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At Stapleton Realty, LLC we understand just how important schools and education are. Rest assured the schools at Stapleton will be as diverse with the new neighborhood-based Denver Public Schools(DPS). There will also be charter, private, vocational and online learning opportunities available. Four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools in addition to a number of early childhood learning facilities are planned for the Stapleton Development.

Stapleton's First School
Stapleton's first Denver Public Schools elementary school is set to begin classes in August 2003. The first of its kind in Colorado with a 350-student DPS elementary school (K-5) sharing common facilities and play areas with the 220-student Odyssey Charter School (K-8), an expeditionary learning school modeled after Outward Bound. The nationally known Core Knowledge program is the foundation upon which the elementary school's teaching curriculum will be built. Core Knowledge is used in some 50 Colorado schools and over 1,000 schools nationally. Those schools consistently score far above state and local averages on standard test. For more information on this extraordinary program, go to www.CoreKnowledge.org. An early childhood learning program is also in the works. Stapleton's second school, a 550-student, K-8 facility, is scheduled to open in fall 2005.

Expeditionary Learning-The Odyssey School
The Odyssey School is a kindergarten thru 8th grade expeditionary learning charter school. The school will open for classes at Stapleton in August 2003. Expeditionary Learning is based on the Outward Bound philosophy that children learn best through personal, direct experience. Knowledge and skills are acquired primarily through learning expeditions that connect various subjects. This method of education taps into the child's natural curiosity and enhances their ability to learn. The Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning (RMSEL) an existing "Expeditionary" school in Denver has received recognition for the success this program has had with it's students and the Odyssey School will implement many of the same teaching methods. More information on the Odyssey School is available at www.OdysseyDenver.org or by calling the school at (303) 316-3944.

Denver School of Science and Technology
Stapleton will also be the home of the Denver School of Science and Technology-commonly known as "High Tech High". The $14 million school will be an innovative Denver Public Schools charter high school dedicated to the study of mathematics, science and technology. A generous donation of ten-acres of land by the Developers of Stapleton, Forest City Stapleton, Inc. along with the additional support of contributions from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Hewlett Packard and numerous other national and local foundations made the project possible. Completion is anticipated for 2004 and the Denver School of Science and Technology will be another feather in the cap for Denver, Forest City and the homeowners living at Stapleton.

Stapleton Education Master Plan (per Forest City and DPS)
To more fully define the education goals for Stapleton, a diverse group of community leaders have come together to develop the Stapleton Education Master Plan. The Stapleton Education Planning Group, including representatives from the City and County of Denver, Denver Public Schools, the Stapleton Foundation, and the Stapleton Citizen Advisory Board, have joined forces to review and prioritize Stapleton's educational goals and objectives. Working with local and national educators, civic leaders, and the community, the planning group will explore traditional K-12th education-public, private and charter-as well as the less traditional but equally important topics of early childhood learning, adult education, vocational training and on-line learning. Partnering with libraries and churches as well as cultural and civic organizations will also be explored. The goal of the Stapleton Education Master Plan is: To make Stapleton a national model of lifelong leaning where everyone from infants to seniors can find innovative educational opportunities to meet their personal, professional and recreational needs and desires. Openness to the best practices in teaching and learning will drive educational development at Stapleton.

The following chapters will be included in the Stapleton Educational Master Plan:

Early Childhood Learning:
Stapleton will develop a comprehensive strategy for children and families to develop a variety of early childhood education options that nurture and stimulate young children to grow up to be successful in school and life.

Kindergarten through 12th Grade:
Stapleton will offer broad choices in public, private and charer schools that strive to set new education standards for Denver and the nations. The local and business communities will be encouraged to participate in Stapleton's schools with the goal of making schools year round centers of learning for the entire community.

Beyond 12th Grade:
Higher education for personal and career advancement, continuing education in the arts, culture and recreations and a wide range of vocational training to stay ahead of the curve-all this and more will be considered as a necessary part of the Stapleton community.

Community Partnerships:
Partnerships with libraries, churches, museums, and other cultural and civic organizations will expand and enhance the lifelong educational opportunities at Stapleton.

On-Line Learning and Technology:
Stapleton's advanced wiring requirements, high speed service providers, and community website will provide a robust platform for residents and businesses alike to utilize technology in the pursuit of knowledge. Partnerships with on-line educational institutions will be explored.

Outdoor & Environmental Education:
Outdoor and environmental education programs teach an understanding of nature and foster a sense of stewardship for the community and the planet. Stapleton's two square miles of open space including the Urban Farm at Stapleton, the Bluff Lake Nature Area and the Sand Creek Regional Greenway as well as the adjacent 27 square mile Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge offer ideal settings for a wide variety of educational opportunities.

Many times learning occurs in informal and unexpected ways-in a park, on a walk, at a community event, in your backyard and in hundreds of everyday living experiences. Stapleton will foster an on-going learning environment through community activities and a lifelong learning community philosophy. More than anything else, the participation of the new Stapleton residents and workers as well as those from the surrounding neighborhoods in these educational initiatives will create a community in which "Lifelong Learning" becomes an integral part of the new Stapleton neighborhoods.