The Vanguard School is the top performing high school in Colorado. The Vanguard School is a Colorado Springs charter high school with a maximum enrollment of 400 students, and it is an extension of Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy.
It provides students with a classical liberal arts and sciences college preparatory curriculum stressing the development of moral character, basic skills, and logical analysis. The Colorado Springs charter high school emphasizes daily the self-respect which results from a child’s academic accomplishment, proper conduct and regard for others. Students perform important, rigorous work in a well-structured and caring environment. Both their conduct and dress must support the school’s seriousness of purpose. Every student is capable of achieving his potential to the fullest extent when afforded respect, fairness, kindness, discipline and appropriate instruction.
The Vanguard School's students have earned the highest ACT composite average in Colorado Springs! In addition, Vanguard has been consistently ranked at the top of the state based on CSAP/TCAP and in the nation (as reported by Newsweek and US News)!
We expect our students to attend college, and we prepare them accordingly. We offer over 10 courses in which students can earn college credit, and our college counseling program ensures students are on a path to success starting in 9th grade. Each year, our graduating class earns millions in scholarships.
What sets The Vanguard School apart:
- Exceptional reading, writing, and math skills
- Strong focus on virtue and leadership
- Mastery of facts and skills
- Emphasis on critical thinking
- Focus on the classics and our country's Western heritage
- A traditional, classical education
- College preparatory program
School Profile for the Academic Year of 2011-2012
Click here for a printable version. 
Colin Mullaney, Principal
Carole Tripoli, Assistant Principal
1605 South Corona Avenue • Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Phone: 719.471.1999 • Fax: 719.634.4180 • www.cmca12.com
CEEB Code: 060-249
Mission
The mission of The Vanguard School is to help guide students in development of their character and academic potential
through academically rigorous, content-rich educational programs.
Vision
We have created a public high school with a classically-based, college-preparatory curriculum
designed to develop academic excellence, virtue, and leadership.
Students benefit by being fully equipped to gain admittance to and enjoy success in the college of their choice.
The Vanguard School - Colorado Springs, CO
Community
The Vanguard School is situated on a 29-acre site just south of downtown Colorado Springs, adjacent to Interstate 25 and both commercial and residential properties. For the 2010-2011 school year, 18% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch and approximately 32% described themselves as minority students.
Enrollment for 2011-2012
Students are selected by lottery and attend from
seventeen school districts in and around Colorado Springs.
Priority is given to students from
Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy, our K-8 school.
Faculty
The teacher-to-student ratio at The Vanguard School is approximately 1 to 9. Our high school staff averages over five years of teaching experience. Nearly 50% of our high school staff holds advanced degrees. |
|
Graduation Requirements
Minimum Semester Credits for Graduation: 46
| English: |
8 |
|
World Language: |
6 |
| History: |
8 |
|
Physical Education: |
2 |
| Mathematics: |
8 |
|
Fine Arts: |
2 |
| Science: |
6 |
|
Academic Electives: |
6 |
Curriculum
The Vanguard School uses a classic, liberal arts curriculum that is designed to ensure that all students have met or exceeded the Colorado Commission on Higher Education admission standards to Colorado Colleges and Universities. The curriculum is academically rigorous and all core courses are taught at the honors level. AP courses have been offered each year since 2009, and concurrent enrollment courses through the University of Colorado have been offered since 2011.
Grading System
| Grade |
Unweighted |
Weighted (AP) |
Percentage |
| A |
4.0 |
5.0 |
90-100 |
| B |
3.0 |
4/0 |
80-89 |
| C |
2.0 |
3.0 |
70-79 |
| D |
1.0 |
1.0 |
65-69 |
| F |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0-64 |
The Vanguard School does not rank its students. |