Clear Creek County Colorado Schools Calendar

One district serves the roughly 1,000 students of Clear Creek County, a narrow mountain county west of Denver that stretches along I-70 from the foothills up to the Continental Divide. Clear Creek School District RE-1, headquartered in Idaho Springs, runs schools in Idaho Springs, Georgetown, and Silver Plume, and its calendar reflects a mountain reality: steep canyon roads, heavy snow, and a population that is small but closely tied to Denver. Families here get one calendar for the whole county, but that calendar has to account for conditions that can change dramatically between one end of the valley and the other.

School District Structure in Clear Creek County

Colorado has no countywide school systems, and Clear Creek County government has no authority over school calendars. The county seat is Georgetown, and public education is provided by a single district:

• Clear Creek School District RE-1: serves Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Silver Plume, Empire, and surrounding mountain communities. Its schools include elementary, middle, and high school campuses, with Clear Creek High School and Clear Creek Middle School in the Evergreen-adjacent corridor of the district, and elementary schools in Idaho Springs and Georgetown.

The district is governed by an elected Board of Education that hires a superintendent as its chief executive. The board generally meets on a regular monthly schedule, with agendas and minutes posted on the district website. Because the district covers a small, spread-out mountain population, enrollment is modest and a single calendar governs every school. Clear Creek County is rural and mountain-town in character, though many residents commute along I-70 to jobs in the Denver metro area, which makes the district’s calendar relevant to families whose workplaces follow different schedules.

Academic Calendar Structure

Clear Creek schools generally begin classes in mid-August and finish in late May, in line with most Colorado districts. The Board of Education typically approves the next year’s calendar in the spring, and the district sometimes adopts calendars well ahead of time. Exact first and last days change annually, so rely on the current board-adopted calendar rather than a past year’s dates.

The fall semester typically ends near winter break, and the spring semester begins in early January. Secondary grades are commonly reported by quarter or semester, while elementary schools may use a different reporting rhythm. Your school’s handbook explains which applies and when report cards go home.

Colorado sets minimum instructional time mostly in hours: 1,080 for secondary students, 990 for elementary students, and 450 for half-day kindergarten, with a 160-day standard that hour-based calendars can satisfy. Some rural and mountain districts meet the hours with longer days across a four-day week, so confirm the district’s current weekly schedule before you plan childcare around a Monday or Friday. Bell times vary by school and are shaped by bus routes along the I-70 corridor and canyon roads. Check your school’s page or enrollment packet for exact times.

School Holidays and Breaks

Expect a familiar set of breaks, with details set by the board:

• Labor Day: first Monday of September, schools closed.
• Fall break: some Colorado districts schedule a few days off in October, often tied to conferences. Check the district calendar.
• Thanksgiving break: usually Wednesday through Friday or the full week.
• Winter break: typically about two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: third Monday of January.
• Presidents’ Day: commonly a day off in February.
• Spring break: generally one week in March, though the exact week varies.
• Memorial Day: last Monday of May.

Colorado does not mandate a list of school holidays beyond the instructional-time minimums, so the board decides. Dates shift every year, so use the current adopted calendar.

Comparing Calendars Across Colorado Counties

Families who relocate, share custody, or have relatives elsewhere in the state often need to line up two schedules. The Clear Creek County schools calendar reflects a single mountain district along I-70, with snowy winters, canyon roads, and a close tie to the Denver metro area. The Cheyenne County schools calendar, by contrast, belongs to two tiny districts on the windswept Eastern Plains, where distance and farm-and-ranch rhythms drive decisions. Reading them together shows how Colorado’s local control produces different weekly structures, break weeks, and weather policies, which helps anyone planning travel, childcare, or a move between the Rocky Mountains and the eastern plains.

How to Find the Official Clear Creek County School Calendar

Because the county has one district, the answer is simple: go to the Clear Creek School District RE-1 website. Calendars are normally approved at a regular Board of Education meeting in the spring and then posted as a PDF or interactive calendar, often under tabs such as “Calendar,” “Families,” “Parents,” or “Community.” Many districts also offer a feed you can add to your phone.

Individual schools keep supplemental calendars for concerts, conferences, assemblies, and athletics. Check your child’s school page alongside the district calendar, since an event may appear on one and not the other.

Early Release Days, Teacher Workdays, and Professional Development

Teachers typically report several days before students for planning and training, usually in early to mid August. During the year, the district may schedule professional development days when students stay home, and some districts use early release or late-start days for staff collaboration. Families usually learn about non-student days through the district calendar, newsletters, automated calls, texts, and emails, and the student information portal.

Colorado requires certain staff training, including recognizing and reporting child abuse, but the district decides when to hold it.

Emergency Closures and Weather Days

Clear Creek County sits at elevations from roughly 7,500 feet in Idaho Springs to well above 8,500 feet in Georgetown and Silver Plume, with Loveland Pass and the Continental Divide nearby. Heavy snow, ice, high winds, and extreme cold are the main winter disruptions. Because I-70 is the county’s lifeline, a crash or weather closure on the interstate can strand buses, delay staff and students, and complicate dismissal. Conditions can differ noticeably between Idaho Springs and Georgetown, and the district weighs both road conditions and the safety of staff who commute from other counties.

The superintendent or a designee typically decides early in the morning after consulting transportation staff, road crews, and forecasts. Options include a full closure, a delayed start, an early release, or remote learning. Notices commonly go out through:

• Automated calls, texts, and emails from the district
• The district website and social media accounts
• Denver-area television stations such as 9NEWS, Denver7, FOX31, and CBS Colorado
• Local radio and community news outlets serving Idaho Springs and Georgetown

Makeup policies vary. Some districts build extra time into the calendar so a few closures do not drop the year below the required hours, and some use remote learning days instead of canceling instruction. Read the district’s weather policy so you know whether a closure means a day off or an online assignment day.

Graduation and End-of-Year Schedule

High school final exams generally fall in the last week or so of May, followed by graduation in late May. In a small district, graduation is often a major community event held at the school or a local venue. Elementary and middle schools commonly hold promotion or recognition events in the final week. Final report cards and transcripts are generally available through the district parent portal or school office after the term ends, though summer access varies.

Back-to-School and Registration Information

New families should first confirm that their address falls inside the district, then contact the district office or school directly. Colorado also allows open enrollment, so families may request a school outside their attendance area within district-set windows. Because many residents commute along I-70, some families ask about schools closer to their workplace, so it helps to start those conversations early.

Commonly requested documents include:

• Proof of residency, such as a lease, utility bill, or mortgage statement
• Proof of the child’s age, such as a birth certificate
• Immunization records or an approved exemption
• Records from the previous school, if transferring

Many districts offer online registration with help from the front office. Supply lists are usually posted in July or early August, and schools often host open houses or meet-the-teacher events shortly before classes begin.

Special Programs and Their Calendar Implications

Some programs follow different schedules. Students in dual or concurrent enrollment courses through a partner college, such as Front Range Community College or Colorado School of Mines in nearby Golden, follow the college calendar for those classes, which can differ from the K-12 year. Outdoor and experiential programs may build field trips and expeditions into the schedule. Colorado’s Universal Preschool program serves four-year-olds, and providers may use calendars that do not match the K-12 year. Online options, whether district-run or statewide, may also run on different calendars. Ask the district about any alternative or career-focused programs.

Athletics and Extracurricular Calendar Context

High school athletics and activities are governed by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), which sets season dates, eligibility rules, and postseason schedules. These are separate from the academic calendar but intersect with it. Fall sports begin in August around the start of school, and winter and spring seasons overlap with exam periods and spring break. Because mountain travel in winter can be slow, game days may mean early dismissals, so check athletic schedules separately.

State-Level Calendar Requirements and How Colorado Law Governs Clear Creek County

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) administers state education law, and the State Board of Education adopts regulations. The state sets minimum instructional hours but leaves start dates, holidays, and weekly structure to the local board. That is why Clear Creek School District RE-1 can adopt a calendar suited to mountain winters and I-70 travel, and why that calendar can differ from those in the Denver suburbs or on the plains. Any nontraditional schedule, such as a four-day week, must still meet the hour requirements. Questions about state rules can go to CDE.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does school start in Clear Creek County, Colorado?
Most schools begin in mid-August. The exact date is set in the Clear Creek School District RE-1 calendar, so check the current version.

When does school get out for summer in Clear Creek County?
Classes generally end in late May, with graduation around then. The district sets the last day each year.

How many days are in a school year in Clear Creek County?
Colorado sets minimum instructional hours with a 160-day standard that districts can meet through hours. The district’s adopted calendar shows its exact count.

How do I find out if school is cancelled today in Clear Creek County?
Check the district’s text, call, or email alerts, its website and social media, and Denver stations such as 9NEWS, Denver7, FOX31, and CBS Colorado.

What is the spring break schedule for Clear Creek County schools?
Spring break is usually one week in March, though the specific week varies. Confirm it on the district’s adopted calendar.

How do I enroll my child in Clear Creek County schools?
Contact the district office or your neighborhood school, or use online registration if offered. Have proof of residency, proof of age, and immunization records ready.

Are there any year-round schools in Clear Creek County?
Schools generally follow a traditional calendar with a summer break. Ask the district about any alternative programs that run differently.

Who do I contact about school calendar questions in Clear Creek County?
Start with your child’s school office, then the Clear Creek School District RE-1 central office. Board meeting agendas also show when calendars are adopted.