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5280 High School

5280 High School, nominated by Colorado Education Initiative, is a high school in Denver, Colorado that describes itself as a public charter school serving learners from a primarily urban/suburban area.

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Location Denver, Colorado

Governance Public charter school

Grades High

Students 100

Locale Suburban

Executive Director Dan Sullivan

Demographics

Percentage of students*

3%

English Learners

37%

Free/Reduced Lunch

41%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black —

American Indian/Alaska Native —

Asian —

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —

Hispanic or Latino —

White —

2+ Races —

Why 5280 High School was nominated

5280 High School is a project based learning school that prepares students for current contexts. They place a high priority on elevating student voice and leadership, they build deep relationships with each student, and they foster a strong community where students can thrive in a safe community. 5280 is a non-traditional school that focuses on recovery from addiction and eating disorders in addition to social emotional learning (SEL), career pathways, and resilience. Their culture of holistic wellness is embedded in their community and helps prepare all students for success in college, their future career, and anything life throws at them. Students take daily wellness electives, have 1-week of intersession each year where students can explore personal passions and interests, participate in internships in 11th grade, and complete a senior project in 12th grade. Students begin every day with B.O.A.T. (Be present, Open-minded, Authentic, Together) where students have an opportunity to connect, share, and reflect in small groups. BOAT is built from a hybrid of advisory, circles, and social emotional wellness practices with 5280's own unique twist. True to the project based learning approach, students in B.O.A.T. start the year by building an actual large wooden boat together that gets launched into a local lake -- a powerful symbol for their journey together. The staff of 5280 truly believe in co-creating solutions alongside students and seek to reiterate and refine approaches to best meet the needs of their entire student body.

Student experience design

5280 High School is a safe place where students feel like they belong, are free to simply be themselves, and learn to live a substance-free lifestyle. Curriculum is project-based learning, and students are encouraged to pursue individual passions, apply learning to real-world applications, and create high-quality work for a public audience.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Anti-racist Practices
1-2 years

Culturally Responsive Practices
1-2 years

Mental Health Services
3-4 years

Project-based Learning
5+ years

Restorative Practices
1-2 years

All Practices

Student Advisories

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Career Prep And Work-based Learning

Students As Co-leaders

Teachers As Co-leaders

Co-leadership

Community And Business Partnerships

Family And Community Support Services

Extended Learning Opportunities

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Hiring For Equity And Inclusion Values

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Interdisciplinary

Individual Learner Profiles

1:1 Mentoring

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

No Tracked Classes

Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

Reallocation Of Resources For Those Most In Need

SEL Integration School-wide

Social Justice Focus

Student-led Conferences

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Universal Design For Learning

key reasons for innovating

Mental health concerns

Models Implemented

Grades K-12

EL Education

Date Updated: 4/1/2024

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.