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Facts & Figures

Colorado Society of School Psychologists (CSSP) 2025 School Psychologist of the Year ~ Sarah Mescher

We are proud to announce that Sarah Mescher has been named the 2025 School Psychologist of the Year by the Colorado Society of School Psychologists (CSSP). Sarah earned this prestigious honor through her unwavering commitment to student equity, her proactive support for families, and her exceptional collaborative spirit. Her compassion and advocacy continue to strengthen the Sand Creek International community every day. Congratulations, Sarah, on this significant and well-deserved achievement.

Sand Creek International recognized as one of the Nation's Most Innovative Schools!

In 2017, Sand Creek International was named one of the nation's most innovative schools by the AASA (The School Superintendents Association) and the Successful Practices Network. Recognized for its "learner-centric" model, the school was featured in 2018 as a national case study highlighting how its empowered educators provide life-changing opportunities for students. This honor placed Sand Creek among only 25 schools nationwide celebrated for challenging the status quo to meet the complex needs of their students.

Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award 2019

The Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Awards are given to schools that demonstrate exceptional student growth. On the school performance framework that is used by the state to evaluate schools, these schools "exceed" expectations on the indicator related to longitudinal academic growth and "meet or exceed" expectations on the indicator related to academic growth gaps.

Centers of Excellence Award 2016, 2017, and 2018

Each year, the Colorado Department of Education recognizes public schools in the state that enroll a student population of which at least 75 percent are at-risk pupils and that demonstrate the highest rates of student longitudinal growth, as measured by the Colorado Growth Model. On the school performance framework that is used by the state to evaluate schools, these schools have demonstrated impressive results on the indicator relating to longitudinal academic growth. This award program was established in 2009 by the Education Accountability Act of 2009 (S.B. 09-163).

Healthy School Champion

Every year, the Colorado Education Initiative Healthy School Champions Program recognizes Colorado schools for their success at creating a healthy school environment and implementing effective school health efforts. CEI singles out schools that have excelled at creating health and wellness programs that support student learning. Each year schools are selected that have demonstrated the critical link between student health and academic achievement. In 2018 Sand Creek Health and Wellness programs were awarded this honor for the 6th year in a row!

2025-2026 School Culture Survey Highlights

Positives

94% of students feel that the adults at Sand Creek care about them.

100% of families believe there is a teacher, counselor, or other staff member at Sand Creek to whom their child can go for help with a problem.

100% of staff believe that their coworkers build positive relationships with students.

Improvement Opportunities

  • 66% of students participate in restorative practices (circle, restoration, learning reflection, etc.) when they report bullying.
  • 65% of families believe that when staff are notified about possible bullying at their child's school, they respond.
  • 72% of staff agree that students do not threaten and/or bully each other at their school.

Next Steps

  • Increase student voice and understanding by explicitly teaching what restorative practices are, why they are used, and what students can expect after reporting bullying. Empower students to request restoration by adding student-friendly language and visuals that explain how they can ask for a circle, mediation, or reflection.
  • Clarify and communicate the response process by sharing a simple, family-oriented overview of what happens after bullying is reported (timeline, investigation, restoration, follow-up).
  • Standardize relationship-based prevention practices by explicitly connecting strong staff–student relationships to bullying prevention strategies (e.g., active supervision, proactive check-ins, relationship repair).