D49 Adds to Campuses to List of Purple Star Schools

 9 more campuses (7 operated, 2 charter) in School District 49’s portfolio of exceptional schools are now among the state’s growing list of the Colorado Department of Education’s Purple Star Schools. The Purple Star designation recognizes a significant commitment to supporting military families and students of servicemen and women. Following Tuesday's official announcement at the State Capitol in Denver, every school in D49's Falcon Zone now holds the Purple Star status.     

“The recognition at the capitol was an incredibly powerful moment for our Falcon Zone community. It affirmed the intentional, collective work happening across all seven schools and elevated its importance beyond our local community,” said Brian Smith, superintendent of the Falcon Zone. “What made it most meaningful was knowing this recognition represents our military-connected students and families in their experiences, their resilience, and their sense of belonging in our schools. It was a moment of pride, but also a clear reminder that this work matters deeply and must continue with purpose and care.” 

Governor Jared Polis, alongside State Board of Education Chair Rebecca McClellan and Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova celebrated the state’s 22 newest Purple Star Schools Tuesday. 

“Education is a top priority for my administration, and making sure that our military-connected students and families have access to schools and education that work best for them is key to taking care of those who bravely serve our nation in uniform,” said Governor Polis. 

Established by HB-1076 in 2024, the Purple Star Program acknowledges public schools that are dedicated to providing essential services that help mitigate the unique challenges of military life, including frequent student relocations, starting new schools, parental deployments, and adapting to different social and academic environments. 

Falcon Middle School and Bennett Ranch Elementary School were in the inaugural class of 27 Colorado schools that received the state's first Purple Star School designation in 2025. They are joined this year by the following FZ schools: 

• Falcon Elementary School of Technology – Falcon Zone
• Falcon High School – Falcon Zone
• Meridian Ranch Elementary School – Falcon Zone
• Patriot Applied Learning Campus – Falcon Zone
• Woodmen Hills Elementary School – Falcon Zone

And the following D49 operated schools:

• Inspiration View Elementary School – POWER Zone
• Springs Ranch Elementary – Sand Creek Zone 

“As a military mom, this recognition is especially meaningful to me,” said Pam Holloman, principal of Inspiration View Elementary School. “At IVES, our goal is to be a beacon for military families moving into the POWER Zone in D49. We want these brave families to know that they are supported, valued, celebrated, and cared for every single day. We are honored to be recognized as a Purple Star School and are committed to continuing this important work in support of every military student and family we serve.”

"Earning the Purple Star designation is an incredible honor, and is super exciting for our campus," said Mako Winston, principal, at Springs Ranch Elementary School. "We are deeply committed to supporting our military-connected students and families, and this recognition reflects all of the hard work our staff, students, and families have put into creating a welcoming, supportive, and connected environment. We will continue to strive to do our very best in honoring the unique experiences of our military families and ensure they feel valued and supported every single day at Springs Ranch.

Banning Lewis Ranch Academy and Grand Peak Academy, two public charter schools authorized by the district, round out the list of schools honored at the capitol.   

"I’m so proud of our schools being awarded the Purple Star designation! It is amazing to see the work taking place, starting right at the elementary level, to build leaders and welcome new faces,” shared Kelli Chappelle, D49’s military student & family liaison. “Thank you to all of the leaders, staff and teachers who are doing this work daily to support our military community.  As a military spouse myself, I know how much it means to find a district that doesn't just 'enroll' us, but truly embraces and supports us as a family.”

“What makes this especially meaningful is that it represents a system-wide effort,” Smith added. “Across every school, teams have been intentional about building strong connections, creating consistent supports, and ensuring that every military-connected student feels welcomed, valued, and supported from day one. This isn’t just a milestone for the Falcon Zone, it’s a reflection of who we are and the standard we hold ourselves to in serving every student and family.” 

Purple Star Schools must meet specific criteria, including offering dedicated programs and resources for military-connected students and their families. More information about the Purple Star Program is available on the Colorado Department of Education’s website. A Purple Star designation is valid for three years.