The Future of the Edgewater Area Schools

Students, families, educators, and community members listen to draft plans for changes in the Edgewater area schools on January 28, 2025.

From Edgewater Collective:

Last night (January 28, 2025), the Jefferson Junior/Senior High School library was the site of tough and emotional conversations. Representatives from Jeffco Public Schools shared a draft plan for changes at Jefferson Junior/Senior High School starting with the 2026-2027 school year due to declining enrolling over the last decade.

Here are the main elements of the draft plan that would begin with the 2026-2027 school year:

The Jefferson articulation area would merge with the Wheat Ridge articulation area.
Everitt Middle School and Wheat Ridge High School would become the boundary schools for students in the area, though families can also exercise school choice and decide upon another school for their children.
Edgewater Elementary School and Lumberg Elementary School would transition to PreK-5th grade schools with 6th grade students moving to Everitt Middle School
Starting as soon as the 2027-2028 school year, Jefferson Junior/Senior High School would become the site of a new innovative program that prepares high school students for high-wage, high-demand jobs.

Edgewater Collective has agreed to co-host Community Design Sessions with the district starting on February 11 to ensure that the diverse voices of our community are heard and valued through this process. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided at these meetings. It is essential that students and families in our local schools join these Community Design Sessions, so that district leaders can hear the hopes and dreams of our community.

There are a wide range of emotions to the news of these changes to our local schools. Our local schools are not just places of education, but feel like a family to educators, students, and families. We are here to listen and mourn with our community. We will continue to advocate for the right resources and opportunities for our local students and families, as well as our hard-working educators.