In a first in Colorado, a real estate developer in Brighton received approval Wednesday to build and run a K-8 charter school in a new neighborhood.
The Academy at High Point will open next fall in an 1,800-acre development south of Denver International Airport, according to developer Landmark Properties Group.
The school for 600 students was authorized by the Colorado Charter Institute, an independent organization that helps oversee charter schools.
“This is a model – it’s the first example of a developer in Colorado putting together a successful charter proposal to serve a new development,” said Randy DeHoff, the institute’s director.
“This can serve as a model of what can be done in rapidly growing areas where districts don’t have the resources or capacity to build schools fast enough,” DeHoff said.
Some educators, however, expressed concern about the decision.
Sam Sakurada, the Brighton school district’s liaison to area charter schools, questioned whether the new school was “a marketing ploy” for the development.
The new school’s board is dominated by developers, Sakurada said.
Sakurada said he also was surprised the group applied for approval from the Colorado Charter School Institute instead of the Brighton school district, where it will be located.
“If they have the best interests of students at heart, let’s go with them,” Sakurada said. “But if they’re only interested in developing, which is my worry, I hope that they let schools and school districts do what we think we can do best.”
Ray Pittman, Landmark president, said the move was made to give the new school more autonomy “to implement our vision.”
“We’re not there pretending to be professional educators,” Pittman said.
“But we heard from community members … that they’re not satisfied with the public education choices.”
“As a business, we’re good at finding solutions to problems like this,” Pittman said.
The Academy will partner with a YMCA, slated to be built next door, for physical education, sports, child care and other programs, Pittman said.
The Academy is not related to a broader proposal – not yet approved – by a consortium of developers to build a network of new specialized schools within the Aurora Public School District, Pittman said.
Staff writer Katy Human can be reached at 303-820-1910 or khuman@denverpost.com.
