Dear Students and Parents:

Thank you for taking the time to explore information about Heritage High School, the home of the Eagles. Heritage embraces our long-standing reputation as one of the premier high schools in the state of Colorado and the nation.

Heritage High School is a six-time winner of the John Irwin School of Excellence Award from the State of Colorado. This award recognizes the top eight percent of all schools in Colorado based on standardized test scores. Heritage has also been a past recipient of the Governor’s Award for improvement and growth on CMAS scores by our ninth and tenth graders.  Every year, our juniors exceed state and national averages on the SAT Exam. Between 2012 and 2019 we have had multiple students achieving a perfect 36 composite score on this exam.

Heritage High School has again been recognized as one of the nation’s best high schools by Newsweek magazine based on their “challenge index” which measures the success and accessibility of a school’s Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programming for all of its students. We are proud to place in the top tier of all public high schools in the United States based on this rating. Additionally in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Heritage High School was named to The Washington Post’s prestigious list of America’s Most Challenging High Schools in the nation as well as being named one of “America’s Best High Schools” by US News & World Report. We are also honored to recognize the accomplishments of our graduates as recipients of the prestigious Boettcher Scholarship for their excellence in academics and community service. Heritage Eagles has had received this amazing scholarship. Every year Heritage produces a number of National Merit Scholars and Daniel’s Fund Scholarship recipients. Heritage graduates have also been finalists for the Presidential Scholarship awarded to the top students in the nation. We are so proud of the academic excellence our students achieve every year.

Another source of pride for Heritage High School is that our students are 21st Century learners who are prepared for the complex problem-solving, adaptability and decision-making that tomorrow’s leaders need for success. To this end, we provide students a comprehensive, college preparatory curriculum that challenges all students while allowing them to explore talents and discover hidden passions. At Heritage, we believe that honors classes, AP classes and other challenging courses should be accessible to all students and therefore provide them the rigor needed for academic growth in a variety of areas.

Heritage High School is pleased to be one of the few high schools in the state of Colorado to offer students the opportunity to earn an AP Capstone diploma. This program allows students to explore analytic, research, problem-solving and communication skills that colleges seek in their applicants. Its offerings are inquiry-based, critical-thinking academic opportunities that allow students to explore areas of passion while at the same time exceeding the expectations of post-secondary readiness. This program is applauded by some of the highest performing universities and colleges nationwide for its ability to prepare students for their future goals and aspirations while creating a broader view of the world.

We offer a variety of paths for students to obtain post-secondary readiness and to enhance higher-order thinking skills. As a school community, we continue to meet the goals of our school’s Unified Improvement Plan by striving to have a minimum of 44.7 percent of our graduating seniors successfully complete an AP or College Ready course. We currently offer 25 Advanced Placement classes and are proud to report that 507 students took 970 Advanced Placement exams, and Heritage had an overall passing rate of 79 percent. This opportunity prepares students for the rigor of college courses and provides them the chance to earn college credit simultaneously while attending high school. Additionally, we are continuing our partnership with Arapahoe Community College (ACC) by offering five College Ready or concurrent enrollment classes as part of our regular school day. These post-secondary opportunities really allow our students to access and understand the expectations and work ethic required for success beyond the walls of Heritage.

Heritage has a proud tradition of athletic prominence, and our athletic department and coaches believe in developing winning programs based on character, pride, hard work and dedication. This focus on excellence has led to Heritage High School athletic programs being recognized for their outstanding performance with state, regional and district championships. 17 athletes have signed NCAA Division I, II and III athletic/academic scholarships.  17 athletes signed in 2018 in eight different sports. Over 60 percent of our student body participate in our athletic program creating within them self-discipline and a winning spirit that will serve them well throughout their lives.

In addition to striving for excellence academically and athletically, our students have continued to show their warm hearts and their commitment to civic responsibility through our partnership with our sister school in Sierra Leone, Africa. Our students have raised over $135,000 for the Heritage School of Kabala in Sierra Leone and the Dalit School in India, and more importantly they have raised awareness regarding global issues for the community at large. Our students have also embraced organizations close to home and dear to the Heritage community such as The Wounded Warrior Project, Doctors Without Borders and The Danny Dietz Foundation - honoring Heritage High School alumnus Navy Seal Danny Dietz. We couldn’t be more proud that Heritage students are making a difference in today’s world.

We recognize the importance of making the best choice for your student’s academic future. Comparative shopping is encouraged because finding the right fit and connection to a school is vital to student success. We invite your questions and are ready to offer you and your child all of our support as you undertake this important transition. We invite you to speak to our students, staff and families to learn more about our focus on academics, athletics and activities. We believe that it is the partnership between students, parents and staff that defines the spirit of excellence at Heritage High School and makes it the clear choice for creating a well-balanced approach to student success in all areas. Please don’t hesitate to call us for additional information; we can be reached at 303-347-7600.

Sincerely,

Stacey Riendeau, Principal