Have a fun and safe summer!

Mapleton's Announcements

Explore Elementary honored as Commissioner's Choice

The Colorado Legacy Foundation is awarding Explore Elementary the Colorado Commissioner of Education Getting Results Award. The first-ever state event celebrating effectiveness in teaching recognizes teams of teachers whose commitment to student growth has produced significant improvement in student achievement. Classroom practices from Explore Elementary will be used as models for other districts around the state to follow.

The 2011 Commissioners Choice Awards recognizes excellence in educator effectiveness in four categories - student achievement, leadership, and educator preparation and induction. Explore Elementary will be honored at a luncheon, sponsored by the Colorado Legacy Foundation, on Tuesday, Feb. 8. The Colorado Legacy Foundation and Commissioner's Choice Awards recognize Colorado school districts and schools that apply best practices and get results.

Read press release here.

Despite lack of State funding, Mapleton students will continue to receive free breakfast

Mapleton Public Schools will maintain universal free school breakfast through the remainder of the 2010-11 school year. On January 20, the State's Joint Budget Committee denied the Colorado Department of Education's request for additional funds to maintain the free breakfast program. Mapleton Public Schools will continue to offer free school breakfast for the rest of the 2010-11 school year. Contact your child's school for more breakfast times and menus.

To learn more about recent cuts to the school-breakfast program visit http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_17153882

Mapleton Board of Education declares Nov. 14-20 American Education Week

Read the full resolution here!

Mapleton Public Schools is grateful to our men and women in the armed forces who serve our country.

We honor you today and every day. Our thoughts are with you and your families. In particular our very own Damon Brown (Chief Human Resources Officer) who is currently deployed to Baghdad.

Yes on 3A! Mapleton Public Schools wins bond election, secures $32 million from the State

While still unofficial, results from yesterday's election show measure 3A passing with 58% of the Mapleton community voting yes. The passage of 3A secures $32 million in State grant funding and marks the beginning of a no-frills overhaul of the Skyview Campus and its FIVE schools. The new construction will address ongoing efficiency issues and save the School District hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

A sincere Thank You to staff, parents, students, community members and volunteers who supported Mapleton Public Schools and 3A!

Follow Adams County Election updates here!

Read Mapleton's Press Release here.

Read the story from the Sentinel here.

Read the Education News Colorado story here.

Mapleton on Colorado Public Radio

Colorado Public Radio Oct. 28, 2010
This election, voters in seven poor school districts will decide whether to accept a deal from the state. It goes like this. If voters agree to raise property taxes to repair old school buildings, the state will also contribute, anywhere from a dollar for dollar match to as much as seven-to-one. No school district that's eligible has turned this deal down, except one: Mapleton, which includes Thornton and Commerce City north of Denver. This year, it's trying again, possibly for the last time.

Mapleton students get out the vote

Just because they aren't old enough to vote doesn't mean they can't rock the vote. Mapleton Early College students hopped aboard "Big Purple," Mapleton's activity bus, on Monday to remind residents of Adams County to stand up and be counted. With Election Day right around the corner, MEC's students want everyone to remember that every vote counts.

The Mapleton Public School Admin Building will be open as a vote center on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 2 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Mail-in ballots may also be dropped off at the Admin Building on Election Day. For a complete list of Vote Centers in Adams County, click here.

Slideshow of Get out the Vote bus ride

Students receive a special message from the United States Army for Red Ribbon Week

View the slide show here. Read more about Red Ribbon Week here http://www.nfp.org/.

Mapleton reforms turning around District

Education Nation is a nationally broadcast, in-depth conversation about improving education in America. 9News visited Mapleton Public Schools this week to discuss the District-wide reinvention that is raising CSAP scores and graduation rates and creating a college-going culture. NBC News will highlight education stories the entire week of Sept. 26th.

Mapleton Board of Education approves 2010 Bond measure

(Thornton, CO) -- On Tuesday, August 24, 2010, the Mapleton Public Schools (Adams County School District No. 1) Board of Education voted unanimously to put a bond measure before voters on the November 2010 ballot. These bond funds would help the School District secure $32 million in matching grant dollars from the State of Colorado to address critical facility needs.

MapletonPublic Schools Board of Education passes resolution in opposition of 60, 61, 101

Thornton - Mapleton Public Schools Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution opposing Amendments 60, 61, and Proposition 101. The tax and spending reform measures slated to appear on the Nov. 2 ballot would dramatically cut fees and property taxes, slashing funding for services related to safety, education and transportation.

Mapleton shows significant gains in CSAP scores

Mapleton Public Schools is showing significant gains in CSAP and in longitudinal growth, which measures how students improve year to year in each subject. This marks two consecutive years of high growth for Mapleton students.

In composite CSAP scores, Mapleton improved 3 points in reading and 2 points in math.
"We believe we are seeing the gains we were hoping for five years ago," said Assistant Superintendent Jackie Kapushion in an interview with EdNewsColroado.

Read about Mapleton’s results in the Denver Post - CSAP writing scores cause concern; DPS, Mapleton are bright spots http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15730797 (pdf)

Read more about how Mapleton's reform plan appears to have turned the corner on academic growth –EdNewsColorado, Signs of reforms taking hold? http://www.ednewscolorado.org/2010/08/10/6928-analysis-csap-results-of-key-reform-efforts (pdf)

MPS recommended for $32 million matching State grant

On June 30, the Board overseeing the state’s Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program recommended Mapleton receive a second chance at a $32 million matching grant to put toward $53 million worth of improvements. As a matching grant, local taxpayers will be responsible for $22 million, or 41 percent, of the total cost of the project. The Mapleton Board of Education will decide in August whether or not to put a bond measure - to raise matching funds and other dollars necessary to pay for safety and security improvements District-wide - in front of voters this November.

Last year, Mapleton received a similar BEST grant but was unable to use the award after voters defeated a bond issue by just 52 votes. Tens of millions of dollars were returned to the BEST program. This year, if Mapleton Public Schools fails to come up with the required match by December 31, the grant is already earmarked for runner‐up school district projects in other communities.

The State Board of Education has the final say on the grants from the Building Excellent Schools Today program and will consider the recommendations at its meeting on August 11 and 12.

The following projects were recommended by the BEST Board

$606,992 to restore roofs at multiple sites.
Local match: $151, 748, total project cost: $758, 741.
$31,703,536 for campus improvements, renovations and additions
Local match: $22,031,271, total project cost: $53,734,808.

Project Details:
The BEST grant and matching funds will allow for a partial demolition/renovation of Skyview High School to become the new Skyview Campus Student Center, preserving the gymnasiums, large auditoriums, performing arts and common spaces while creating an area available for community use.

Two new buildings would be constructed on the Skyview Campus to accommodate four schools:

Skyview Academy (grades 9‐12) and Clayton Partnership (grades K‐8)
Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts (grades 7‐12) and Mapleton Early College (grades 9-13)
Additions to the current Skyview Campus would include the North Valley School for Young Adults and community Library, with and without pool options.

New additions to Mapleton’s 2010-11 Portfolio

MPS is introducing new programs to continue to meet the needs of all students. In the fall, Mapleton will offer two new academic models and a new extracurricular program to give students the choices and opportunities they need to achieve their goals.

Air Force Junior ROTC – High school students may explore the JROTC curriculum focused on leadership, discipline and opportunity.
New America Charter School – A school designed for English Language Learners ages 15-21 years old.
Connections Academy – A K-12 online public school that lets students attend from home or another location outside a traditional classroom

Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC)
Mapleton Public Schools is proud to welcome the first Air Force JROTC program to the District. Opening at the Skyview Campus in the fall, the program will be available to all high school students in Mapleton. Students involved in the AFJROTC program will blend high school life with the unique JROTC curriculum focused on leadership, discipline and opportunity.

The AFJROTC curriculum is divided into three areas of emphasis – Aerospace Science, Leadership Education and Physical Fitness/Drill. Students who graduate from high school as AFJROTC cadets are eligible to pursue college studies in a technical or nontechnical major. AFJROTC offers scholarships for cadets that will pay most tuition costs, plus books and fees, at more than 1,000 universities and colleges. Enrollment in AFJROTC does not subject students to a military obligation and is not tied to an accessions or recruiting program.

The program is based on the following goals: to instill values of citizenship, service to the United States and personal responsibility and sense of accomplishment. To find out more about the program visit http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/AFJROTC or stop by the Welcome Center to pick up a brochure.

New America Charter School
Mapleton Public Schools made history this year by accepting the first charter school into the District. The New America School, a publicly-funded charter school, is designed for English language learners and students who might lack the English skills to succeed in mainstream high schools. The school is open to students ages 15-21 years old.

“Welcoming the charter school to Mapleton is adding another choice to Mapleton’s model and broadening the portfolio we offer the Mapleton students and community,” said Mapleton Superintendent Charlotte Ciancio.
The New America School is leasing the old Mapleton High School building at 602 E. 64th Avenue in Denver. For more information visit the Welcome Center or call 303.991.0130.

Connections Academy
Connections Academy is an online K-12 academic program that lets students attend school from home or another location outside of the traditional classroom. Connections Academy provides all the tools and support students need to learn in a non-classroom setting, including computers, tutors, tech support, phone support and message boards. More information about Connections Academy can be found at www.connectionsacademy.com or by calling 1-800-382-6010.

Against the Odds: Insights from One District's Small School Reform By Larry Cuban, Gary Lichtenstein, Arthur Evenchik, Martin Tombari, and Kristen Pozzoboni

Against the Odds offers an in-depth look at Mapleton's transformation of traditional high schools into seven small schools, each enrolling fewer than four hundred students. This account chronicles both the heartening successes and frequent challenges of a district-wide embrace of the small school model.

Learn about the District and help support student scholarships by purchasing your copy online (Click Here).

All proceeds go to support student scholarships offered through the Mapleton Education Foundation.

Read the introduction here.

Mapleton Public Schools 2008-09 Annual Report

Mapleton's 2008-09 Performance Data is available at www.schoolview.org

Mapleton Public Schools Annual Report to the Community (More Info)
En espanol aqui.

Letter to Mapleton Families regarding the 2008-09 Annual Report.(More Info)
En espanol aqui.

2008-2009 Performance Data

For all Mapleton schools available at www.schoolview.org

No Child Left Behind

No Child Left Behind Requirements.

2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

(More Info)

Upcoming Events

June 25 - Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m., Administration Office, 591 E. 80th Ave., Denver

July 4-5- All District offices will be CLOSED for the Independence Day Holiday

Aug. 19 - First day of school, grades 1-12. Check your school calendar for more information!