Schools and Academic Options

Advanced Placement (AP) courses provide students the opportunity to take college-level courses and exams while enrolled in high school. AP courses are college courses taught by PSD faculty, using the same content and requirements as those that are taught at universities. 

PSD is dedicated to offering a variety of educational environments for students who may need a non-traditional setting. Learn more on the Alternative Schools/Programs web page.

PSD’s curriculum is delivered through a focus on arts and technology using visual, literary and performing arts projects along with technology. Both are infused into the classroom instruction and used as resources to enhance student engagement and learning. 

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is an elementary through postsecondary college readiness system designed to increase and accelerate school-wide learning and performance using research based methods of effective instruction.

These programs offer a dual language program with 50% of the day being taught in English and 50% in Spanish. Both English and Spanish speakers are in the program, enhancing the linguistic and cultural significance of the programs.

Concurrent Enrollment allows students to earn college credit at the high school level. All PSD comprehensive high schools offer concurrent enrollment courses. Learn more about earning college credit, and career exploration options on the PSD Future Ready website.

The Core Knowledge sequence presents a specific and sequential academic learning process for students to build knowledge and skills from year to year.   

Many PSD elementary schools have preschool classes. Learn more about ECE and services on the Early Childhood Education web section.

Expeditionary Learning is a hands-on curriculum that incorporates real-life experiences into everyday learning.  Students engage in interdisciplinary, in-depth study of compelling topics, in groups and in their community, with assessment coming through cumulative products, public presentations, and portfolios. The model emphasizes high levels of student engagement, achievement, and character development.

Gifted and talented programs are available in PSD schools. Learn more on the PSD Gifted and Talented web page.

PSD offers three International Baccalaureate (IB) programs: Primary Years Program (grades K-5), Middle Years Program (grades 6-10) and Diploma Program (grades 11-12). The PSD standards-based curriculum is taught through the IB programs, which foster the development of the whole child, and encourage international-mindedness in students as they develop an understanding of their own cultural and national identity and learn about the world around them.

• The Primary Years Program encourages elementary students to be globally active citizens through inquiry‐based learning that makes real life, purposeful connections. 
• The Middle Years Program helps students become critical and reflective thinkers in subject areas, including foreign language, and a personal project.
• The Diploma Program is a demanding two-year curriculum for highly motivated students and leads to a qualification that is recognized by leading universities around the world.

Leader in Me is an innovative, school-wide model that emphasizes a culture of student empowerment and helps unleash each child’s full potential. Applying The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People®, by Stephen Covey, teachers and students internalize leadership principles that nurture skills that help students be successful.

Students attending neighborhood schools (located in the neighborhood in which they live) grow up in a culture of academic excellence, community, and character development. Neighborhood schools teach PSD's rigorous standards-driven curriculum, along with gifted, enrichment, and accelerated options.

PSD's hybrid learning school offers students instruction and support through a combination of online and on-campus classes.

Poudre School District offers opportunities for home school families to participate in partner programs. The Options program is open to home school students in grades K-8. Parents remain the primary instructional provider, with the school supplementing and complementing their efforts in a campus-based enrichment program. PSD Options Program website >>

Project-Based Learning is an instructional approach built on authentic learning experiences. Projects are designed to answer a relevant question or solve a real problem that reflects the learning and work people do in the everyday world. Students share their learning through creative products such as book publications, websites, multimedia presentations, plays and learning expositions. 

Both STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) offer a framework for teaching the interconnected nature of the various disciplines of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Grounded through the PSD standards-based curriculum, these programs encompass problem solving, critical thinking, scientific reasoning, inquiry and innovation into the application of learning.