Colorado

One year after launching its work in Colorado, Blueprint is already helping charter schools move from planning to construction, laying the groundwork for permanent learning spaces that will serve more than 1,500 students across the state.

Blueprint entered Colorado in January 2025 to address a persistent challenge in the charter sector: securing high-quality, financially sustainable facilities that support long-term growth. Across the state, many schools still rely on temporary or leased spaces while navigating rising real estate and construction costs, making access to permanent facilities a defining factor in whether they can grow.

In its first year, Blueprint has partnered with four public charter schools to help move long-term solutions forward, each shaped by its community’s needs.

Supporting Schools Across Colorado

In Aurora, Lotus School for Excellence is constructing a new 31,000-square-foot building designed to improve campus safety, strengthen circulation, and expand capacity for students and families.

In Fort Collins, Academy for Arts and Knowledge is renovating its second floor to add 12 new classrooms, along with a commercial kitchen to better support students throughout the school day.

In Colorado Springs, Colorado International Language Academy is transforming a 38,000-square-foot commercial office building into a school through a full interior renovation, paired with reimagined outdoor space for play and recreation.

In Fairplay, High Rockies Community School (working in partnership with Mountain Area Land Trust) is renovating an existing barn into a multi-use Education Center that will serve both students and the broader community. 

Meeting a Growing Need

These projects reflect a broader reality: facilities remain one of the most significant barriers to charter school growth. Even as demand for high-quality public school options continues to rise, many schools lack access to permanent spaces that support stability, long-term planning, and strong student outcomes.

Blueprint’s work in Colorado is grounded in a simple idea: facilities shouldn’t limit a school’s ability to serve families. By working closely with school leaders and community partners, Blueprint helps align real estate solutions with each school’s model, enrollment, and long-term plans.

Building with Partners

This first year of work has been made possible through collaboration with school leaders, philanthropy, and local partners. Blueprint’s efforts in Colorado have been supported by the Gates Family Foundation, The Anschutz Foundation, and Colorado Schools Fund.

Looking Ahead

One year in, the need—and the opportunity—remain significant. With enrollment growing in many communities, access to permanent facilities will continue to shape how schools expand.

Blueprint’s first year offers an early look at what’s possible when long-term thinking and strong partnerships come together. By helping schools move beyond temporary spaces and into permanent homes, this work is creating more stability for schools and better outcomes for students across Colorado.

 

Blueprint is proud to partner with Lotus School for Excellence on a major campus expansion to serve 400 additional students in Aurora, Colorado. On October 29, the Colorado team joined school leaders, students, and local officials—including Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman—for a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the start of construction on the new 31,000-square-foot building, scheduled to open in fall 2026.

As the long-term facilities partner on the project, Blueprint is providing full project management services to help bring Lotus’s vision to life. The new building will include 20 classrooms, a Makerspace, a commercial kitchen, a multi-purpose room, and improved parking and drop-off areas—designed to support both academic excellence and student well-being.

Lotus is one of the highest-performing K-12 public charter schools in the region, serving a diverse and historically underserved community with a strong STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) focus. With five consecutive years of “Performance Plan” ratings from the Colorado Department of Education, Lotus continues to meet growing demand from families seeking rigorous, student-centered learning opportunities.

Blueprint is proud to work with dedicated partners, such as Adragna Architecture+Development and Himmelman Construction, to make this vision a reality.

Pacific Charter School Development (PCSD) is excited to announce our expansion into Colorado, marking a new chapter in our mission to create affordable, high-quality facilities for charter schools across the country. This launch is supported by generous funding from the Colorado Schools Fund and other local philanthropic partners, all critical in helping us bring comprehensive facilities solutions to the region.

In addition, we’re thrilled to announce that we have welcomed Joy Griffin, Executive Director, Colorado. As the regional leader, Joy will steer this growth, working with Colorado charter schools to develop site solutions, align project affordability, and support the entire development process. This role will also involve key collaborations with Colorado Schools Fund, strengthening statewide access to high-quality educational facilities and further embedding PCSD’s presence as a “one-stop shop” for charter school facility solutions.

Our collaboration with Colorado Schools Fund will create a unique impact on the charter sector in Colorado, as we leverage our shared resources to provide strategic advising, technical assistance, full development services, and access to capital to early-stage operators and expanding schools. Our goal is to simplify the facilities process, allowing school leaders to focus fully on student success.

As we engage with school leaders across the state, we are eager to share updates soon and look forward to seeing the positive impact of these collaborations on students and communities across the state. Together with our new Executive Director and key partners, we’re committed to reshaping educational spaces and empowering more students to thrive. Stay tuned!