Community Investments Report 2025
When you make an investment, your goal is to see growth over time. In recent years, you made an investment in 27J Schools through the 2021 School Construction Bond and the 2022 Mill Levy Override.
Your hard-earned tax dollars support expanded opportunities for students. Thanks to your investment, students get a competitive edge for their future careers. Your investment means safer schools and high-quality teachers.
This report is your guide to how funds are being used and the results we’re getting.
MLO At a Glance: What's been invested so far?
Mill Levy Override investment, by category, in millions as of February 2025:
Last year, total allocations in each category were:
Teacher & Staff Pay - $2.5 million
Safety - $1.9 million
STEM/CTE - $656,319
Charters - $5 million
The majority of funds has been allocated to charter schools because they receive their portion right off the top. The remaining funds are for future programs that align with the Mill Levy Override ballot language.
Mill Levy Override: By the Numbers
Teacher & Support Staff Pay
The graph below show 27J's 2024 and 2025 beginning teacher salaries as compared to those of the other four metro Adams County school districts for the current school year.
Thanks to your investment in the mill levy override, we continue to keep our teacher pay competitive. This means we're more competitive in recruiting high-quality staff.
Before the Mill Levy Override was passed, 27J Schools was 17% below the market average for beginning teacher salaries. Thanks to the teacher pay increases funded by the MLO, we've narrowed that gap to 6%.
In addition, our teacher retention rate increased by 6% as more educators choose to continue their careers with 27J Schools.
No MLO funds are used for administrative salary increases.
Mill Levy Override: By the Numbers
Student Safety
Your investment allows us to support a growing safety and security team. The first year after the MLO was approved, we added 63 new safety staff, including armed guards in all elementary schools.
In the current school year, we’ve added 15 more team members, bringing our total safety staff to 78.
In addition to hiring more safety staff, the MLO funding also provides for year-round training exercises that involve our safety team, medical response team and school staff.
1.9average incidents per school in 2024-2025
62safety issues responded to by SSG's
187safety drills conducted at schools
*These incidents consist of any activation of a Standard Response Protocol (SRP). 27J Schools uses the five SRP's: Secure, Lockdown, Hold, Evacuate and Shelter.
Mill Levy Override: By the Numbers
STEM/Career & Technical Education (CTE)
The historic investments made by the community in STEM/Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses through Bond and MLO funding continue to reap rewards.
By building dedicated centers for programs and expanding staffing, more students are getting hands-on experience in various fields.
The graph below shows the increase in CTE enrollment among high school students from the year before voters passed the MLO through the current school year.
800+students earned industry certifications last year
More students are also earning industry certifications that give them a competitive edge once they graduate.
Five years ago, only 240 students had earned industry certifications. Fast forward to the 2023-2024 school year and the opening of our state-of-the-art STEM/CTE centers, and that number has nearly quadrupled to more than 800!
Bond At a Glance: What's been invested so far?
2021 Bond Investment, by category, in millions as of February 2025:
So far, the majority of bond funds have been spent on new schools and the STEM/CTE centers at each of our high schools. The remaining funds are budgeted to be spent in the coming years.
2021 Bond: By the Numbers
Projects Underway
Rocky Vista High School
$126 million
Completion Date:
Fall 2027
Talon Ridge Middle School
$77 million
Completion Date:
Fall 2026
North Transportation Terminal
$10.4 million
Completion Date:
Spring 2025
2021 Bond: By the Numbers
Improvement Projects
Parking Lot Improvements - $4.9 million
Henderson Elementary, Innovations & Options, Overland Trail Middle School, Pennock Elementary, Prairie View High School, Second Creek Elementary, Southeast Elementary, South Elementary, Stuart Middle School, Thimmig Elementary, Turnberry Elementary, Vikan Middle Schoool and West Ridge Elementary
Secure Vestibules - $1.5 million
Over the last year, we have installed secure vestibules at Pennock Elementary, Second Creek Elementary, Thimmig Elementary, Turnberry Elementary and West Ridge Elementary. This summer, secure vestibules will be installed at Henderson Elementary, South Elementary, Southeast Elementary and the Sakata Education Campus. Once those installations are complete, ALL 27J schools will have a controlled entrance.
As an investor in our schools, what do you think?
Please share your thoughts in a 30-second survey.