, school safety can be improved.

Design capacity is the number of students at 100% utilization of classrooms at a school. Functional capacity is approximately 75% of design capacity and is considered the optimal utilization of a school facility. The other 25% of capacity allows for flexibility to assign rooms for other purposes, such as for parent resources and pull-out programs.  

For those schools at or a bit above capacity, it is important to note that these buildings may not have flexible spaces for other purposes. Some buildings may show low utilization because a school may have opened in recent years, are still adding grades, and is expected to accommodate future growth for new grades.

If rightsizing is eventually approved by the board, we will stand by our staff and families and offer whatever support is needed, spelling out the steps to be taken in a clear and transparent manner. Rightsizing should not be looked at as a negative, but rather as a positive and education-enhancing step into the future.

We understand that school closures may have an initial negative impact. But if that option is taken by the board of education, it should be seen as an opportunity to take the District to the next level by maximizing resources, both financial and human.

The District pledges to work to minimize any negative impact by transparently engaging with the community and sharing the potential positive outcomes that will result from the decisions made.

We will honor the history and traditions of school communities, and we will engage the community in how to repurpose any closed schools for the benefit of the community.

At this time, there is no impact. Any decision by the board of education would not be implemented until the start of the 2026-27 school year. We do not believe it prudent to look at any potential scenarios until the board acts on the recommendations presented to it.

While rightsizing has the potential to save the district money, our ultimate goal is to elevate the standard of education in our community and equal the field for all students, no matter what school they currently attend. This is about living up to our promise of an excellent education for all students rather than a strictly money-saving measure.

While rightsizing will ensure every student receives an equitable, high-quality education, we want to be transparent and share with you that the district and its students will realize better efficiency and financial stability as a secondary benefit.

D60’s percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch (an accepted measure of students living in poverty):

83.7%

By comparison, in Colorado’s public schools overall, this is the percentage:

45.9%

Building utilization plays a key role in average costs. The average cost to operate and maintain a school can vary depending on a number of factors. For example, while a bigger high school may have a higher utility cost, that cost is spread actress a larger student population. The utility cost at an elementary might be somewhat lower, but that cost may be spread across fewer students.