School Boundary Changes for Peoria Elementary School
In January 2021, the APS Board of Education directed district staff to implement the next phase of the Blueprint APS plan. This includes closing Peoria Elementary School at the end of the 2021-22 school year and repurposing the existing building as part of The Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts K-12 Campus, which will serve students throughout the district. You can read the announcement from the APS Board here.
The new magnet school will open for Kindergarten through third grade and sixth through ninth grades in August 2022 and add a grade level each year until the campus ultimately serves students in grades K-12.
Because students from across the district will be eligible to apply for enrollment in the magnet school, current Peoria students will need to either apply to attend the new magnet school or attend a new neighborhood boundary school.
As part of the process for establishing a new school boundary for Peoria students, APS convened an internal school boundary change committee. This committee assessed the attendance areas and enrollment capacities for schools in the surrounding area, and has developed three school boundary change options that may impact the enrollment at the following elementary schools in addition to Peoria beginning the 2022-23 school year:
- Elkhart
- Fulton
- Kenton
- Vaughn
View Current Boundary Map
View Peoria Boundary Scenario Option A
Current and Projected Enrollment
| School | 2020-21 Building Capacity | 2020-21 Total Capacity | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 Projected | 2023-24 Projected |
| Elkhart ES | 650 | 750 | 597 | 570 | 538 | 478 | 460 | 489 | 485 |
| Fulton ES | 525 | 575 | 402 | 386 | 393 | 348 | 324 | 386 | 382 |
| Kenton ES | 525 | 725 | 534 | 492 | 458 | 426 | 388 | 429 | 421 |
| Vaughn ES | 500 | 550 | 380 | 323 | 331 | 295 | 317 | 358 | 352 |
Benefits
- Scenario Option A creates contiguous, or common, boundaries for Elkhart, Fulton, Kenton and Vaughn Elementary School students.
- Additional enrollment at Elkhart, Fulton, Kenton and Vaughn may improve the building’s operational capacity.
- Maintains transportation efficiency by minimally impacting transportation costs and student bus ride times.
Potential Challenges
- Some ESS center-based programs may need to change locations.
View Peoria Boundary Scenario Option B
Current and Projected Enrollment
| School |
2020-21 Building Capacity |
2020-21 Total Capacity | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 Projected | 2023-24 Projected |
| Elkhart ES | 650 | 750 | 597 | 570 | 538 | 478 | 460 | 489 | 485 |
| Fulton ES | 525 | 575 | 402 | 386 | 393 | 348 | 324 | 463 | 461 |
| Vaughn ES | 500 | 550 | 380 | 323 | 331 | 295 | 317 | 358 | 352 |
Benefits
- Scenario Option B creates contiguous, or common, boundaries for Elkhart, Fulton and Vaughn Elementary School students.
- Additional enrollment at Elkhart, Fulton and Vaughn may improve the building’s operational capacity.
Potential Challenges
- The projected enrollment increase at Fulton may impact the school’s culture, climate and academic programming in the short-term.
- Some ESS center-based programs may need to change locations.
View Peoria Boundary Scenario Option C
Current and Projected Enrollment
| School | 2020-21 Building Capacity | 2020-21 Total Capacity | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 Projected | 2023-24 Projected |
| Elkhart ES | 650 | 750 | 597 | 570 | 538 | 478 | 460 | 489 | 485 |
| Fulton ES | 525 | 575 | 402 | 386 | 393 | 348 | 324 | 403 | 396 |
| Kenton ES | 525 | 725 | 534 | 492 | 458 | 426 | 388 | 412 | 406 |
| Vaughn ES | 500 | 550 | 380 | 323 | 331 | 295 | 317 | 358 | 352 |
Benefits
- Scenario Option C creates contiguous, or common, boundaries for Elkhart, Fulton, Kenton and Vaughn Elementary School students.
- Additional enrollment at Elkhart, Fulton, Kenton and Vaughn may improve the building’s operational capacity.
Potential Challenges
- Some ESS center-based programs may need to change locations.
- May require more transportation for elementary students.
The district will provide a community survey to gather feedback on the recommended school boundary changes in January 2022. Additionally, APS invites staff members and school families to attend a virtual or in-person community meeting in January. Due to recent COVID-19 health guidelines, APS has adjusted the in-person engagement sessions to the following dates and times:
| Date | Session | Location |
| Jan. 11 | 5:30-7:00pm - (VIRTUAL) Peoria Open House for all schools | (VIRTUAL) - Link to join https://zoom.us/j/95050236223 |
| Jan. 19 Rescheduled |
9:30-11:30am (IN PERSON) Peoria Open House | Peoria Elementary School 875 Peoria St, Aurora, CO 80011 |
| Jan. 20 Rescheduled |
2:00-6:00pm (IN PERSON) Peoria Open House | Peoria Elementary School 875 Peoria St, Aurora, CO 80011 |
At these meetings, district staff members will share more information about the recommended school boundary change options and gather feedback from parents, staff and community members. If you are unable to attend one of the community meetings, you will be able to view the boundary options and provide feedback starting January 7.