Admissions - Colorado’s Finest High School Of Choice

YOUR FINEST FUTURE AWAITS

Welcome to the Admissions page for students interested in enrolling at Colorado's Finest High School of Choice.

Overview

Colorado's Finest High School is a school of choice serving students in the Denver Metro Area. We enroll new students every 6 weeks.

Session starts for 2024-25:

Session 1: August 13
Session 2: September 23
Session 3: November 4
Session 4: January 7
Session 5: February 18
Session 6: April 9

To enroll for 6th Session, all processes and paperwork must be completed by March 27.

Please follow the Admissions Process below if you are interested in enrolling your student in our school.

Colorado's Finest is part of the Englewood School District. 80% of our students open-enroll from the surrounding school district. All students, including those from Englewood, must complete testing as part of the open enrollment process.

Our classes are designed based on ability level rather than grade level. The ability tests for Math and Reading cover standards addressed in Middle School and are required to ensure students can succeed in the courses offered at the school without the need of too many accommodations. As a small school, we are unable to offer team-taught classes, direct one-on-one instruction, etc. We do strive to keep classes small (usually no larger than 18 students), have alternative seating arrangements, chunk material into more manageable sizes, and we do not assign homework.

The testing environment is designed to reflect the accommodations all students will receive at school. Students are given extra time, allowed to move and stretch, provided a calculator, and can retake the test if needed. No further accommodations can be made during the test session.

Testing consists of four components:

Student Information: to assist with initial scheduling (student interest in Fine Arts and Electives classes, Preferred Start Time, etc.)
Math test (students are provided a calculator and paper to work out the problems)
Reading test
Writing Sample (not graded but allows for placement in the appropriate Writing level class.)

Please check in with the front office upon arrival.

Parents/Guardians are not required to check in their students for testing, but are encouraged to bring any paperwork to help streamline the process. Parents/Guardians can wait in the office, in their car, or take the opportunity to grab a coffee.

The test is untimed, usually takes about 45 minutest complete, and students are welcome to retake it multiple times if it helps alleviate test anxiety. We discourage re-taking the test on the same day.

Students are encouraged to review the Math Practice Worksheet. These samples feature the same types of questions students will encounter on the test. A perfect score is not necessary, but the more prepared a student is, the less stressed they will feel.

Math Practice Review

Math Practice Review Step-by-Step

Register for Testing

Schedule a Tour

Why Finest?

What type of students choose Finest?

Alternative schools vary greatly in structure and purpose. There isn't one specific reason or demographic that drives students to choose Colorado's Finest. Some seek a smaller environment with fewer than 300 students, while others value our inclusive policies. Additionally, some students come to us to escape bullying and appreciate our zero tolerance for bullying and fighting.

We foster strong relationships between students and staff, emphasizing mutual respect in all interactions. We don't expect all students to become best friends, but no one has the right to make another student feel devalued. We have fostered a culture of acceptance and support that is unmatched. We value student individuality, as long as student's words and actions do not negatively impact other students or the community.

Our six-week schedule helps students stay on track and avoid falling behind. Each session, students select new classes based on their interests and credit requirements, with guidance from their Family Teacher and Counselors. Essentially, students receive a reset or "fresh start" every six weeks.

Pathways

At Colorado's Finest, every student will create a career pathway known as a Finest Future Plan. We collaborate with students to help them select a career path that aligns with their personal preferences by identifying their ideal working conditions (such as inside/outside, solo/team, travel/no travel, etc.) and matching them to a suitable career. Our partnership with Arapahoe Community College allows us to offer Concurrent Enrollment classes to our students. We also have a partnership with surrounding districts to offer Career and Technical Educational opportunities such as Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Nursing, Automotive, Behavioral Health, Engineering, Cybersecurity, etc. No matter the career path a student chooses, we are dedicated to helping them turn it into a reality.

Career Pathways May Include:

College Prep Pathway: Focuses on classes that prepare students for college. Engaging with the material actively (e.g., through summarizing, questioning, or teaching others) rather than passively reading or listening enhances comprehension. Being able to construct logical arguments and analyze information critically will help in writing essays, participating in discussions, and solving academic problems. Being able to write clear, organized, and well-supported essays is crucial in college. In college, students need to take initiative in seeking help from professors, tutors, or counselors when they struggle with academic or personal challenges. Learning how to bounce back from academic or personal setbacks in high school will help students cope with the pressures and challenges of college life.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway: Offers practical, hands-on training in fields like healthcare, information technology, business, culinary arts, and trades, providing students with skills directly applicable to their future careers.
Career readiness: Students can develop key workforce skills that will help them succeed in the workplace. Through career-related learning experiences at Englewood Schools, they have the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge alongside professional traits, setting them up for success in their future careers.
Military Service: Military service requires a high level of physical fitness. Students should engage in regular physical activities like running, strength training, and endurance exercises to meet fitness standards. A strong academic foundation, especially in subjects like mathematics, science, and English, can help with military tests and prepare students for technical roles within the military. Participating in school activities, or volunteer work can help students develop leadership, responsibility, and problem-solving skills, all of which are valuable in the military.

Admissions Checklist

It takes time to complete the process of enrollment. To avoid unnecessary delays with your application, please ensure you complete each of the steps in enrollment process. Scroll down on this page for a more detailed description of each step.

Step 1: Complete the Enrollment Request form
Step 2: Complete and Pass Student Testing
Step 3: Submit Student Records
Step 4: Attend Parent/Guardian and Student Orientation
Step 5: Complete the District Enrollment process (registration in Infinite Campus)
Step 6: Submit Orientation Paperwork and any outstanding documents and paperwork.
Step 7: Formal Acceptance Notification

Admissions Process

Follow the steps below to complete the Admissions Process.

Step 1: Enrollment Request

Complete the following link for each interested student. Once you have completed the Online Enrollment Request, a school representative will reach out to you and assist with the rest of the enrollment process. This will be our primary mode of contacting you, so please include an email that is regularly checked.

If you have questions during the enrollment process, please contact us at cfhsc_info@engschools.net.

Step 2: Student Testing

Interested students must attend and pass Enrollment Tests for Reading and Math.

Follow this link to reserve your testing time: Schedule Testing

Make sure you have completed the Enrollment Request prior to attending testing.

Testing will take between 45 and 75 minutes and students will be informed immediately if they pass.

Please check in with the front office when you arrive.

Step 3: Student Records

To prevent delays in the process, please share copies of any relevant educational records, such as Transcripts or in-progress grades, as early in the process as possible.

Copies can be brought to testing, dropped off at the school, or emailed directly to cfhsc_info@engschools.net.

Step 4: Parent/Guardian Orientation

Parent/Guardian Orientations are mandatory for both the student and a parent/guardian.

Students should have completed testing prior to attending Orientation. Both are required for completing the enrollment process.

Complete the Orientation Reservation to reserve your spot and view upcoming orientations.

Missing Orientation before a session begins will result in a student waiting to begin classes at the beginning of a following session.

Step 5: District Enrollment

Complete the District Enrollment online registration form for Infinite Campus.

Scroll down and choose “Start New Registration.”
Make sure pop-up windows are not blocked.
This must be completed even if your current or former school used Infinite Campus; the systems to do connect.

Please consult the following documents if you need assistance with the enrolling in Infinite Campus. If you need further assistance, email or visit the school and we can assist you.

Step 6: Orientation Paperwork

Supporting documents (Transcripts, behavior report, guardianship paperwork, educational plans, or immunization records) can be brought to orientation or emailed to cfhsc_info@engschools.net.

The following documents are required as part of the enrollment process. You may download and complete them now or wait until Orientation. Printed copies of these forms will be available at Orientation. If you need assistance, please let us know at Orientation or stop by the school.

Please include the student's name in the email.

Step 7: Welcome Email

Your application for enrollment can be finalized once all of the previous steps are completed.

Once finalized, you will receive an official welcome email from the Principal welcoming you to the school with introductory information.

Step 8: Meet Family Teacher

Transcripts and grade reports you provide will be used by the Counselors to create a schedule for your first session. The Registrar will request official transcripts from your previous school and apply any additional credit once received. You will then be greeted by your new Family Teacher by phone or email to introduce themselves and review the schedule.

Step 9: First Day of School

Your student will arrive for their first day at Finest and be greeted in the office by someone who will show them their classes and review their schedule.

School supplies may be dropped off in the Main Office at any time.