Welcome Back!

As we come together to begin a new school year, I want to start by expressing my deepest gratitude to each of you—our students, staff, and community members—for your unwavering dedication and commitment to excellence. Thanks to your efforts, The Colorado Springs School District 11 isn’t just improving—we’re soaring.

Over 33% of our schools were on the state watchlist two years ago. Today, that number is nearing 10%, and we are on our way to ZERO schools on the list, with the goal of 100% of our schools at Performance status. This incredible progress is a testament to the dedication of our students, the tireless efforts of our staff, and the unwavering support of our community. But we’re not stopping there. Our collective strength will drive us toward this ambitious goal.

At the heart of our success lies a fundamental truth: the key to student achievement is access to high-quality instruction. That’s why we’re doubling down on our investment in our educators—the true champions of our classrooms. We’re not just talking about competitive salaries; we’re creating a culture of continuous growth through peer-to-peer coaching, innovative support systems, and policies designed to protect the integrity of the learning environment by removing distractions and empowering student agency. By safeguarding our classrooms, we’re igniting the potential in every student.

1. Providing High-Quality Instruction: Beyond just investing in our teachers, we’re reimagining how we support them. Through enhanced peer coaching, collaborative design thinking spaces, industry-leading salaries, and policies that protect the integrity of the learning environment, we’re cultivating an atmosphere where innovation thrives, excellence is the norm, and students are empowered to take charge of their own learning.

2. Enhancing Classroom-Focused Resources: Every dollar we spend is a vote for our students’ future. We’re strategically channeling our resources directly into the classroom, including major capital projects that will transform our learning spaces into hubs of inspiration and discovery.

3. Expanding Our Diverse School Portfolio: We believe in educational choice, empowering families and students to select the best fit from our wide range of options. Our offerings include traditional schools, homeschool programs, online schools, and charter schools, as well as specialized academic pathways like Montessori, International Baccalaureate (IB), STEM/STEAM, Visual and Performing Arts, Gifted Magnet, Outdoor Education, Dual Language Immersion, and Quality Neighborhood Schools.

4. Promoting Excellence through Experience: Learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. We’re expanding horizons with a gold-standard Pre-K program, Future Centers that turn career dreams into roadmaps, the game-changing D11 Promise scholarship program, amplified concurrent enrollment and career education opportunities, and our innovative Peak Experiences, which bring real-world learning to life.

5. Building Connected Communities: We’re not just a school district; we’re a community. This year, we’re enhancing family engagement by equipping parents with tools to actively support their children’s success. We’re expanding our existing Let’s Talk platform and introducing a new D11 App in Spring 2025 to strengthen two-way communication. By partnering with local higher education, non-profits, and industry leaders, we’re transforming our city into an active learning environment, providing students with hands-on experiences beyond the classroom.

These aren’t just initiatives; they’re our promise to you—our unwavering commitment to providing world-class education to every student who walks through our doors.

Let’s make it happen!

Michael Gaal
Superintendent, The Colorado Springs School District 11

We launched our educators into the school year with area kick-offs at Robson Arena.

Join Palmer High School Student Body President, Connor Strange, for his first day of senior year!

Tucker, the Therapy Dog, heads back to school at Jenkins Middle School, and enjoys a day full of fun and friendship!

CLICK HERE for all things back-to-school!

Find out about transportation, log into PowerSchool and The Loop, grab school supplies, and attend your school's open house!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! COUNT DAY IS OCTOBER 1ST

You count! Your school depends on you for funding and resources. Be in school to be counted on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Need resources for getting your students to school? Please reach out via Let's Talk!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

If you have questions, celebrations, or concerns, please reach out to the District or your school via LET'S TALK! on website homepages.

https://www.d11.org/administration/contactus