Our Story
Horizons started as a Kindergarten-6th grade, two-year pilot program in 1991 with 92 students in two portable facilities.
We have continued to grow, becoming a charter school in 1997.
Teacher-led, Horizons has been educating students successfully for over 30 years!
Our Vision
Our vision is to develop a community of reflective learners who advocate for themselves, others, and a just world.
Our Mission
Our mission at Horizons is to guide students to become self-directed learners in a supportive,
collaborative environment rooted in critical thinking, justice, and choice.
2025-26 Enrollment: 370 K-8 students
Small Class Sizes: Average Student/Teacher ratio is 11 to 1
Instructional Approach: Self-Directed Learning
Horizons maintains an additional website, managed and operated by the Horizons Community Group (parent volunteers).
To take a look at all of our community-building and fundraising events and to see what is on the Horizon, click here.
4545 Sioux Drive Boulder, Colorado 80303
horizonsk8.office@bvsd.org / 720.561.3600
Proud to be a BVSD school. Learn more and enroll at bvsd.org.
Horizons K8 Nondiscrimination Policy
Please use this link to Report Bullying Concerns
School Calendar
District News
![Kids standing in a classroom]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1771021628/bvsdorg/h3xlp1y9ynk5erp6ixwq/BVSD_1MJ6658.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1771021628/bvsdorg/h3xlp1y9ynk5erp6ixwq/BVSD_1MJ6658.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1771021628/bvsdorg/h3xlp1y9ynk5erp6ixwq/BVSD_1MJ6658.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1771021628/bvsdorg/h3xlp1y9ynk5erp6ixwq/BVSD_1MJ6658.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1771021628/bvsdorg/h3xlp1y9ynk5erp6ixwq/BVSD_1MJ6658.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1771021628/bvsdorg/h3xlp1y9ynk5erp6ixwq/BVSD_1MJ6658.jpg","width":2200}])
- The third Annual Enrollment Trend report provides enrollment projections for each school. Aligning with overall district enrollment projections, most elementary schools will continue to decline over the next 5 years.
- Due to the number and districtwide distribution of elementary schools with enrollment projected to dip below two classes per grade, BVSD will be looking at regional options for reshaping the district’s portfolio of schools.
- District leadership and Board members have been holding teacher roundtables at elementary schools to hear from educators about the impacts of enrollment decline and what needs to be protected as BVSD considers how to reshape its portfolio of school buildings.
![Chavez Feature]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1770915058/bvsdorg/zpywsexftazgzebj0yxd/Chavez_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1770915058/bvsdorg/zpywsexftazgzebj0yxd/Chavez_1.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1770915058/bvsdorg/zpywsexftazgzebj0yxd/Chavez_1.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1770915058/bvsdorg/zpywsexftazgzebj0yxd/Chavez_1.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1770915058/bvsdorg/zpywsexftazgzebj0yxd/Chavez_1.jpg","width":1279}])
A Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) K-12 alum, turned Platt night custodian and full time student became Emerald Elementary’s award-winning, innovative Physical Education teacher who is beloved by students, staff and the Broomfield community.
![BVSD dark blue logo]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1741983816/bvsdorg/xgxbxzniexfjflupbx8a/BVSDHorizLogo-English.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1741983816/bvsdorg/xgxbxzniexfjflupbx8a/BVSDHorizLogo-English.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1741983816/bvsdorg/xgxbxzniexfjflupbx8a/BVSDHorizLogo-English.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1741983816/bvsdorg/xgxbxzniexfjflupbx8a/BVSDHorizLogo-English.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1741983816/bvsdorg/xgxbxzniexfjflupbx8a/BVSDHorizLogo-English.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1741983816/bvsdorg/xgxbxzniexfjflupbx8a/BVSDHorizLogo-English.png","width":2200}])
We are entering a challenging but important period of planning for the future of the Boulder Valley School District, which includes consolidation, closure, or programmatic changes at the elementary level. We want to begin by sharing our commitment to you and to our community.
![Chris Brecht]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1770664016/bvsdorg/qg9mpnjlyi7jvffymypa/ChrisBrecht.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1770664016/bvsdorg/qg9mpnjlyi7jvffymypa/ChrisBrecht.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1770664016/bvsdorg/qg9mpnjlyi7jvffymypa/ChrisBrecht.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1770664016/bvsdorg/qg9mpnjlyi7jvffymypa/ChrisBrecht.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1770664016/bvsdorg/qg9mpnjlyi7jvffymypa/ChrisBrecht.png","width":1536}])
Leadership Profile, Chris Brecht: ‘Humble Leadership’ at the center of strategic plan implementation
While it is true that often other strategic plans or educational trends have come and gone, the fact that the focus on this strategic plan is based on foundational best practices that produce significant outcomes for students makes it easier for educators to implement the practices now and into the future. Chris Brecht’s role as the Director of Strategic Initiatives now is to continue to push the institution forward.
![BVSD flag]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1767390522/bvsdorg/zopukse4hqu7hensylko/BVSDFlag.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1767390522/bvsdorg/zopukse4hqu7hensylko/BVSDFlag.jpg","width":460}])
In light of accelerating enrollment decline and the associated reduction of funding, the Board of Education says more substantial action is needed to allow BVSD to use resources more efficiently and maintain the high-quality learning experiences students currently receive.