Poudre board votes to close schools, consolidate two schools

The Poudre School District Board of Education voted Oct. 27 to close or consolidate six schools starting in fall 2027 and close two more starting in fall 2028.

Beattie Elementary School will close effective July 1, 2027, and students within its neighborhood boundary will be assigned to Lopez Elementary School and Bennett Elementary School. Johnson Elementary School will close effective July 1, 2027, and students within its neighborhood boundary will be assigned to Olander Elementary School and McGraw Elementary School. Putnam Elementary School will close effective July 1, 2027, and students within its neighborhood boundary will be assigned to Dunn Elementary School and Tavelli Elementary School. Blevins Middle School will close effective July 1, 2027, and students within its neighborhood boundary will be assigned to Webber Middle School and Lincoln Middle School.

Irish Escuela Bilingüe Elementary School will close effective July 1, 2028, and students in its neighborhood will be assigned to Cache la Poudre Elementary School and Bauder Elementary School. The board directed administrators to develop a more unified Dual Language program during the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years, with the program to begin in 2028-29. Timnath Elementary School is scheduled to close July 1, 2028, with its neighborhood students assigned to Linton Elementary School and Bamford Elementary School unless the Town of Timnath secures funding for the full cost of a new elementary school the district would own and operate. That funding must be secured before the district's first School Choice application round opens, no later than Nov. 5, 2027; the district and town must enter an intergovernmental agreement on their respective roles and obligations by Jan. 31, 2027.

Centennial High School and Poudre Community Academy are to consolidate into a new school effective July 1, 2027, with the location to be determined in early 2027. A boundary change for Bacon Elementary School will take effect July 1, 2027. Livermore Elementary, Red Feather Elementary and Stove Prairie Elementary will remain open. Superintendent Brian Kingsley said, “I believe these changes will make us a stronger district that is better able to support our students as we move into this new future.”

The first round of School Choice applications opens Nov. 4, 2026, and closes Dec. 16, 2026. Students from closing schools will receive priority consideration in the process. The district directs families seeking a seat at a school other than their student's new neighborhood school to its School Choice page for more information. The district's Frequently Asked Questions page about the changes is available online.

District transportation will be available to students outside the walk zones for their newly assigned schools. Students living more than 1 mile from an elementary school, 1.5 miles from a middle school or 2 miles from a high school will be eligible; transportation is not provided to students attending a School of Choice. Families with questions about how the changes affect their student can call 970-490-3005 or email [email protected]. Families can contact their student's school front office to ask to be connected with a member of the school's mental health team, including a counselor, mental health specialist, psychologist or social worker.