GOLDEN, Colo. — Jeffco Public Schools students who keep a high GPA and graduate with a STEM-endorsed diploma are guaranteed admission to any Bachelor of Science degree programs at the Colorado School of Mines starting in 2026.
The School of Mines and Jeffco Public Schools made the announcement on Thursday afternoon in a joint press release. They said the first group of Jeffco students who are guaranteed this admission to Mines will be the high school graduating class of 2026, meaning students who are currently in their junior year.
Mines and the school district said they hope this incentivizes Jeffco students to work toward a STEM-endorsed diploma, gain the direct pathway toward the Colorado School of Mines and continue their studies in the state.
"They're one of, if not the best public university in the state of Colorado," said Heather Waldron, Jeffco Public School's director for post-secondary workforce readiness. "We wanted to make sure that what we were doing to prepare our students was preparing them for the best opportunities they could have when they left us."
Eligible students must maintain a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.8 or higher, complete advanced math and science coursework and graduate with a STEM-endorsed diploma from any high school in the school district, the press release reads. To earn a STEM-endorsed diploma, students are required to take four years of college prep or advanced math and three years of lab science, plus they must complete a Senior STEM Capstone Project, which consists of a year-long course where juniors and seniors examine real challenges and then design and present a solution.
They can then gain guaranteed admission into any four-year Bachelor of Science degree program at the Colorado School of Mines. Students must apply by the Nov. 1 priority deadline.
"Our hope is that it encourages our best and brightest students within the area to stay here in Colorado for that post-secondary opportunity," said Waldron. "To have that really rich learning experience that Colorado School of Mines can offer, and then to be able to work in our local economy that we have here in Jeffco within STEM fields."
In a recent survey of senior and junior STEM students in Jeffco schools, more than 50% said they "would be more motivated to complete the STEM-endorsed diploma if it resulted in guaranteed admission to Mines," according to the release.
Luke Pisano, a Green Mountain High School graduate who is now studying computer science at Mines, said his STEM Capstone helped him prepare for the work he is pursuing at college.
“Coming from Jeffco, I felt very prepared for Mines because it gave me a strong understanding of how to apply skills not only in the classroom," he said.
Staff at the school district are already hearing from students who are eager to take advantage of the opportunity.
Jeffco Superintendent Tracy Dorland said the district is currently focused on reimagining the high school experience for students, and this pathway to guaranteed admission will create "incredible opportunities" for the students.
"The opportunity for our students who are passionate about STEM to build on the current skills and experiences they develop in high school and directly transition to a prestigious institution like Mines is both inspiring and a meaningful investment in their education," Dorland added.
Paul C. Johnson, president of Colorado School of Mines, said the partnership between the school and the district rewards the high schoolers for their hard work before graduation.
“By providing a guaranteed admissions pathway, we are ensuring that Jeffco students who demonstrate excellence in STEM have the opportunity to pursue a world-class education and earn a highly-valued degree while staying close to home," he said.
Jen Gagne, executive director of admissions for Colorado School of Mines, wants as many students as possible to pursue STEM fields.
"Without STEM, we don't have problem solvers. We don't have innovators. We don't have people who are discovering things," said Gagne. "There are really amazing things happening, both in industry as well as at school. And so we'd love for them to consider STEM as a whole, as well as Mines."
Gagne is excited to see more local students consider the Colorado School of Mines and wants to make the application process as easy as possible.
"What we want to do is remove barriers that students might perceive in either applying to or considering Mines, and show them that they're really welcome at Mines," she said. "We want to let them know all that we have to offer and that we really are competitive with many other amazing STEM programs throughout the United States."
Denver7's Ethan Carlson contributed to this report.
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