Our School

about us
As one of the highest ranked elementary schools in the state of Colorado, Larkspur Elementary continues to offer what parents are seeking...a supportive, nurturing and inviting environment that fosters the love of learning by providing a progressive set of tools that include:

  • Small Class Sizes
  • Outdoor Classrooms
  • Science Lab
  • Eureka Math
  • Integrated Curriculum
  • Technology Lab
  • Orchestra, Band & Choir
  • Art, Music, Foreign Language and PE
  • Licensed Teachers and Adminstrator
  • Champions Preschool/Before and After Care

Larkspur Elementary engages students through immersion in our local environment, or setting, as the context for learning. Our local setting or community (environment) is what we refer to when we say "environment-based education." In this program, our staff provides hands-on educational activities in indoor and outdoor classrooms each day. Larkspur students benefit from student-led inquiry, true and original science activities, and real-world application of knowledge and skills.

about us

The idea behind this is simple: make learning meaningful and interesting. It is natural for human beings to be interested in the world around them. No one is surprised to see the curiosity of small children examining a worm or a flower, or asking why the sky is blue or the wind blows. Yet we put these same children into sterile, constricted environments and expect them to sit and be quiet when their bodies and minds want to be engaged and active. Through our environment-based program, we strive to make learning relevant.

Many people think of environment-based education as environmental education. While some student activities may delve into environmental concerns or issues, this is not the focus of environment-based education. The program at Larkspur Elementary includes service learning, collaborative teaching, community-based investigations, integrated/interdisciplinary instruction, and learning activities that require students to work collaboratively and independently. In addition, students engage in activities to help them understand natural and social/human systems that exist in our world.

In addition to classroom work, Larkspur students engage in outside learning activities to enrich or extend concepts that have been introduced in the classroom. Students spend outside time on our campus on a regular basis. On occasion, students visit different areas of our nearby community to support the academic focus of our school.

Project Learning Tree

 

WHAT SETS LARKSPUR APART?


Larkspur Logo

What sets Larkspur Elementary apart from other schools in DCSD? Larkspur Elementary is nestled in the woods just 15 minutes south of Castle Rock. Our school is ranked in the top 5% of Colorado elementary schools in the area of academic performance and also received an A grade by coloradoschoolgrades.com. Optimizing on our beautiful outdoor spaces, Larkspur Elementary teachers are implementing an Environment based program in which teachers use surrounding outdoor areas as an integrating context for learning. Students learn the interaction between natural and social systems through community-based investigations, defining community needs, and service learning projects. Our 9-acre Larkspur campus includes 6 outdoor classrooms, 2 outdoor gardens, 4 indoor aeroponic gardens, a wetland, and a certified wildlife habitat. Students take part in whole school character building initiatives including reducing environmental impact and costs, improving health and wellness, and supporting communities in need through resource drives.

Green Ribbon

Awarded the National Green 
Ribbon Award in 2014

(Read Article Here)

WHAT DOES LARKSPUR HAVE TO OFFER?


School BusLarkspur Elementary Offers:
Rigorous pandemic Hybrid learning options • Small School Environment • Small Class Sizes • Outdoor Learning classrooms, EIC • District busing available for designated routes/locations • Colorado state Academic Standard-aligned curriculum • Stable school leadership/administration (5+ years at Larkspur Elem.) • Veteran, stable instructional staff; most with advanced degrees • On-site AN programming and moderate needs academic/behavioral support • Full time School Psychologist and School Counselor • Integrated Specials available each day: STEAM, Art, Music, PE, Technology, Library • Band, Orchestra, Choir (on hold during pandemic) • Committed PTO • Strong Community Partnerships • PBIS, Bobcat TRACKS • Lego Robotic program (on hold during pandemic) Community of Learners • Self-pay Before and After School childcare Program, and much more. Call to visit!

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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).