Investing in Great Guardian Educators- DC

Investing in Great Educators

Every good school is, at its heart, a community of good teachers. When a student learns to read with confidence, works through a difficult problem, or discovers a book that changes how they see the world, a teacher made that moment possible.

At Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County, our teachers see their work as a vocation rather than simply a job. They come each day ready to form both the minds and the character of their students. They teach children to read closely, reason carefully, ask good questions, and approach history, literature, mathematics, and science with curiosity. Just as importantly, they model the virtues we hope our students will carry with them: courage, responsibility, honesty, self-control, and kindness. The influence of a good teacher lasts long after the school year ends.

The Challenge We Face

As a tuition-free public charter school, ACADC is accountable for both its academic and financial performance, and it operates with fewer resources than most traditional districts. That difference shows up most clearly in teacher pay.

According to the Colorado Department of Education, charter school teachers in Colorado earned an average of $56,949 in 2024-25, while teachers in non-charter public schools averaged $75,590. That is a gap of more than $18,600 a year, with charter teachers earning about three-quarters of what their district peers earn.

We recruit from the same pool of talented educators as the districts around us, yet we often cannot match their salaries. Our teachers stay because they believe in what we are doing here. We believe that commitment deserves to be recognized and rewarded in a meaningful way.

How You Can Help

This Colorado Gives Day, we are raising $20,000 to provide performance awards for ACADC teachers whose dedication and skill set the standard for excellence. Every gift, of any size, tells our teachers that their work is valued and that their community stands behind them.