The top reported proficiency rate is 10% in Math. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Hope Online Learning Academy High School
HOPE Online Learning Academy High School is a charter school in Englewood, Colorado, serving grades nine through twelve as part of the Douglas County School District. Its name describes its model: an online learning academy, which may mean instruction is delivered or supplemented digitally, though the school is classified as a regular school. The student body is large for a single high school, and the population is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of white students and very small numbers from other racial and ethnic groups. A high proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with considerable economic need.
State assessment results show low academic performance. In mathematics, the share of students scoring proficient or above was in the single digits. In science, the proficiency rate was similarly low. English language arts results were suppressed by the state and not publicly reported, which often happens when the number of students in a reporting group is too small to release reliably, though participation rates in testing were moderate. These figures place the school well below typical benchmarks, and a parent considering HOPE Online Learning Academy would want to understand how the school addresses these academic challenges and what supports are in place for students who are behind.
A graduation rate for the school was not available in the data reviewed, so it is not possible to speak to how many students complete high school here. Other indicators such as chronic absenteeism, course access, and staffing ratios were also absent, leaving gaps in the picture. A parent may want to ask the school directly about these areas.
The school is situated in Englewood, a city with a distinctive mix of neighborhoods. The northwest quadrant holds the oldest housing stock and a historic downtown with restaurants and small businesses, anchored by CityCenter Englewood, a transit-oriented redevelopment built on the site of a former mall that includes the public library, city offices, and a light rail station. A free trolley connects the station to downtown, the medical district, and the civic center. The northeast is dominated by two major hospitals—Swedish Medical Center and Craig Hospital—which together form the city’s economic backbone. The southwest contains industrial facilities alongside newer housing, and the Hampden Hills neighborhood in the southeast is the newest and wealthiest part of the city, with many apartment complexes. This variety means families coming to HOPE Online Learning Academy could be renting or buying in different parts of Englewood or commuting from elsewhere; the school’s charter status means attendance boundaries may not apply, so the housing market context is more about overall affordability than a specific catchment area.
The parent district, Douglas County School District, has recently made major financial investments. Voters approved a mill levy override in 2022 that provides ongoing funding for teacher and staff compensation, mental health support, and social-emotional learning programs—the first such override in many years. In 2024, voters passed a large bond for new school construction, safety upgrades, technology, and facility renovations, along with another mill levy override focused on teacher recruitment and retention. The district also implemented a new evidence-based literacy curriculum across all elementary schools starting in the 2023-24 school year. It is not clear from the available data how these district-level initiatives apply to HOPE Online Learning Academy as a charter school, but the district’s direction suggests a broader effort to invest in educator quality and student support.
Because the comparison pool within Douglas County contained too few districts to yield meaningful positioning, it is not possible to say how this school’s performance or demographics compare to neighboring districts. The most salient facts are the school’s online learning model, its high level of student poverty, and its low state test results. A parent considering enrollment should seek direct information from the school about its curriculum, graduation rates, student support services, and how it helps students who arrive below grade level.
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