Our History

On June 3, 1993, Governor Roy Romer signed legislation known as the Charter School Act. It was designed to enable parents, teachers and community members to take responsible risks and create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating all children within the public school system which result in expanded choices for parents and pupils. Each charter school works with its school district, negotiating terms for meeting academic and fiscal expectations. Charter schools have alternative educational philosophies, such as Core Knowledge, Montessori or experiential-based learning.

The founders of PRA saw a need for a Core Knowledge school in the Highlands Ranch area after they had difficulty getting their own children into the existing Core Knowledge schools in the area. The founders were not trying to reinvent the wheel when they started PRA; they simply looked at what was working at other successful Core Knowledge schools and tried to improve upon those things.

As a public school of choice, PRA offers students and their families a curriculum alternative. The academic program follows the Core Knowledge Foundation’s content based curriculum as outlined in the Scope and Sequence and in the book series by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., What Your First Grader Needs to Know, et al.PRA has high academic expectations and emphasizes the mastery of basic skills, such as language arts and mathematics. Teachers strive to integrate curriculum and instruction across disciplines and to develop students’ problem solving and critical thinking skills. Homework assignments are given on a regular basis to reinforce classroom learning.

Character values include integrity, respect, responsibility and compassion and are strongly encouraged.