Academic Support

Counselors for each of our schools are available for students and families to answer questions and assist with any academic and course information.

Need Counseling Support?

If you would like to see your counselor, please fill out one of the forms to the right.

This form will be checked 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. each school day and will not be checked on weekends, holidays, or breaks. If this is an emergency and outside of school hours, PLEASE complete one of the following options:

  1. Go to your nearest emergency room or call 911
  2. Call the crisis hotline: 1-844-493-8255 or Text “TALK” to 38255
  3. Call safe2tell at 1-877-542-7233 or submit a tip on their website at safe2tell.org

Counseling Information by School

Information about Course Credits and Transcripts - Juniors & Seniors

For students who are interested in dropping any High School credits that were earned in Middle School (because it will negatively affect their GPA), please complete the form via the button below.  Please note, the course will still show up on your transcript, but the credit and GPA calculations disappear. Students must make sure that they still have the required credits in that content area.

  • Juniors must turn the form in by the end of this semester.
  • Seniors must turn the form in by Friday, March 11.

Concurrent Enrollment

Beyond advanced placement courses, we offer Concurrent Enrollment (CE), enabling students to take classes both on our campus and off campus for college credit, while still enrolled in high school.

We have agreements with several community colleges and four-year universities where students can attend. On campus, students are eligible to take CE courses taught by members of our highly-qualified high school teaching staff for college credit.

With a guarantee transfer of credit to Colorado public universities, this opportunity provides both an additional pathway for rigorous coursework, and is an ideal way for families to save money on college tuition. For out-of-state schools, students must check directly with the school’s admissions department.

For further information about Concurrent Enrollment at STEM, please contact Nicole Ryan (nicole.ryan@stemk12.org), Career Discovery Coordinator.

Credit Equivalency Board Policies

Students completing college-level concurrent enrollment college level courses with a grade of C- or higher will be awarded credit equivalency as follows:

1 semester credit .5 year high school credit
2-3 semester credits 1 year high school credit
4 semester credits 1.5 years high school credit
5 semester credits 2 years high school credit

Community Service Requirements

Through community service, students are given opportunities to become responsible citizens by helping others while learning selflessness and fostering personal growth. Every student attending a Douglas County School is required to fulfill a 20-hour community service requirement outside of their home and family environment in order to graduate. To be counted toward the graduation requirement, this service must commence after the successful completion of eighth grade. All hours must be documented on a DCSD Community Service Form along with the Student Reflection to be processed. Any activity that meets the DCSD Guidelines will be accepted. All hours documented will be noted on the student’s transcript.

STEM Scholar Community Service Requirement

In order to earn the STEM Scholar recognition, students are required to log 100 hours of community service.

Senior Checklist for Graduation

Important Dates
  • Saturday, Aug. 15 – Senior Fees (AP exams-Spring)
  • Sunday, Oct. 31 – Senior Photos due-email yearbook@s.stemk12.org
  • Monday, April 15 – ICAP (Individual Career and Academic Planning) *You must complete these to graduate!* (in Naviance)
  • Friday, March 8 – Last Day to Drop MS GPA weight and credit worth (grade itself remains on transcript)
  • Monday, March 25 – Community Service Hours are due
  • Friday, April 25 – Prom
  • Friday, May 10 – Last Day of School and Senior BBQ Friday
  • Thursday, May 16 – Honor Night
  • Monday, May 20 – Graduation at 10 a.m. at Echo Park Stadium
Letters of Recommendations

Make sure Mrs. Myrick (kelli.myrick@stemk12.org) has your PPP and you request the letter a MINIMUM of 3 weeks before the application deadline. Please allow 3 weeks for teachers as well.

STEM Scholar

STEM Scholar- Scholar has very specific requirements- read carefully!

  • 4 Language Arts credits
  • 4 Math credits (1 credit must be advanced level- Trig/PreCalc or above)
  • 3 Science credits
  • 3.5 Social Studies credits (must have one semester of Government) AND (must have US History or World History)
  • 7 STEM Elective credits
  • 1 Fine Arts credit
  • 1 PE credit
  • 2 World Language credits (same language)
  • 4.5 General Elective credits (these can also be STEM elective credits if you have already fulfilled your 7 STEM elective credits)

ALSO

  • A 3.5 GPA or higher
  • 100 community service hours (for the senior class only, modified due to COVID)
  • Minimum of 2 CE and/or AP classes
Naviance Assistance

Contact your counselor if you are having trouble logging in or forgot your login info.

Naviance tasks to complete:

  • Scholarship Search
  • Senior survey
  • Revise Resume
  • Revise Game Plan
  • Revise Post-Secondary workforce goal in a journal
Fees

Log in to your My School Bucks account and make sure you don’t have any outstanding fees.

Check your credits!

Check with your counselor to make sure you have all the credits you need in order to graduate.

Who to contact with questions

If you have any questions, please reach out to your counselor!

504 Information

STEM School Highlands Ranch

8773 Ridgeline Blvd.

Highlands Ranch, CO. 80129

303-683-STEM (7836)

What is Section 504?

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a civil rights statute that protects persons with disabilities from discrimination. It states that:

“No otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall solely by reason of her or his disability be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

The Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) contains similar prohibitions against discrimination.

Under Section 504, school districts are required to make their programs and activities (including non-academic and extracurricular programs and activities) accessible to all individuals with disabilities and to provide students with disabilities a free appropriate public education (“FAPE”). A FAPE includes the provision of regular or special education, related aids and services, and other accommodations designed to meet the individual educational needs of the student.

Please note that Section 504 applies to all students with disabilities – including those students eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”).

What do we provide?

At STEM we collaborate with students, teachers, and families to develop appropriate 504 plans that meet the needs of learners with disabilities by providing accommodations to help students benefit from the educational programming and activities of the school.

Standards of Operation:

  • MiddleSchooland HighSchool meetings are scheduled 30 minutes prior to the start of the school day to allow general education teachers to attend. Elementary School meetings are scheduled at the conclusion of the school day for 30 minutes.
  • 504 meetings are scheduled for 30 minutes. If additional time is needed, a second meeting will need to be scheduled. Please review the 504 Plan and supporting documentation before attending the 504 meeting.

Effective Flow of Communication

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s 504 Plan, please use the information below as a guide. Always begin at the top of the chart and move down, as needed, to address concerns and achieve resolution.

Grade-Level Teacher

STEM Section 504 Coordinator

ES (k-5): Libby Rivera (libby.rivera@stemk12.org)

MS (6-8): Lily Williams (lily.williams@stemk12.org) (A-L); Lisa Clay (M-Z) (lisa.clay@stemk12.org)

HS (9-12): Colene Belisle (A-L) (colene.belisle@stemk12.org); Madison Grebe (M-Z) (madison.grebe@stemk12.org)

School Directors

ES – Amie McElroy (amy.mcelroy@stemk12.org)

MS: Maura Ridder (maura.ridder@stemk12.org)

HS: Ryan Alsup (ryan.alsup@stemk12.org)

Director of Student Support

Dr. Jistine Harrison (jistine.harrison@stemk12.org)

District 504 Liaison

Marta McGovern (mmcgovern@dcsdk12.org)