DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — As many Douglas County School District (DCSD) students return to classrooms Wednesday, the school district is working to address declining enrollment and bus driver shortages, while putting bond money to use across the district.

DCSD will consolidate six elementary schools into three buildings for the 2026-2027 school year because of the aging demographic with less school-aged children in the area.

"In Highlands Ranch, which is 38,000 homes all by itself, we have 16 elementary schools in Highlands Ranch that used to serve almost 12,000 kids, and today, that number is getting close to 6,000 kids in those same 16 buildings. That's just not sustainable," DCSD Superintendent Erin Kane said.

In November 2024, voters passed a $490 million bond to fund district-wide imp

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