STEM School Highlands Ranch

The school originally opened as STEM School and Academy to 480 students, grades 6–9, on August 15th, 2011.[3] It was led by principal David Floodeen.[3][4] In 2012, the board of directors hired Dr. Penny Eucker as executive director. Following that decision, the school moved from being ranked one of the lowest-performing in Colorado to number 12 out of 333.[4] A grade was added each year until they were a 6-12 in 2014. That year, STEM finished its renovations and turned its gym into a two-story high school, containing a weight room, art room with kiln, and a chemistry lab.

STEM's first graduating class consisted of 1 student in 2015. The board of directors wanted to expand, which resulting in the lease and remodeling of the conjoining building, adding the first 5th grade class in fall 2015.[4] Of the original 113, only 25 remained at STEM as part of the graduating class of 2023.

Grades K-4 were added in fall of 2016, officially making the school a K-12.[4] In 2017, the school rebranded and changed its name to STEM School Highlands Ranch, also adopting a new tagline, new mission statement, and new logo.[4]

In 2018, anti-suicide programs were implemented to try to lower chances of suicide and school shootings.

In the Fall of 2019, STEM School Highlands Ranch purchased the building that houses grades k-5.

In the Fall of 2020, STEM purchased the neighboring building to house its P-TECH program and the Business Offices for STEM School Highlands Ranch as well as the Charter Network Main Offices of KOSON Network of Schools.

In the Fall of 2021, the school finalized a master plan which includes four new classrooms, relocating the middle school cafeteria to construct a new gym, and a night/new grand entry with a proposed school logo mural. The proposed finish date would be in early 2023. The plan would also be divided into two phases.

The efforts for replicating the flagship campus of STEM School Highlands Ranch began in earnest in the Fall of 2021 as the school hired a Replication Officer. The STEM Board of Directors began to officially organize KOSON Network of Schools to serve as the Charter Network organization. STEM/KOSON then submitted two applications for replication, one to Denver Public Schools (STEM School Denver K-5) and one to Douglas County Schools (STEM School Sterling Ranch K-12) in March of 2022. Applications are pending approval with both school districts as of May 2022.

In the Winter/Spring of 2022, Penny Eucker was named CEO of KOSON Network of Schools and LynAnn Kovalesky was promoted, from Elementary School Director to the Interim Executive Director of STEM School Highlands Ranch. That summer, Penny Eucker resigned from her position as CEO, and Dr. Karen Johnson took her place as Interim CEO.[5][6]

The campus has three engineering labs, four computer labs, a chemistry lab, a weight room, one small gym, and three parking lots which encase the building on all but the north side of the school facility.