Introduction
1. History
JA began in 1994 when a group of parents filed a charter application
with the Jefferson County R-1 School District. After a successful
appeal to the State Board of Education and ultimately being approved
by the Jefferson County Board of Education, JA opened in August
of 1994. The school began as an elementary school and then added
a junior high in 1996 and a senior high in 1999. The first graduation
from JA was on June 1, 2002.
2. Authorization
JA is authorized under the Charter
Schools Act (C.R.S.
22-30.5 et seq.), a law passed in 1993 by the State Legislature.
A public charter school operates via a contract, or charter,
with the local Board of Education. The charter stipulates authority
and responsibilities given to the charter school’s governing
board. Charter schools operate with autonomy while being held accountable
for results.
Periodically, typically during a renewal period, charter
schools undergo an external evaluation. Additionally, charter
schools are ultimately responsible to their consumers — the
parents and students who choose to attend.
Public charter schools are mission-led schools with a specific
emphasis.
3. Focus
Public charter schools are mission-led schools with a specific
emphasis. JA uses the Core
Knowledge curriculum in grades Kindergarten
through Eighth. The high school uses a complementary educational
program, which is a Coordinated Humanities model. The entire school
focuses on a rigorous academic program in a disciplined environment.
4. Enrollment Criteria
To be placed on the Jefferson Academy Elementary or Secondary enrollment/wait list a child must be born and have a name. A parent may submit a letter of intent to enroll his/her child at Jefferson Academy at any time by coming in to the office. The date of the letter of intent shall control the child’s priority for enrollment. Only full-time students will be accepted.
While Jefferson Academy is a school of choice, our enrollment is taken from our Wait List, not the Jefferson County Choice Enrollment form. Jefferson County residents have priority.
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About JA 
Introduction
