— The Douglas County School District Board of Education unanimously voted on Tuesday to consolidate six Highlands Ranch elementary schools Saddle Ranch Elementary will consolidate into Eldorado Elementary Heritage Elementary will consolidate into Summit View Elementary and Acres Green Elementary will consolidate into Fox Creek Elementary The consolidation will begin with the 2026-27 school year several board members said it was one of the most difficult decisions they've faced during their tenure "From the superintendent down… I’ve literally spoken to custodians and they’ve all been considered," said DCSD Board of Education member Brad Geiger "I have a lot of hope that this is going to make better opportunities for our students and our families and I will work to make sure we’re able to live up to the promises that have been made," said fellow school board member Susan Meek Following the vote, DCSD issued a release, saying the decision came "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 this district policy hoping to sway the board from its final decision "Losing the vibrance of children playing outside and a community gathering place is going to be a profound loss for us," said Cali Wolf Other Heritage Elementary School parents expressed concerns about class sizes ahead of Tuesday's vote "We’ve been told there’s 22 classrooms at Summit View and there’s 22 classrooms at Heritage yet we’re going to have more students at Summit View," said Katie Bibler Summit View and Fox Creek will receive "any necessary building improvements" ahead of the consolidations The district said it also plans to continue maintenance at Saddle Ranch Heritage and Acres Green so the playgrounds and other spaces are available for community use DCSD said the three closing schools will house district programming The school board said Tuesday that the closed schools will be used as bus stops following the consolidation The school board and district officials cited unequal growth in Douglas County as the reason for the consolidation communities like Sterling Ranch are booming as families with young children move to areas other than Highlands Ranch Data from DCSD shows 10,484 students were enrolled across Highlands Ranch's 18 elementary schools in 2014 that number is expected to plummet to 6,476 students across the schools the school board on Tuesday approved changes to the way the district classifies Highlands Ranch sixth graders Sixth grade will be moved to middle school beginning in the 2026-27 school year This will only affect Highlands Ranch elementary schools that feed into Cresthill Mountain Ridge and Ranch View middle schools the school district said it is looking to create a timeline for moving sixth graders throughout the district to middle school The district is also making "minor elementary school boundary adjustments," which will take effect ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Denver7's Claire Lavezzorio contributed to this report. Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what's right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above. ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. A school bus sits parked outside of a school Faced with historically low birth rates in the state and declining enrollment the Douglas County School Board voted 7-0 this week to shutter three elementary schools after the last bell rings next year.  Heritage and Acres Green elementary schools will close in 2026 and students will be moved to Eldorado Summit View and Fox Creek elementary schools respectively.  The board also voted to move sixth grade in the neighborhood to middle school and slightly change school boundaries in Highlands Ranch The district said the decision was two years in the making and not only addresses the dwindling number of elementary-age students but makes sure students have access to full staffing and resources “These two changes are specific to schools in the Highlands Ranch region All of these adjustments will help us to ensure that the newly consolidated schools remain efficient and sustainable for years to come,” said Superintendent Erin Kane in a letter sent to Douglas County school families last month.  The board also said the consolidated elementary schools will get any expansion or improvements needed to house more students that the emptied buildings will likely be home for future district programming and that the playgrounds and fields will still be maintained.  The Douglas County School District said its next strategic plan will include a timeline for moving all of the district’s sixth graders to middle school.  Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. Listen now. © 2025 Colorado Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy Join the Highlands Ranch Concert Band’s Swing Shift Swing Shift is the jazz arm of the Highlands Ranch Concert band This 18-piece ensemble is a traditional big band that plays a variety of styles including swing standards Featuring vocalist Kirstin Forbes and the improvisational talents of many members the group plays in a variety of venues around the south metro This performance will be at the Highlands Ranch Senior Center 200 East Highlands Ranch Parkway in Highlands Ranch Publicist for the Highlands Ranch Concert Band You must be logged in to post a comment Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application and was a loving and dedicated father to Charlotte Luke grew up in Evergreen and Highlands Ranch before moving with his family to Australia in 2008 After graduating in 2011 from Hillcrest Christian College where Luke found his calling in the brewing industry he was the Marketing and Design Manager for Great Divide Brewing Company especially the Denver Nuggets and Denver Broncos and loved talking and playing sports with his son Luke also cherished reading and enjoyed sharing his childhood favorites with his children Luke will be remembered by his family and friends at the Great Divide Barrel Bar Donations to Alex and the children can be made through GoFundMe via this link: Supporting the Petersons Please share memories and condolences with Luke's family by signing the guestbook Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors DENVER — Denver7 | Your Voice traveled down to Highlands Ranch in Douglas County to ask people about their thoughts on President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office Their responses revealed a deeply divided community According to a recent ABC News / Washington Post / Ipsos poll, just 39% of respondents said they approve of how President Trump is handling his job the lowest approval rating of any president in the last 80 years "I think what he's doing is great," said Kathlene Frahm Frahm said her grandparents came to the U.S "We don't need people coming over here to get on our systems," she said "We need our people that need our system to be able to use our system not be thrown away because we have so many illegals on it." Other supporters focused on safety and urged patience especially when it comes to economic policies "The first 100 days are tough for any president He wanted to tighten those borders up," said Charlynne Boddie I know everyone's talking about tariffs and what have you I'm sure he understands the crunch that that causes in those early days of that and I also know he's really trying to negotiate around the globe with all of our different partners and allies to make sure it's a win-win for everyone." some residents expressed concern about the rule of law and the balance of power "I believe very strongly in the three branches of government and I think the executive branch is just way too strong now," said Chuck Morrison both Republicans and Democrats in Congress to gain back some of the power that they have there." called the first 100 days "absolutely tragic," especially as she considers the future of her two young sons "I worry every day that we're not going to make any progress on gun control and that directly affects my small children," said Price "Trump is just loudly allowing the worst possible things to happen in this country Immigration is also a sticking point for many Coloradans "He's obviously made some big errors with immigration," said Roger Schaefer "I know there are a lot of people that are cheering loudly for that but he's taking away constitutional rights that all of us have without due process." what people consider a priority varies greatly with immigration and safety topping the list for more conservative voices "I'm happy to see that our border is tightened," said Boddie "I want to see that safety for American citizens As someone who's been threatened as an American in other places "We don't want our taxes to go to people that are just taking it and we have all kinds that come here to just take Healthcare and childcare were among Price's priorities "I think everyone should have health care," said Price "I think everyone should have the ability to go to their job and make a living wage and have affordable child care." he needs to re-establish some kind of harmony with our former allies the vitriol during the first 100 days is felt by everyone "I know there's been a bumpy ride in the first 100 days on many levels "And the prayer is that it gets done — what he promised he wanted to do for the American people." In these Denver7 | Your Voice stories we want to hear from you about what matters most in your community We hope to hear what makes our communities special Have an idea or want to share your thoughts HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — Two years ago, Douglas County School District (DCSD) leaders announced the district would need to consolidate schools due to declining enrollment Denver7 learned three elementary schools in Highlands Ranch would be consolidated For parents of children who attend one of the three schools recommended for consolidation because the district talks about how they want to have smaller class sizes How is closing schools going to make smaller class sizes?" said Megan Leuthhauser whose two young children attend Acres Green Elementary "How I view it: You're going to dump all the children in Acres Green over at Fox Creek Leuthhauser isn't the only one who's frustrated whose children attend Saddle Ranch Elementary we've been working with the board since November lying to our face about what's been going on — that they haven't had a decision made and so there's lots of rumors everywhere." Both mothers told Denver7 they don't understand why the schools their children attend were the ones recommended for consolidation Douglas County School District Superintendent Erin Kane said it was a nearly two-year evaluation process that leaders thought long and hard about "The criteria were things like building size this is about opportunities for our students." Students will have more of that if the consolidations happen it costs $2,500 or $2,400 more per student to sustain our small schools She told Denver7 that the reason behind the necessary consolidations is declining enrollment which the district has pointed to for years Data from DCSD shows 10,484 students were enrolled across Highlands Ranch's 16 elementary schools in 2014 moving her children over to Fox Creek Elementary presents a lot of unknowns What is a quick walk or drive to Acres Green Elementary now would turn into a roughly 2.5-mile commute to the new school It would be a longer drive and potentially even a bus ride for her kids "We'll have to possibly look into busing that is going to cost us more money," she said "It's going to eat into our budget that we've tried to avoid by walking them to school Kane confirmed Tuesday that that should not be a worry for families impacted by the potential consolidations She said the district is planning on waiving bus fees for those students "We are also waiving any kind of bus fee for the next two years for all of our families that are impacted by pairings we'll see if we can go from there," she said "I'd love to eliminate bus fees altogether When it comes to staff at the impacted schools Kane told Denver7 teachers will be able to keep their jobs with the goal of moving to their paired school with students "We are guaranteeing every staff member a job through 27-28 and even with the small amount of turnover that we have we still have hundreds of job openings per year," she said A lot of those staff will go to the school As for the schools that would be consolidated Kane said the plan is the district will keep those utilizing them for district programming in the future The district will present its recommendations to the board on April 8 and the board will vote on the plan during its meeting on April 22 Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what's right lending a helping hand and following through on promises — Two students who allegedly planted a fake explosive inside Highlands Ranch School this week could be facing charges deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said Friday Deputies were called to the school shortly before noon Thursday after staff members discovered a suspicious device that was attached to the outside of a locker students were immediately evacuated to Crest Middle School until bomb technicians and additional deputies arrived to verify if the device posed a threat a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office said Friday The spokesperson said a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office bomb technician assessed the device and determined it was “a simulated device that posed no threat.” The device was then removed from the locker and detectives have now recommended charges of possession of a hoax explosive as well as interference with an educational institution adding no more information would be shared at this time admin February 9, 20252025 Incidents, February 2025, Home On February 9th, 2025 at 16:15 South Metro Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire in the 8800 block of Chestnut Hill Lane in Highlands Ranch Engine 33 arrived on scene and confirmed a fire in the basement of a home involving lithium-ion batteries Firefighters pulled an attack line to prevent further spread Two occupants of the residence were able to evacuate safely with no injuries The fire extended into the ceiling and walls of the basement but crews brought the blaze under control by 16:51 South Metro’s Hazmat team responded to secure and pack the lithium-ion batteries in a specialized drum to prevent further risk The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the SMFR Fire Marshal’s Office Additional information provided by South Metro Fire Rescue Arapahoe Rescue Patrol: Rehab 12 Douglas County Sheriff’s Office — The Douglas County School District on Monday released a list of Highlands Ranch elementary schools it is considering consolidating Saddle Ranch Elementary would consolidate into Eldorado Elementary Heritage Elementary would consolidate into Summit View Elementary and Acres Green Elementary would consolidate into Fox Creek Elementary The Board of Education will vote on the recommendations at its April 22 meeting the consolidation would begin with the 2026-27 school year In its announcement Monday, DCSD said the recommendations 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 this district policy In November 2024, Denver7 spoke to Brad Geiger who cited unequal growth as the reason for change While communities like Sterling Ranch are booming families with young children are no longer moving to areas like Highlands Ranch "We have an odd situation where we’re building schools in one area and combining schools in another," Geiger told Denver7 at the time The school district is also looking to change the way it classifies Highlands Ranch sixth graders DCSD said it is recommending that sixth grade be moved to middle school beginning in the 2026-27 school year This would only affect Highlands Ranch elementary schools that feed into Cresthill It is also recommending some "minor elementary school boundary adjustments," which would be made ahead of the 2026-27 school year DCSD said these changes would "ensure that the newly consolidated schools remain efficient and sustainable for years to come." DCSD’s priority remains the same: ensuring that every child has access to an exceptional education and a very bright future," the school district said On Tuesday, Denver7 brought parents' concerns to the superintendent. You can read more in this story. – A woman accused of one of two shootings at the Main Event entertainment center in Highlands Ranch this past weekend now faces 104 charges 23-year-old Nevaeha Rayon Crowley-Sanders of Denver is allegedly connected to one of the shootings that happened just before midnight on February 8 in which she is accused of firing a semi-automatic handgun eight times at a victim and entertainment complex located at 64 Centennial Boulevard Crowley-Sanders faces a long list of charges including multiple counts of attempted murder Crowley-Sanders’ bond was set at $1 million. Investigators believe the two shootings were connected According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at Main Event on the report of a shooting and discovered an armed man in the parking lot who has been identified as 23-year-old Jalin Seabron That deputy is now on paid administrative leave A second woman was found at the scene with a gunshot wound to the chest and investigators believe that victim was shot by Crowley-Sanders Denver7 obtained court documents which allege the shooting stemmed from an argument in the women’s bathroom at Main Event were at Main Event with "several of their friends" Saturday night Following a physical fight in the bathroom Crowley-Sanders then allegedly shot the victim who suffered injuries to the rib cage and thigh Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly called the incident "dangerous" and "chaotic," and the sheriff's office later released a statement asking the public not to jump to conclusions as detectives continued the investigation offering a 20,000-square-foot facility with advanced amenities and a strong community focus Why Fitness Premier Makes a Great Franchise Investment for Veterans Health-Focused Couple Ventures into Entrepreneurship with Fitness Premier Franchise Kyle Retter Leverages Military Experience to Lead His Fitness Premier Franchise the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California If you are a resident of one of these states we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction Franchise offerings are made by Franchise Disclosure Document only Customers at the new Highlands Ranch store will enjoy huge savings the leading family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer in the U.S. is pleased to announce the relocation of its Highlands Ranch store to a newly remodeled space on Thursday Customers will enjoy the easily accessible new location in the Highlands Ranch Town Center next to Michaels at 9315 Dorchester Street Community members are invited to celebrate the big day with a Grand Reopening event including giveaways Natural Grocers' good4u® Crew will kick off the Grand Reopening festivities at 8:15 AM with a $2,500 donation presentation to the Food Bank of the RockiesTM—its local food bank partner followed by an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with the store manager and additional community leaders Doors will open at 8:27 AM with exciting giveaways sales and free samples within a friendly atmosphere Customers will enjoy exceptional discounts including 25% off Natural Grocers' Organic Produce October 10 - 12, plus select discounts throughout the entire store, October 10 - November 30 "Natural Grocers has been proudly serving the state of Colorado since 1955 we still offer that 'neighborhood grocery store' feel you can depend on," said Raquel Isely "The original Highlands Ranch store opened in January of 2000 and was our fifteenth store as a company This store enabled us to build a strong connection in what was then a new area along the Colorado front range convenient location will help us reach new customers and further our passion for supporting the health of humans and the health of our planet join in the fun and discover what makes the Natural Grocers shopping experience exceptional." DISCOUNTS & SWEEPSTAKESGrand Reopening festivities at the new Highlands Ranch location start on October 10 and will include: {N}POWER® MEMBERSHIPFor even more savings Natural Grocers' free rewards program for exclusive discounts To join {N}power, visit www.naturalgrocers.com/npower. WHAT'S NEW?Supported by its Natural Grocers good4uCrew the interior of the new store will be brighter ever-conscious of its environmental impact has upgraded the new space with sustainable building features and energy-saving innovations such as non-toxic building materials and 100% LED lighting customers visiting the new Highlands Ranch location will undoubtedly notice more breathing room for their body care WHAT STAYS THE SAME?Serving customers with a wide range of natural and organic options since 1955 Natural Grocers will continue to support the community with world-class customer service from its knowledgeable and friendly good4u Crew This community outreach will extend to the new Highlands Ranch location Each time a customer brings their own shopping bag Natural Grocers will donate five cents per shopping trip to the Food Bank which provides food and necessities to people in need across the state "Our mission is centered around igniting the power of community and partners like Natural Grocers are essential in making that a reality," said Erin Pulling Food Bank of the Rockies President & CEO "Through contributions raised from the 'Bring Your Own Bag Program' and donated food Natural Grocers has provided more than 3 million meals to individuals experiencing food insecurity in Colorado and Wyoming We're deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment to cultivating communities where everyone can thrive." Natural Grocers will make a special $2,500 donation to Food Bank of the Rockies at the opening ceremonies to raise awareness of this partnership and to mobilize the public to help nourish their communities RELOCATION DETAILSThe current store at 5:00 PM to complete the relocation process [i] Quantity limited to first 150 customers in line at Natural Grocers' Highlands Ranch Limit one gift card per customer 18 years or older [ii] Quantity limited to first 500 shoppers at Natural Grocers' Highlands Ranch [iii] Prize wheel available at Natural Grocers' Highlands Ranch Quantity limited to stock on hand; no rain checks Valid 10/10/24, 12 PM – 5 PM only [iv] Offers valid only from 10/10/2024 to 10/12/2024 are redeemable only for in-store customer purchases at Natural Grocers' Highlands Ranch Pricing excludes taxes and is subject to change without notice Natural Grocers reserves the right to correct errors [v] Offers valid only from 10/10/2024 to 11/30/2024 Sponsor: Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets [vii] Customers can sign up for {N}power here See naturalgrocers.com/privacy for the Company's Privacy Policy and naturalgrocers.com/terms for the {N}Power terms of use [viii] Must be an {N}power member to receive these discounts Offers valid only from 10/10/24 to 11/30/24 are redeemable only for in-store customer purchases at Natural Grocers' Highlands Ranch CO location and cannot be combined with other offers Natural Grocers® is celebrating Montana Day with a freebie and $5 off at its four Montana locations (NYSE: NGVC) today announced that the Company will release its second quarter fiscal year 2025 financial.. Retail Supermarkets Food & Beverages New Products & Services Do not sell or share my personal information: Douglas County is using microtransit to provide a new At its regular Business Meeting on March 25 the Board of Douglas County Commissioners unanimously approved a $2,901,410 contract with Via Transportation Inc to provide microtransit within Highlands Ranch This service was modeled after the Link on Demand program in Lone Tree and will serve anyone in Highlands Ranch needing a ride it’s our honor to serve our community and find new solutions that make our residents’ lives easier,” said Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle “I know our Highlands Ranch community will be truly blessed by this new program.” we heard loud and clear that older adults need help getting to and from doctors’ appointments the grocery store and entertainment,” said Commissioner George Teal “We are excited to launch this program to help meet their needs.” “Link on Demand in Lone Tree has been a successful model,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon “We’re thankful for that example and look forward to this launch in Highlands Ranch and When the program launches in late spring 2025 riders will be able to book an on-demand ride using a mobile app or by phone It’s a flexible way to get around Highlands Ranch The proposed hours of operation would be:  Details on how to use this service will be available closer to the launch. Stay up to date on all transit plans by signing up for our News and Events email list Via pioneered the TransitTech category by using new technologies to develop public mobility systems — optimizing networks of buses and sustainable transportation network for all riders — including those with limited mobility and unbanked populations — Via works with its partners to lower the costs of public transit while providing transportation options that rival the convenience of a personal car while reducing the environmental impact At the intersection of transportation and technology Via is a visionary market leader that combines software innovation with sophisticated service design and operational expertise to fundamentally improve the way the world moves providing technology in 700 communities and more than 35 countries and counting You must be logged in to post a comment HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — Court documents obtained by Denver7 revealed that the shooting at the Main Event entertainment center in Highlands Ranch on Saturday started with an argument inside the women's bathroom Nevaeha Rayon Crowley-Sanders, 23, of Denver appeared in Douglas County court on Monday morning following her arrest over the weekend She was allegedly part of one of two shootings — which appear to be connected — that unfolded at Main Event just before midnight on Feb Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived at the scene after receiving a report of a shooting and found an armed man in the parking lot who reportedly did not comply with their demands to drop the firearm deputies also found a 22-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to her chest Authorities determined that that woman had allegedly been shot by Crowley-Sanders She was booked into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault Multiple firearms were recovered from the scene Magistrate Alisha Coombe on Monday set Crowley-Sanders's bond at $1 million cash or surety she is prohibited from going near the victim or her home She is also not allowed to possess a firearm According to court documents obtained by Denver7 Crowley-Sanders and the victim were acquaintances and knew each other in high school The two were at Main Event with "several of their friends" Saturday night Crowley-Sanders and the victim got into a physical fight in the women's bathroom The probable cause statement did not outline the cause of the fight Court documents state Crowley-Sanders pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and fired eight times at the victim Authorities said the victim is expected to survive Denver7's Stephanie Butzer contributed to this report