Sarah Coleman

EDUC 450

Setting and Context: School Community

Fort Collins High School is one of the most welcoming and committed schools I have had the

opportunity to visit. From the first day we PDS students entered the building, the administration and staff

were actively present introducing themselves and offering tips for navigating the school and growing as

pre-service teachers. Mark Eversole and Jen Roth, the school Principal and one of the Assistant

Principals, have visited our class a handful of times in addition to introducing themselves to check in and

observe our discussions. I have never felt more accepted so immediately as a PDS student in a PSD

school. The school, administrators, and alumni are incredibly proud of the schools history. Home of the

Lambkins, Fort Collins opened in 1890 and moved locations several times before moving to its current

location in 1995. Mr. Eversole shared how passionate and involved alumni are in the school there is an

annual 50-year class reunion where alums get together to catch up with each other and the schools

progress. Students are particularly proud that their school mascot makes the list of top worst school

mascots. Clyde, a fiercer update of the more pastoral Leroy, stands at the school entrance. Students sing

the alma mater at noon on Fridays and at games and assemblies.

The FCHS Pillars of Excellence exemplify the school motto: Where Excellence is Expected. The

core values of acceptance, pride, integrity, respect, and responsibility are evident when you walk around

the school and in the classroom. Staff recognize students who exemplify these behaviors by giving out

Clyde Kudos which can be entered into weekly drawings for recognition and a prize. Approximately 1700

students attend Collins with about 34% of the school falling under minority status. The student

demographic can be broken down into 1% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 4% Asian, 2% Black, 0.2%

Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander, 25% Hispanic, 66% White, 3% Two or more races. 31% of the school

population qualifies for free or reduced school lunch. The student-teacher ratio is approximately 18:1 and

the combined 4-year and 2-year college attendance rate is 82% with about 350 graduates a year.
 The students at Fort Collins High School have a plethora of opportunities available to them.

Academically, the school offers Pre-AP, GT, Honors, and AP courses in addition to on-level courses and

student success courses such as Read 180 and Transition Academy. Fort Collins offers 21 AP courses and

concurrent enrollment opportunities from Front Range Community College, Colorado State University,

and University of Colorado, with nearly 25% of the student population taking the AP exams for credit.

The list of both core and elective courses available to students is impressive including classes such as

business and marketing, animal reproductive technology, criminal justice, culinary arts, music theory,

financial literacy, botany, anatomy and physiology, engineering, and robotics. Special programs and

opportunities available to students are programs such as AVID, the Bioscience Career Academy, Teen

Parent, and EMT and fire training through Aims Community College.

Extracurricularly, there are over 40 school sponsored and non-school sponsored activities and

organizations including sports, orchestra, band, choir, DECA, the Fly Fishing Club, Peer Counselors,

Cosplay, GSA, and the Ukulele Club. The schools theater program, called Tower Theater, has been active

for over 100 years and is exceptionally talented. Having completed four shows students are considered

Thespians and six completed shows in addition to a peer vote gains students the title of Tower Trouper.

Student involvement at Collins has been the highest in Colorado for several years running. At over 70%

involvement, the award for this achievement is no longer given because FCHS won it every year.

Overall, I am humbled by the manner in which students and staff at Fort Collins High School

exemplify their core values and create a welcoming and positive environment for learning.