First Quarter 2026-2027

Find Express Check-In for your school HERE

Express Check-In is designed to help streamline beginning of the year paperwork. Not completing Express Check-In prior to the first day of school will not impact your child’s enrollment, and your child will still be able to attend school as normal. Find answers and learn other FAQs about Express Check-In.

** Most DCSD schools follow the conventional calendar, with the following exceptions:

• If your middle school student is attending Cresthill Middle, Mountain Ridge Middle or Ranch View Middle, the first day of school is Thursday, August 13.

• If your elementary student is attending one of the three new Highlands Ranch consolidated schools, then Monday, August 17 is the first day of school. This includes Golden Ridge Elementary, Mountain Peak Elementary and Silver Spruce Elementary.

• If your child attends one of the following schools, please check the school's website to view their academic calendars: Renaissance Expeditionary Magnet School, Daniel C. Oakes High School, Eagle Academy, DCSD Charter Schools.

Starting Friday, August 21, most DCSD schools will have a 45-minute late start every Friday for teacher collaboration (Professional Learning Communities time). Please check with your specific school or charter to verify their Friday schedule. *Note: DCSD charter schools may not participate in this schedule; please verify Friday start times directly with your specific school. Learn more.

During PLC time, teachers collaborate to analyze student data, share teaching strategies and support each other in refining their practices. This teamwork ensures that all students receive the best possible instruction.

This spring, the DCSD Board of Education voted to adopt a policy on Student Use of Communication Devices in Schools. Here's what this means for students:

Elementary and Middle Schools: At DCSD elementary and middle schools, students with communication devices must keep them silenced (no vibration or sound), stored, and not used during the entire school day.

High Schools: At DCSD high schools, students with communication devices must keep them silenced (no vibration or sound), stored and not used during the entirety of each class period. In addition, for the comfort and privacy of all students, all communications devices must be stowed away before entering bathrooms, locker rooms, or personal spaces. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Smartphones
• Smartwatches
• Smart glasses
• Other communication devices

Learn more about what the policy means for schools, how it will be implemented in our school district and ways families can support students in developing healthy habits around phones, smartwatches and other devices.

Superintendent Kane and her staff recently recommended to the Board of Education that a $54 million Mill Levy Override (MLO) be placed on the November 2026 ballot.

A 2026 MLO, if placed on the ballot and passed by voters, would enable our school district to:

• Retain and attract top-quality teachers and staff by providing salaries that are more competitive with neighboring school districts and better keep pace with inflation.

• Increase and maintain school security support, including covering the escalating costs of school resource officers.

• Reduce student waitlists for Career and Technical Education programming, including the trades.

• Restore student programming such as instrumental music in elementary schools.

The Board of Education will ultimately decide whether to place this measure on the ballot at a meeting in August. Over the next month, the Board will review community feedback as part of its decision-making process. To help share your feedback, please consider completing a short online survey.

Learn more at funding.dcsdk12.org.

Parents Guide to DCSD

Parents: Are your emergency communication preferences updated? Learn more about emergency communications in DCSD.

Please encourage your students to submit their summer reading logs to their school librarian by August 21. Students can also fill out this online form using their DCSD email. Winners will be notified by DCSD email after September 8!

Wednesday, August 12 - First Day of School (for most DCSD schools)

Monday, August 17 - First Day of Kindergarten (for most DCSD elementary schools)

Monday, September 7 - Labor Day (DCSD Schools and District Offices Closed)

Monday, September 21 - Professional Development Day (No Students)

Monday - Friday, October 12-16 - Fall Break (No Students)

Tuesday, August 11, 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 25, 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 29, 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 27, 5:00 p.m.

DCSD Legacy Campus

10035 S. Peoria Street, Lone Tree

These meetings are open to the public and will be live streamed on the DCSD YouTube Channel

Read past Board Meeting Summaries

Learn more about DCSD's Board of Education

Share good news about students, schools, staff and alumni and DCSD will celebrate district news each week in our Week In Review newsletter. Please submit good news here or use the QR code to submit.