Golden, CO (Oct. 24, 2019)
- Jeffco Public Schools premier Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center, Warren Tech, has officially selected the site of their third campus, located in the south region of the district. Warren Tech South will be built on the Dakota Ridge High School property in Littleton. The campus joins the Warren Tech campus family, which includes Warren Tech Central, located adjacent to Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, and Warren Tech North, located on the Arvada West High School property in Arvada.
Warren Tech integrates academics with CTE programs, focusing on postsecondary workforce readiness, and preparing students to competitively meet the challenges of our global society. Juniors and seniors from any Jeffco high school (as well as Platte Canyon, Gilpin, and Clear Creek) can apply to attend the school for half the day, spending the other half at their home high school. About 1,500 students from over 35 high schools make-up the current student body.
The planning team for Warren Tech South -- including project architects from Hord Coplan Macht -- toured several existing CTE campuses to gain insight for building design and academic offerings. “We have been exploring what other districts have been doing and some trade schools to figure out what makes the most sense for Warren Tech South, programmatically,” said Tim Reed, Executive Director, Facilities and Construction Management, for Jeffco Public Schools.
In selecting the placement of Warren Tech South, Dakota Ridge offered many of the elements needed for the new campus. “Dakota Ridge is a large site with good access. Warren Tech North at Arvada West High School has shown that the proximity to a large existing high school is a measure of success. The Warren Tech South campus will be ideally positioned, with the ability to serve two large high schools: Dakota Ridge and Chatfield,” Reed said.
Warren Tech South’s curriculum is still being finalized and will include programming in aviation, arts and design, hospitality, and health sciences. Industry partnerships are essential to students’ exploration of and preparation for future careers. “Warren Tech’s success is largely due to our industry partnerships. Our industry partners provide us with guidance, equipment, internships, and job shadowing opportunities, and volunteer their time to mentor our students,” said Heather Keeton, Warren Tech Principal. “They ensure we are providing the most current and relevant curriculum that best prepares students to enter the evolving workforce.”
The Warren Tech South campus is part of the Jeffco Public Schools Capital Improvement Program, funded in part by a voter-approved bond referendum in November 2018. The project budget is $10 million and is expected to open in the fall of 2021.
