News Release - 27 Colorado schools receive state's first Purple Star Schools designation

Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova and members of the Colorado State Board of Education pose with guests of honor after a special ceremony recognizing 27 Colorado schools that received the Purple Star School designation Thursday at the Colorado Department of Education.

April 10, 2025

27 Colorado schools receive state's first Purple Star School designation

DENVER -- In a special ceremony on Thursday, Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova and Governor Jared Polis awarded the state’s first-ever Purple Star School designation to 27 schools from eight school districts and the Charter School Institute. The Purple Star School designation recognizes school communities for their work to support military-connected students and their families.

“Colorado is the proud home to a strong military and veteran community, and it’s only appropriate that our schools are recognized for the work they do to support military families and their children. I’m excited to celebrate the schools who are leading this work and setting an example for the rest of the state,” said Governor Jared Polis.

Commissioner Córdova and Gov. Polis were joined by members of the State Board of Education, representatives from the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, and military school liaisons from the United States Army, Air Force, and Space Force.

“Military families and their children make extraordinary sacrifices in service to our country. For military-connected students, frequent moves and long separations from loved ones can present unique challenges. Our Purple Star Schools go above and beyond to create welcoming, supportive environments where every student feels seen, supported, and a true sense of belonging—no matter where their family is stationed,” Córdova said.

Last spring, Gov. Polis signed into law House Bill 24-1076 - sponsored by Reps. Bob Marshall (D-Douglas County) and Mike Weissman (D-Adams/Arapahoe) and Sens. Rhonda Fields (D-Adams/Arapahoe) and Bob Gardner (R-El Paso/Teller) - creating the Purple Star Program to recognize schools that help military-connected students navigate the academic and social-emotional challenges that come with frequent relocations, parental deployments, and adjusting to new school communities.

Purple Star Schools must meet specific criteria, including offering dedicated programs and resources for military-connected students and their families. More information about the Purple Star Program is available on the Colorado Department of Education’s website.

The following schools received the Purple Star designation:

Academy School District 20

Douglass Valley Elementary School
Eagleview Middle School
Ranch Creek Elementary School

Aurora Public Schools

Edna and John Mosley P-8 School

Colorado Springs School District 11

Jenkins Middle School
James Irwin Elementary School - Howard
McAuliffe Elementary School

Charter School Institute

Colorado Military Academy

District 49

Bennett Ranch Elementary School
Falcon Middle School

Ellicott School District 22

Ellicott Elementary School

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8

Abrams Elementary School
Aragon Elementary School
Eagleside Elementary School
Jordahl Elementary School
Mesa Elementary School
Mountainside Elementary School
Patriot Elementary School
Weikel Elementary School
Welte Education Center
Carson Middle School
Fountain Middle School
Fountain-Fort Carson High School

Harrison School District 2

James Irwin Charter Middle School
James Irwin Elementary School–Astrozon

Widefield School District 3

Grand Mountain School
Widefield High School

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The Colorado Department of Education’s vision is to create equitable educational environments where all students and staff in Colorado thrive. Our role is to improve student outcomes and ensure students and families across Colorado have access to high-quality schools by serving, guiding, and elevating our state’s 178 school districts and BOCES.

10 de abril de 2025

7 escuelas de Colorado reciben la primera designación estatal Purple Star

DENVER -- En una ceremonia especial celebrada el jueves, la comisionada de Educación de Colorado, Susana Córdova, y el gobernador Jared Polis otorgaron la primera designación estatal Purple Star a 27 escuelas pertenecientes a ocho distritos escolares y al Instituto de Escuelas Chárter de Colorado. La designación Purple Star reconoce a las comunidades escolares por su labor de apoyo a estudiantes relacionados con las fuerzas armadas y sus familias.

“Colorado es el orgulloso hogar de una sólida comunidad militar y de veteranos, por lo que es apropiado que nuestras escuelas reciban reconocimiento por el apoyo que brindan a las familias militares y sus hijos(as). Estoy emocionado de celebrar a las escuelas que lideran este esfuerzo y sirven de ejemplo para el resto del estado”, dijo el gobernador Jared Polis.

La comisionada Córdova y el gobernador Polis estuvieron acompañados por miembros de la Junta Estatal de Educación, representantes de la Comisión Interestatal para Niños(as) Militares y enlaces escolares militares del Ejército, la Fuerza Aérea y la Fuerza Espacial de los Estados Unidos.

“Las familias militares y sus hijos(as) hacen sacrificios extraordinarios en servicio a nuestro país. Para los estudiantes relacionados con las fuerzas armadas, las frecuentes mudanzas y largas separaciones pueden presentar desafíos únicos. Nuestras escuelas Purple Star hacen un esfuerzo excepcional para crear ambientes acogedores y de apoyo donde cada estudiante se siente reconocido, apoyado y con un verdadero sentido de pertenencia, independientemente de dónde esté destinada su familia”, dijo Córdova.

La primavera pasada, el gobernador Polis firmó la ley HB24-1076 – patrocinada por los representantes Bob Marshall (D-Douglas County) y Mike Weissman (D-Adams/Arapahoe), y los senadores Rhonda Fields (D-Adams/Arapahoe) y Bob Gardner (R-El Paso/Teller) – creando el Programa Purple Star para reconocer a las escuelas que ayudan a estudiantes vinculados con las fuerzas armadas a enfrentar desafíos académicos y socioemocionales derivados de frecuentes reubicaciones, despliegues militares de los padres y adaptación a nuevas comunidades escolares.

Las escuelas Purple Star deben cumplir criterios específicos, incluyendo ofrecer programas y recursos dedicados a estudiantes relacionados con las fuerzas armadas y sus familias. Más información sobre el Programa Purple Star está disponible en el sitio web del Departamento de Educación de Colorado.

Las siguientes escuelas recibieron la designación Purple Star:

Distrito Escolar Academy 20

Douglass Valley Elementary School
Eagleview Middle School
Ranch Creek Elementary School

Escuelas Públicas de Aurora:

Edna and John Mosley P-8 School

Distrito Escolar 11 de Colorado Springs:

Jenkins Middle School
James Irwin Elementary School - Howard
McAuliffe Elementary School

Instituto de Escuelas Chárter:

Colorado Military Academy

Distrito 49

Bennett Ranch Elementary School
Falcon Middle School

Distrito Escolar Ellicott 22:

Ellicott Elementary School

Distrito Escolar Fountain-Fort Carson 8:

Abrams Elementary School
Aragon Elementary School
Eagleside Elementary School
Jordahl Elementary School
Mesa Elementary School
Mountainside Elementary School
Patriot Elementary School
Weikel Elementary School
Welte Education Center
Carson Middle School
Fountain Middle School
Fountain-Fort Carson High School

Distrito Escolar Harrison 2:

James Irwin Charter Middle School
James Irwin Elementary School–Astrozon

Distrito Escolar Widefield 3:

Grand Mountain School
Widefield High School

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La visión del Departamento de Educación de Colorado es crear entornos educativos equitativos en los que todos los estudiantes y el personal de Colorado prosperen. Nuestro papel es mejorar los resultados de los estudiantes y garantizar que los estudiantes y las familias de todo Colorado tengan acceso a escuelas de alta calidad, sirviendo, guiando y elevando a los 178 distritos escolares y BOCES de nuestro estado.