Original Research by School Decision on Soar Academy
SOAR Academy is an alternative high school serving grades nine through twelve in Englewood, Colorado, part of the Sheridan School District No. 2. The school’s designation as an alternative school is central to understanding it. It is not a comprehensive neighborhood high school offering a wide array of Advanced Placement courses or a large athletic program. It is a small, focused setting designed for students who have not thrived in a traditional school environment or who need a different approach to earn their diploma. The enrollment is modest for a four-year high school, and the grade distribution is notably weighted toward seniors, a pattern often seen in alternative schools where students are working to complete credits and graduate.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a far smaller share of white students and very few students of other racial or ethnic backgrounds. A substantial majority of students come from low-income households, as indicated by the share qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported. The school does not have state testing results, a four-year graduation rate, or chronic absenteeism data in the available records. These gaps are not unusual for an alternative school; many such schools serve populations that are not assessed in the same way as traditional high schools, and graduation rate calculations may follow different pathways or timelines. A parent who is considering SOAR Academy should ask the school directly about its graduation outcomes, credit recovery options, and how it measures student progress, because the standard public metrics do not give a clear picture here.
Englewood itself is a city with distinct quadrants. The northwest quadrant holds the oldest housing and the downtown core, which has seen significant redevelopment around CityCenter, a transit-oriented project that includes a light rail station, civic buildings, and retail. The northeast quadrant is anchored by two major hospitals, Swedish Medical Center and Craig Hospital, which are the city’s largest employers. The southwest has a mix of industrial facilities and newer housing, while the southeast is mostly residential and newer. Hampden Hills, in the southeast, is the wealthiest and newest part of town and has many apartment complexes. The city has a walkable downtown, a free trolley connecting the light rail station to downtown and the medical district, and off-street trails along the South Platte River. Housing values in the zip code are moderate relative to the state as a whole, and rents are slightly below the national average for a similar-size metro area.
The Sheridan School District has not had any major recent changes publicly reported that would shift the landscape for families, such as a bond measure, redistricting, or a curriculum overhaul. That means the district’s basic structure and offerings are stable for the near term.
SOAR Academy fits a specific need in the community. A parent choosing this school is likely looking for a smaller, more flexible environment where their high school student can recover credits, work at a different pace, or receive more individualized support than a large comprehensive high school might provide. The absence of typical achievement data is not necessarily a sign of poor performance; it reflects the school’s alternative mission. Families should be prepared to ask pointed questions about post-graduation outcomes, college and career counseling, and how the school helps students transition after leaving. The surrounding city offers a mix of urban amenities, parks, and transit access, which could be a benefit for students who commute independently. For a family whose student needs a nontraditional pathway, SOAR Academy may be a purposeful fit, but the lack of public-facing metrics means the decision relies heavily on a direct conversation with the school’s staff.
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