Colorado Legacy Foundation Announces First Group of Schools to Benefit from $10.5 Million Investment

DENVER, CO – Today the Colorado Legacy Foundation announced the selection of ten high schools to participate in the Colorado Legacy Schools Initiative, which earlier this year received a $10.5 Million investment from the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). The ten high schools, which were chosen from rural, urban, and suburban school districts throughout Colorado, are: Abraham Lincoln High School (Denver), Northglenn High School, Aurora Central High School, Arvada High School, Centennial High School (Pueblo), Central High School (Grand Junction), Fruita Monument High School, Grand Junction High School, James Irwin Charter High School (Colorado Springs), and Vista Ridge High School (Colorado Springs).

“The Colorado Legacy Schools program helps give students the skills they need to excel in college,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said. “By focusing on math, science and English, this program is preparing kids for 21st century careers and giving Colorado a competitive advantage over other states.”

Colorado Legacy Schools is a local replication of the proven Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program, which has demonstrated an unprecedented track record closing achievement gaps and increasing college readiness in program schools. Colorado Legacy Schools piloted during the 2010-2011 school year, with a focus on dramatically improving the number and diversity of students who enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) coursework and receive qualifying scores on their exams.

“Recruiting and supporting students from all walks of life in rigorous, college-level coursework is a proven method to help close the achievement gap,” said Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia.  “Colorado’s kids deserve an education that sets them up for success, and the Colorado Legacy Schools program does just that.”

The initiative’s comprehensive approach increases teacher effectiveness and student achievement through content training, teacher and student support, open enrollment, and incentives for students and teachers.

“This program gets results and it gets results for students that too often don’t pursue or are not encouraged to pursue advanced classes,” said Dr. Helayne Jones, President and CEO of the Colorado Legacy Foundation. “We are honored to have the opportunity to expand Colorado Legacy Schools so that more students can share in the success of this proven program.”

“This program has the potential to dramatically boost student achievement in Colorado in the critical fields of science, technology, engineering and math,” said Dr. Mary Ann Rankin, President and CEO of NMSI.  She said the goal is to ensure that more Colorado students are better prepared for college and for the highly competitive jobs of the future, “because math and science are the currency of the 21st century.”

The Colorado Legacy Foundation expects to expand Colorado Legacy Schools to include an additional 10 high schools in 2013-2014, and yet another 10 in 2014-2015, for a total of thirty participating schools.