Core Knowledge

Curriculum focuses on strong foundation, building knowledge

The Core Knowledge sequence is based on the idea that knowledge builds on knowledge. For the sake of academic excellence and higher literacy, Core Knowledge provides a core curriculum that is coherent, cumulative, and content-specific in order to help children establish strong foundations of knowledge, grade by grade.

PSD Core Knowledge schools

O'Dea teaches a content-rich curriculum based on the Hirsch Core Knowledge sequence. The Core Knowledge curriculum gives students from different regions and economic backgrounds a common language with which to produce shared knowledge. O'Dea also considers the whole child with integrated instruction in music, art, and physical education.

Kinard aligns the Core Knowledge sequence with the Colorado state standards, providing the opportunity for honors classes, as well as a solid learning foundation for all students. Kinard transitions students from Bethke, O'Dea, Moore, Zach and Traut Core Knowledge elementary schools, as well as students in the surrounding areas.

Zach delivers the content-rich Core Knowledge curriculum, which exposes children, early on, to interesting and demanding subject matter and then builds on it, year by year, in a carefully developed sequential manner.

* Charter schools operate independently from PSD, based on a charter or contract between the school and PSD's Board of Education.