DCSD Legacy Campus expands classroom space

Douglas County School District’s (DCSD) Legacy Campus, a career pathways school, completed its phase two expansion with a ribbon cutting ceremony in August. Phase two involved the opening of another 20,000 square feet of classroom space for a total of 35,000 square feet. The school serves students from across the district with its Career/Technical Education (CTE) offerings, including aviation, medical, automotive, and hospitality classes to augment their home high school curriculum and fortify students with real job skills for post graduation.

Located at 10035 S Peoria Street in Parker, Legacy Campus occupies the site that was The Wildlife Experience museum and event center from 2002 until 2014, when the property was donated to The University of Colorado. It operated as University of Colorado South Denver from 2014 until DCSD purchased it in 2021.

Superintendent Erin Kane said during the ribbon cutting that when students find something they are passionate about, their attendance is better, as well as their performance in core academic classes. “We give them real skills that they can take out into the industry and have confidence that they are going to be able to find a job that they love,” Erin added.

Also in attendance, Lone Tree Mayor Marissa Harmon took CTE courses after high school.

“I went to cosmetology school right after high school but wish I had the knowledge of the opportunity to take CTE classes while I was in high school.” She continued, “Those classes gave me a skill. That skill gave me a career. And that career gave me the opportunity to have entrepreneurship and business ownership.” She is now the successful co-owner of a hair salon in Lone Tree for nearly a decade.

The 2024 bond approved by voters in Douglas County made the latest expansion possible.

The new course offerings include expanded automotive technology to cover electric and hybrid vehicles, construction trades, advanced manufacturing for aerospace and electrical technology. Numerous building improvements were also completed, including roof finishes, boiler improvements, replacing water systems cooling towers and parking improvements.

Cami M., a senior at Ponderosa High School, stated that she will “1,000,000%” have the skills needed for going into a future career as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) because of how hands-on the EMT course is. “Legacy makes it very easy since they build their [class] schedule around all the home high schools. The best part is the course is paid for by the district,” Cami stated. “I’ll be qualified to take the EMT test straight out of high school.”

In all, families in Douglas County have saved $4.1 million in college tuition and students have earned a total of 12,651 college credits.

For additional information visit legacycampus.org.