Colorado Springs School District

What Colorado Springs School District does

Colorado Springs School District 11 (D11) is a public K-12 school district and government entity founded in 1872, serving approximately 20,448 students across 60 schools in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the oldest school district in Colorado Springs and operates under an elected Board of Education, funded primarily through local property taxes (mill levy), state per-pupil funding, federal grants, and voter-approved bond measures. The district employs 1,861 teachers as part of a workforce of 1,001-5,000, with a public-facing budget that is not individually disclosed.

The district's product portfolio spans traditional K-12 schools alongside a diverse array of specialized academic pathways, including the only public Montessori program in the region, International Baccalaureate programs at elementary, middle, and high school levels, STEM/STEAM, Visual and Performing Arts, Gifted Magnet, Outdoor Education, and Dual Language Immersion. Alternative education is offered through homeschool programs, SPARK Online Academy, and charter schools. Career and Technical Education includes 63 unique pathways with industry certifications, college credit, and work-based learning, delivered through the Peak Experiences model and the Future Ready Hub, which coordinates concurrent enrollment, ICAP development, and the D11 Promise scholarship. Partnerships with Pikes Peak State College, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Department of Education, and the Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance underpin the postsecondary and workforce alignment strategy.

Technology infrastructure is built on standard K-12 edtech platforms — PowerSchool for student information, Schoology for learning management, Office 365 and Google Workspace for productivity, MySchoolBucks for payments, and a Let's Talk communication platform supplemented by a new D11 mobile app launched in Spring 2025. Digital accessibility follows WCAG 2.2 Level AA, Section 504, and Colorado HB 21-1110 standards. The district is pursuing a $775 million bond measure for the November 2026 ballot to address aging facilities (average age 58 years), and reports that over 80% of students pursue higher education with graduating seniors receiving more than $15 million in scholarships annually. Standard K-12 public education is tuition-free, with reduced concurrent enrollment rates offered through higher education partners.

Name

Colorado Springs School District

Legal name

Colorado Springs School District 11

Website

https://d11.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1872

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Colorado Springs School District 11 is a public K-12 school district and government entity serving approximately 20,448 students across 60 schools in Colorado Springs, Colorado, through traditional, specialized (IB, Montessori, STEM/STEAM, CTE), and alternative education pathways funded by property taxes, state appropriations, and federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Specialized academic programs
• Career technical education
• Concurrent enrollment programs
• Early childhood education

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Public school district funded primarily through local property taxes (mill levy), per-pupil revenue from state funding, federal grants, and voter-approved bond measures for capital projects. Operating funds cover salaries, benefits, utilities, and daily expenses while bond funds are restricted to capital purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Colorado Springs School District 11 is a public K-12 school district providing free individualized educational programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels across 60 schools, serving approximately 20,448 students. The district delivers traditional curricula alongside specialized pathways including Montessori, International Baccalaureate, STEM/STEAM, Visual and Performing Arts, Gifted Magnet, Outdoor Education, and Dual Language Immersion, plus 63 Career and Technical Education programs with concurrent enrollment and industry credential opportunities.

Product overview

Colorado Springs School District 11 is a public school district offering a diverse portfolio of educational programs across 60 schools serving approximately 20,448 students. The district operates traditional K-12 schools alongside specialized academic pathways including Montessori, International Baccalaureate (IB), STEM/STEAM, Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA), Gifted Magnet, Outdoor Education, and Dual Language Immersion programs. Alternative education options include homeschool programs (Basecamp), online learning (SPARK Online Academy), and charter schools. The district provides 63 Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with industry certifications and college credit pathways through concurrent enrollment partnerships. Student support services include Pre-K programs, Special Education, Gifted and Talented programming, and the Future Ready Hub for career planning. The district is planning a $775 million bond measure for November 2026 to modernize aging facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional Schools Standard K-12 educational programs across elementary, middle, and high schools serving the general student population with comprehensive academic curricula. Available to all D11 students and families through choice enrollment.
• Montessori Programs Elementary-level Montessori educational approach offering student-led learning activities and mixed-age classrooms. The only public Montessori program in the Colorado Springs region.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs Globally recognized pre-university education offered at elementary, middle, and high school levels with emphasis on critical thinking and international-mindedness.
• STEM/STEAM Programs Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs with optional Arts integration, preparing students for careers in high-demand technical fields.
• Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Comprehensive arts education including music, theater, visual arts, and performing arts across all school levels.
• Gifted Magnet Program (GMP) Academic program designed for gifted and talented students requiring differentiated instruction and accelerated curriculum at the Gifted and Talented Academy.
• Dual Language Immersion Bilingual education program teaching academic content in two languages to develop fluency and cultural competence.
• Outdoor Education Nature-based learning experiences leveraging Colorado Springs' mountain environment and outdoor resources.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Work-based learning programs offering 63 unique career-focused pathways across fields including healthcare, technology, construction, automotive, and more, with industry certifications and college credit opportunities.
• Homeschool Programs Home-based educational options including Basecamp Homeschool enrichment program and homeschool concurrent enrollment access for families choosing home education.
• Online Learning (SPARK Online Academy) Virtual education option for students seeking flexible online learning arrangements with full curriculum delivery.
• Charter Schools Public charter school options operating independently within the district with specialized educational approaches.
• Pre-K Program Gold-standard preschool program preparing young children for academic success with focus on school readiness.
• Special Education Services Comprehensive special education programs including Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), related services, and inclusive educational settings for students with disabilities.
• Gifted and Talented Programs Advanced academic programming including Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs), Gifted and Talented Academy, and talent development through the TIPP program.
• Concurrent Enrollment Programs allowing students to earn college credits while in high school through partnerships with Pikes Peak State College and University of Colorado Colorado Springs, including reduced tuition rates.
• D11 Promise Scholarship Scholarship program supporting graduating seniors with financial assistance for post-secondary education and career pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of students go on to higher education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Pikes Peak State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Launched tuition coverage programs and reduced concurrent enrollment rates ($5,250 vs $12,644) for District 11 students, providing postsecondary access options and work-based CTE pathways aligned with state strategic goals.
• University of Colorado Colorado SpringscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner institution providing postsecondary access initiatives and concurrent enrollment opportunities for District 11 students, supporting college readiness and workforce development goals.
• Colorado Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025State education department whose 2025-28 strategic plan targets 100% of 2029 high school graduates achieving work-based learning experience, college credits, or industry credentials. District aligns programs with state priorities.
• Pikes Peak Business & Education Alliance (PPBEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partnership providing work-based learning opportunities and connecting students with industry partners for Peak Experiences career education program.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Aurora Public Schools: Colorado K-12 public district east of Denver serving a large urban-suburban population. Operates comparable specialized programs (IB, P-TECH, CTE) under the same state funding and accreditation regime, but with a different demographic and geographic concentration.
• Mesa County Valley School District 51: Western Colorado K-12 public district with a similar student population size (~22,000). Comparable district operating model with CTE pathways and alternative education programs but serving a more rural, geographically distinct catchment area.

Broad incumbents

• Cherry Creek School District: Large Denver-metro area K-12 public district known for strong academic outcomes and a specialized programs portfolio (gifted, IB, magnet). Competes with D11 indirectly for state-level recognition and shares the same Colorado accountability framework.
• Jefferson County Public Schools: Colorado's second-largest K-12 public district serving the western Denver suburbs. Comparable operating model (state-funded public district with choice enrollment, IB offerings, and CTE pathways) at a larger suburban scale.
• Denver Public Schools: Largest Colorado K-12 public school district serving Denver metro area with ~90,000 students. Operates a much broader portfolio of magnet, IB, and specialized programs across a larger urban footprint under the same state funding and accountability regime.
• Douglas County School District: One of Colorado's largest suburban K-12 public districts south of Denver. Operates similar IB, STEM, and CTE programs under the same state choice-enrollment and funding structure with a slightly different demographic base.

Direct peers

• Academy School District 20: Adjacent K-12 public school district serving the northern Colorado Springs area with comparable student population (~25,000 students), similar program mix including IB and CTE pathways, and competing for the same residential tax base and choice-enrollment families.
• Falcon School District 49: El Paso County public school district east of Colorado Springs competing for the same metropolitan catchment area. Similar governance structure, state funding model, and traditional K-12 plus alternative program portfolio.

Others

• University of Colorado Colorado Springs: Partner four-year university providing postsecondary access initiatives and concurrent enrollment for D11 students. Relevant ecosystem participant rather than a direct district competitor, central to the college readiness pathway.
• Pikes Peak State College: Partner higher education institution offering reduced concurrent enrollment ($5,250 vs $12,644) to D11 students. Acts as the primary postsecondary feeder for D11 graduates and core to the CTE-to-credential pipeline rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cssd11
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SchoolDistrict11
• Facebookfacebook.com/cssd11
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-springs-school-district-11
• Instagraminstagram.com/cssd11

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Colorado Springs School District