Ellicott School District 22, is a rural school district located 17 miles east of Colorado Springs, serving roughly 950 students over 220 square miles. The goal of the district is to move forward while maintaining tradition, while the sprawl of Colorado Springs moves east. The district employs approximately 200 employees, who serve a diverse and large at-risk population of students. The different sub-demographics of the total student population 64% of students are at or below the poverty rate, 15% of students are Multilingual, 14% students have disabilities, and approximately 21% of students are military connected. Ellicott has proven itself as a community that is resilient and dedicated to its students, that provides learning opportunities by hiring a diverse staff that fosters and nurtures the students’ unique learning experience.
Ellicott has proven to be a resourceful school community that overcomes the various challenges of growth and multiple at-risk student factors. Thanks largely to the communities and staff’s diverse backgrounds. From the previous 2024 School Performance Frameworks, where all schools fell into the State’s “Improvement” designation in Academic Growth and Performance, the Elementary and Middle School were able to reach “Accredited” on the 2025 School Performance Frameworks.
The District uses multiple data points to measure Academic Growth and Performance to include scores from DIBELS, NWEA, SAT, and other local data, which help the schools make decisions for data-driven initiatives and instructional planning. As we have shifted from the State’s Unified Improvement Process (UIP), we have embraced the Student Centered Accountability Program (SCAP) to help with our Continuous School Improvement efforts. This program allows us to collaborate with similar school districts with the same challenges that all rural school districts face.
Ellicott Preschool is an inclusive program that provides a high-quality, comprehensive, and accessible preschool program to all children of various ability levels and needs. Our program provides early educational opportunities during a child’s most critical developmental and early learning years. We strive to develop students’ positive attitudes towards learning as we promote social, emotional, and academic growth in preparation for elementary school while establishing positive relationships with families. The program continually scores 4 or above in the Colorado Shines Program.
Ellicott Elementary is focused on creating relationships that lead to strong academic success. As a Capturing Kids Hearts National Showcase school for two years in a row, they value the positive impact of interpersonal relationships among staff and students. Additionally, these strong relationships and commitment to academics earned Ellicott Elementary the Purple Star designation as a military-friendly school. Academically, Ellicott Elementary focuses on best first instruction, providing their classrooms with many curriculum tools to use to ensure equal access to learning for all students. In the elementary, K-3 grade accesses Heggerty (a phonemic awareness program), Wilson Fundations (a phonics program), and Wonders 2020 (core reading lessons) for ELA instruction in the core classrooms. Our 4th and 5th-grade teachers implement Wonders 2020 as their core focus for reading lessons. All students receive reading interventions through a flooding process. Each group focuses on a needed skill for students, providing them with the skills they need to be successful. Students are assessed and identified for significant reading needs using DIBELS 8th edition and placed on a READ plan as needed. Students on a READ plan are placed in reading interventions that are more intense and use SIPPS, Wilson Reading, or Take Flight. Math is a high-priority focus for the elementary, and all grade levels make use of Eureka Squared as their core math curriculum. Additionally, students have access to Zearn, an online platform that provides additional lessons that coordinate with Eureka lessons, for additional lesson practice. Students in second grade through fifth grade also access Reflex, a math facts practice program that provides fun opportunities for students to practice and master math facts, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. As a support for our math interventions that all students receive, we use Formative Loop to practice skills and track student success.
Ellicott Middle School serves a diverse population of students in grades 6–8, reflecting the unique makeup of our rural community. Our student body includes families with deep generational roots in ranching and farming, a significant immigrant population, and many military-connected students from our close partnership with Schriever Space Force Base. We are proud to offer engaging exploratory electives that allow students to discover new interests, develop skills, and explore future pathways beyond core academics. To ensure every student has access to a high-quality education, we utilize a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) that provides targeted interventions, accommodations, and enrichment opportunities tailored to individual needs. At the heart of our work is a commitment to fostering healthy relationships and engaging the whole child in a diverse and rigorous education. Guided by our mission — “At Ellicott Middle School, we are dedicated to ourselves, our work, and each other” — we strive to build a positive culture rooted in our PBIS values: Supportive, Open-minded, Accountable, and Resilient (SOAR). As Thunderhawks, we encourage our students to SOAR each day, building habits and character that prepare them for success in high school and beyond. Through strong partnerships with families, the military community, and local organizations, Ellicott Middle School creates a supportive and collaborative environment where all students are empowered to thrive.
Ellicott High School serves approximately 275 students from diverse backgrounds. Student demographics vary from generational ranchers and farmers to a significant immigrant population, while also serving military families at Schriever Space Force Base. The high school has implemented block scheduling in recent years with the intention to allow teachers to delve deep into content instead of a surface-level approach. The high school teaching staff has been developing curriculum maps to ensure that state standards are being met and the vertical alignment of content is on point. The high school has used pull-out intervention classes and support through designated seminar time. Staff is focusing on implementing best instructional practices. The high school has selected instructional strategies based on Hattie’s visible learning ratings.
Together, the Ellicott School District stands as a resilient and united community of learners, educators, and families. From preschool through high school, we are dedicated to providing inclusive, rigorous, and supportive educational experiences that honor our traditions while preparing students for the future. Despite the challenges of poverty, mobility, and the changing landscape of our community, Ellicott thrives through strong relationships, intentional instruction, and collaboration with families, the military, and local partners. As Thunderhawks, we soar together—committed to academic excellence, social-emotional growth, and empowering every student to achieve success.