At Peak Education, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity, support, and relationships they need to reach their full potential.
Peak Education works alongside students from seventh grade through college completion, providing sustained mentoring, academic advising, college and career preparation, and family support. Today, our Core Program serves 416 students in grades 7–12 across 18 Title I partner schools in El Paso County.
Our work is built around the Four Peaks model: Social Skills & Mental Health, Self-Advocacy & Life Skills, Postsecondary & Career Preparedness, and Community Engagement. Students participate in Future Scholars Academy sessions, receive one-on-one mentoring from trained volunteers, prepare for college through our College Application Bootcamp, and receive individualized guidance as they make decisions about their futures.
And the support doesn't end at high school graduation. Peak Education continues walking alongside students as they transition into and through college, helping them navigate challenges, access resources, and stay on track toward completion.
The results are powerful. Peak Education's Class of 2026 achieved a 100% high school completion rate and 90% postsecondary enrollment rate, securing $25 million in scholarships and financial aid. Eighty-five percent persisted into their second year of college. Across our alumni, 85% have completed a four-year degree.
Beyond our Core Scholars, Peak Education's regional initiatives now reach more than 2,500 additional students across the Pikes Peak region. Through partnerships with schools, colleges, universities, and community organizations, we are helping more young people understand their options, access financial aid, and build pathways to education and careers after high school.
When you support Peak Education, you help ensure students don't have to navigate those pathways alone.
"When I started out, I didn't think I'd be able to get this far and to have this many opportunities. I always doubted myself. Peak Education has helped me grow out of this, to be confident. They never see me as a statistic, but as a person". - Peak Education Scholar
"If you're in Peak Education, you can't slack off." - Peak Education Scholar
Peak Education walks alongside youth as they prepare to pursue the education and training they need to reach their dreams – illuminating the possibilities after high school, guiding them as they chart their course and providing support, resources, and skills to equip them for the journey.
Peak Education was founded in Colorado Springs in 1997 following a drive-by shooting near a middle school in Harrison School District 2. In the aftermath, a small group of educators and civic leaders recognized that young people in under-resourced neighborhoods needed more than short-term intervention. They needed consistent adults, meaningful relationships, and long-term support.
That belief became Peak Education.
Nearly 30 years later, the organization continues to operate from the same fundamental conviction: young people thrive when someone walks alongside them for the long haul.
What began as a local effort has grown into a comprehensive college and career readiness organization serving students throughout the Pikes Peak region. Peak Education's Core Program currently serves 416 students in grades 7–12 across 18 Title I partner schools, while regional initiatives extend college and career readiness resources to more than 2,500 additional students.
Peak Education has also expanded its partnerships with area schools and higher education institutions. Through the Direct Admissions Initiative, developed with eight area colleges and universities, regional students have received more than 5,200 guaranteed admission offers and $167 million in cumulative scholarship awards.
In 2025, Peak Education completed a $1.3 million capital campaign that established a permanent home at the College and Career Readiness Center at 117 S. Wahsatch Avenue in Colorado Springs. The Center provides a lasting home for Peak Education and a place where students, families, educators, and community partners can come together around a shared goal: helping young people build successful futures.
Organization name
Peak Education
1997
Tax id (EIN)
84-1467174
Category
Education
Organization Size
Large Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Enterprise Zone Credit
Address
117 S. Wahsatch Ave.El Paso County, CO, US