Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I enroll?
Enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year is closed, but Open Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is OPEN. You can learn more and also begin the enrollment process on our enrollment page. Completion of the enrollment form does not enroll you in Ascend, but if there is still space in your grade you will receive a welcome email (within 24 hours) confirming your spot.
Q: How many college credits can I earn?
We are working with the University of Colorado’s “CU Succeed’ Program to offer many of our courses as dual enrollment with UCCS and CU Denver. All dual-enrollment courses will be taught at Ascend and students will receive a college transcript for these courses.
Students enrolling for just their senior year will have the opportunity to earn between 3 and 24 college credits and students who are with us for their junior and senior year can more than 40 college credits. This means that the majority of our students will complete their first year of college while still in high school!
Q: What is the Friday Symposium Series?
Our academic classes run on a Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday schedule and Friday’s are reserved for service projects, life skills and real world experiences. These Fridays are academic time and attendance is mandatory!
Q: Where will I play sports or participate in extracurricular activities?
Colorado law protects your right to play sports and participate in extracurricular activities. Because Ascend does not offer any team or individual sports, you may continue to compete in your district of residence or in District 20, where the school is located. CHSAA does not allow you to switch to a different high school without following the regular transfer rules, but you can continue to compete at your previous high school, without penalty, provided it is in D20 or you district of residence.
Q: Can I enroll in just a few classes at Ascend?
Because Ascend is a full public school, you cannot enroll at Ascend and also be enrolled at another public school. We do not have an option that would allow you to enroll on a part-time basis. However, if you are a homeschooled student, we do offer a homeschool enrichment program that would allow you to take up to 4 courses at Ascend.
Q: How much do the college courses cost?
Students will be able to enroll in college courses at a reduced rate of $50 per credit hour. This tuition is assessed by the University of Colorado and is the responsibility of the student and their family.
Q: Where is the school located?
The school is located on the first floor of the office building at 1650 Telstar Drive, Suite 110 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The school is comprised of approximately 6000 square feet, and the building offers a guard gated entrance as well as a cafeteria. The school is also conveniently located near the Promenade Shops which open up multiple work-study opportunities!
Q: What if I want to take a class you don’t offer?
If there is a course you would like to take that isn’t offered at Ascend, we will help you find an online program for that course and then allocate a class period (during the day) for you to complete the coursework. We want students to take control of their education and to pursue topics that interest them. We will do everything we can to help students take courses and pursue topics that interest them.